Late Breaking - Individual Paper
6. Using the Arts, Media and Culture: Contestations and Collaborations
This study examines the discourse surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict by analysing the perspectives of Indonesian netizens on the social media platform X (formerly twitter). Social media serves as a significant medium to provide a collective overview of public opinion on global issues, including the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which has significant political, social, and economic impacts. Indonesia formally supports Palestinian independence, a sentiment widely shared among its people, although there are segments of the population expressing pro-Israel views. To comprehend the continuity and development of Indonesian viewpoints on the conflict, this qualitative study uses a discourse-historical approach. It delves into the historical and social context of Indonesians' stance on the conflict. The data comprises social media posts reflecting pro-Palestine and pro-Israel discourses by Indonesian netizens on X. Indonesia's consistent support for Palestine is demonstrated by actions such as rejecting the Israeli national team in the 2023 U-20 World Cup, sending humanitarian aid, and advocating for Palestine’s full UN membership. Most Indonesians share this pro-Palestinian stance, rooted in anti-colonialism, Islamic solidarity, and humanitarian concerns. However, an emerging pro-Israel discourse, driven by anti-terrorism, Islamophobic sentiments, and humanitarian concerns, indicates a divergence of public opinion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The results suggest that while Indonesia’s official and majority stance remains steadfastly pro-Palestine, social media discourse reveals an emerging diversity of perspectives that could influence future public attitudes towards the conflict. This study highlights the crucial role of social media in reflecting and influencing public knowledge and opinions on global issues.
Abdika Taslih Amrullah
Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia