Hebrew Media Ignored Arab Voices on Disqualification Issue, Study Finds
Translated & summarized from Al-Shams by baba
A Sikkuy-Aufer study found Hebrew media excluded Arab voices in 85% of coverage on candidate disqualifications. Only 22 of 142 analyzed items featured Arab speakers, with 81% of commentary from non-Arabs. The disqualification of Sami Abu Shehadeh was a focus, but he was rarely quoted or interviewed. The study criticizes media outlets, including the IPBC and Kan 11, for failing to include Arab perspectives on issues directly affecting the Arab community's political rights.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Hebrew media excluded Arab voices in 85% of coverage on candidate disqualifications, a Sikkuy-Aufer study found.
- Only 22 of 142 analyzed media items featured Arab speakers, with 81% of commentary from non-Arabs.
- The disqualification of candidate Sami Abu Shehadeh was a focus, but he was rarely quoted or interviewed.
- Arab citizens' right to run and vote was discussed in only 11% of the coverage.
- The Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation and Kan 11 hosted no Arab speakers in their coverage.
- The study highlights the marginalization of Arab voices on issues concerning their political rights.
A new analysis by Sikkuy-Aufer, an organization promoting equality, reveals that Hebrew-language media significantly underrepresented Arab voices in its coverage of the disqualification of Arab candidates and parties from the recent elections. The study examined 142 media items published between September 22 and October 3, finding that only 22 of them featured an Arab speaker, meaning approximately 85% of the coverage excluded any Arab perspective.
According to Hadeel Azzam Jalajel, Co-Director of Public Engagement at Sikkuy-Aufer, 81% of the speakers in the coverage were non-Arab. She stated that this situation is paradoxical, as it discusses the disqualification of Arab political representation without providing adequate space for the affected parties themselves to voice their concerns.
The exclusion extended beyond the selection of speakers to the content and questions posed. The right of Arab citizens to run for office and vote was discussed in only 11% of the materials, while the impact of disqualification on Arab voter turnout was addressed in just 7% of the coverage.
The disqualification of candidate Sami Abu Shehadeh was the most prominent aspect, appearing in 129 of the 142 items. However, 90% of these items did not even include a quote from him, and he appeared in only two radio or television interviews across central Hebrew media.
The analysis also highlighted the focus of the arguments presented. The argument supporting armed struggle was featured in 72 items concerning Abu Shehadeh's case, compared to only 15 items that addressed the condemnation of the October 7 attacks. Azzam Jalajel noted that this disparity demonstrates how the selection of arguments for media attention can shape public discourse and opinion.
Sikkuy-Aufer criticized the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (IPBC) for its limited coverage, which consisted of only seven items on the disqualification of Arab parties and candidates, without hosting any Arab speakers. The organization questioned the professional and ethical standards of the publicly funded broadcaster, which is expected to reflect societal diversity. Kan 11, the IPBC's main news channel, also did not host any Arab speakers in its coverage.
Azzam Jalajel concluded that this pattern represents an exclusion that goes beyond mere numbers, impacting the substance of public discourse. The absence of stakeholders marginalizes questions about their democratic rights and their ability to influence public opinion. She stated that this reality confirms the ongoing marginalization of Arab voices in Hebrew media, even when the issues directly concern the Arab community and its political rights.