Turkish Media Shows Most Negative Coverage of Israel, Study Finds
Translated & summarized from Arutz Sheva by baba
A study by the Jewish People Policy Institute found that Turkish media presents the most negative coverage of Israel among four Middle Eastern countries. The research analyzed opinion pieces and front-page news from February 28, 2026, onwards. While the UAE showed the most neutral coverage, Turkey's media was overwhelmingly negative, with some instances of antisemitism noted.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Turkish media exhibits the highest negative coverage of Israel among four Middle Eastern countries, according to a new study.
- The study by the Jewish People Policy Institute analyzed media in Turkey, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
- In Turkey, 72% of opinion pieces examined were negative towards Israel, the highest rate found.
- The UAE showed the most neutral coverage, with 53% of opinion pieces being neutral.
- The research also identified instances of antisemitism in Turkish English-language media.
- Coverage was analyzed following the escalation of conflict with Iran on February 28, 2026.
A new study by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI) reveals that Turkish media exhibits the highest rate of negative coverage towards Israel among four Middle Eastern countries examined. The research analyzed English-language mainstream media in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Turkey, focusing on opinion pieces and front-page coverage after February 28, 2026, when the conflict with Iran escalated.
In the UAE, 53% of opinion pieces were neutral towards Israel, with only 46% negative, the lowest negative rate among the surveyed nations. Conversely, Turkey showed 72% of its opinion pieces as negative, followed by Egypt at 65% and Saudi Arabia at 49%. The study analyzed 1,054 opinion pieces and conducted daily checks of front pages.
When examining front-page presence, including prominence and tone, Turkish media again stood out. Israel received more prominent and daily coverage there than in the other countries, with the most negative tone. The UAE had relatively high coverage, which researchers linked to the war with Iran, followed by Egypt and Saudi Arabia in terms of volume and prominence.
News coverage tone on front pages mirrored this trend, with Turkey showing the most negative coverage and the UAE the least. While Saudi media occasionally featured positive pieces on Israel, highlighting advancements in research and academia or its role in countering Iran, these remained a small fraction of overall coverage. The study also noted instances of opinion pieces in English-language media that went beyond political criticism to deny Israel's right to exist or contained overt antisemitism.