The Palestinian rhetoric

Abstract

The analysis begins by examining Palestine, a historically significant region in the Levant under Israeli occupation since 1948, following the Balfour Declaration—a Zionist-supported statement by the British Government advocating the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine. This occupation has caused ongoing conflict, displacement, and severe restrictions on Palestinian rights. Settlement expansion, military control, and recurring violence continue to profoundly affect Palestinian communities. The escalation in Gaza on October 7, 2023, brought renewed attention to the region, underscoring how media language shapes global perceptions and the importance of using accurate terminology to reflect realities on the ground. Neutral language often downplays the disproportionate impact on Palestinians. Influenced by works like Perceptions of a Renegade Mind by David Icke and Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death and Technopoly on media’s psychological influence, this research involved methodical comparisons between mainstream media headlines and authentic narratives from Palestinian journalists. It examined the linguistic framing of events, building an understanding of how specific terms impact public perception. For example, a New York Times headline on October 7 reads, “They Ran Into a Bomb Shelter for Safety. Instead, They Were Slaughtered.” In contrast, a November 18 headline on Palestinian deaths states, “The War Turns Gaza Into a ‘Graveyard’ for Children,” using passive language and attributing “graveyard” to a UN quote. Unlike the emotionally charged language in the October 7 coverage, the Gaza story avoids strong terms. Similarly, the Washington Post repeatedly used “massacre” to describe October 7, as in “President Biden faces growing pressure...to punish Iran after Hamas’s massacre.” However, a November 13 report on Israel’s bombing and siege in Gaza, where 1 in 200 Palestinians died, avoids terms like “massacre” or “slaughter,” instead using passive descriptions such as “been killed” or “died.” In Al Jazeera’s documentary Failing Gaza: Behind the Lens of Western Media, a CNN journalist named Adam revealed troubling biases in his network’s narratives post-October 7. Adam noted that CNN reporters were, for a time, unable to label airstrikes in Gaza as such without Israeli confirmation, an inconsistency in journalistic standards. These terms and manipulated vocabularies subtly influence public perception, revealing a clear pattern of language that minimizes Palestinian voices and experiences. This context informed the creation of The Palestinian Rhetoric, a dictionary designed in the symbolic red, black, and white of the Palestinian flag, to present more accurate terms related to the Palestinian cause, with accompanying historical backgrounds. The dictionary aims to educate readers and foster awareness of the power of language in shaping global perspectives, emphasizing the importance of precise word choice in conveying truth and promoting understanding. Through intentional research and collaboration with Palestinian journalists and writers, the author analyzed the nuanced vocabulary mainstream media employs, often to obscure or soften the harsh realities Palestinians face. Over three months of academic research, this effort culminated in a lexicon that reveals subtle yet significant linguistic biases. The dictionary’s design incorporates Tatreez—traditional embroidery that symbolizes resilience and cultural identity—on the cover, reflecting Palestinian endurance despite decades of hardship. Each alphabetic section features double-exposure typography, blending black-and-white imagery into letterforms as a visual metaphor for layered narratives surrounding the Palestinian cause. Each letter, embedded with historical or cultural significance, transcends mere typography to embody a visual narrative resonating with Palestinian identity, history, and resistance. The typefaces used in the dictionary include Disclaimer for the prominently displayed page numbers, symbolizing 76 years of oppression, Helvetica Neue Medium Extended for quotations, and Helvetica Regular for body text. Helvetica’s clean, understated design ensures readability and objectivity while keeping the focus on vocabulary. First showcased at the 2024 Festival of Creativity, AMDT (Academy of Multimedia, Design and Technology) Graduation Showcase, this dictionary attracted significant interest, with many attendees eager to purchase or access it. Recognizing its value as an educational resource, the dictionary is now being distributed through social media and non-profit networks, helping to correct biased portrayals and promote a more accurate narrative surrounding the Palestinian cause.