Bulletin: Cyberworlds – Cybersecurity and Social Media

Articles

• Gil Baram, Israeli Defense in the Age of Cyber War
• Tamar Lahav and Osnat Roth-Cohen, The Changing Blogosphere and Its Impact on Public Relations Practice and Professional Ethics
• Amit M. Schejter and Noam Tirosh, The Digital Divide in Israel
• Revital Sela-Shayovitz, David C. Pyrooz, and Scott H. Decker, Israeli and US Gangs in the Virtual World
• Efrat Shoham, Perceptions among Israeli Talkbackers Regarding Female Violence
• Lior Tabansky, Cyber Security Challenges: The Israeli Water Sector Example
• Moran Yarchi et al, Invest, Engage, and Win: Online Campaigns and Their Outcomes in an Israeli Election
• Thomas Zeitzoff, Does Social Media Influence Conflict? Evidence from the 2012 Gaza Conflict
• Gadi Zerach, Pathological Narcissism, Cyberbullying Victimization and Offending among Homosexual and Heterosexual Participants in Online Dating Websites

 

Reviews

• Rikke Bjerg Jensen, on Adi Kuntsman and Rebecca L. Stein’s Digital Militarism: Israel’s Occupation in the Social Media Age

Theses

• Shahirah Elaiza Wan Hassan, Hashtag Wars: Twitter as a Discursive Space in the ‘Battle of Narratives’ between pro-Israelis and pro-Palestinians (MA, Victoria University of Wellington)

Events

• “Cybersecurity in an Age of Uncertainty: U.S.-Israel Perspectives” Conference; American University Center for Israel Studies, March 20-21, 2017

 

New Article: Hameiri et al, Support for Self-Censorship Among Israelis

Hameiri, Boaz, Keren Sharvit, Daniel Bar-Tal, Eldad Shahar, and Eran Halperin. “Support for Self-Censorship Among Israelis as a Barrier to Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.” Political Psychology (early view; online first).

 

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/pops.12346

 
Abstract

Self-censorship, defined as an “act of intentionally and voluntarily withholding information from others in the absence of formal obstacles” often serves as a barrier to resolving intractable conflicts. Specifically, in order to protect the group, and in absence of objective constraints such as institutionalized censorship, individuals practice self-censorship and support its practice by other society members. This prevents free flow and transparency of information, within a society, regarding the conflict and the adversary. In an attempt to investigate the factors that contribute to the functioning of self-censorship as a sociopsychological barrier to conflict resolution, a longitudinal study was conducted among a large sample of Jews in Israel. The survey was administered in three waves: a few months before, during, and a few months after Israel’s Operation Pillar of Defense in the Gaza Strip. The findings showed that armed confrontation can increase support for self-censorship. In addition, the findings revealed that personal characteristics (e.g., authoritarianism, ethnocentrism, siege mentality) predicted support for self-censorship, which, in turn, mediated the effect of personal characteristics on support for negotiations and for providing humanitarian aid. The theoretical as well as the applied implications of the findings are discussed.

 

 

New Article: Yarchi, Imagefare’ as a State’s Strategy in Asymmetric Conflicts

Yarchi, Moran. “Does Using ‘Imagefare’ as a State’s Strategy in Asymmetric Conflicts Improve Its Foreign Media Coverage? The Case of Israel.” Media, War & Conflict (early view, online first).

 

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1750635215620826

 

Extract

In their 2014 article in Terrorism and Political Violence, Ayalon, Popovich and Yarchi proposed a different strategy for states to better manage asymmetric conflict, presenting the notion of ‘imagefare’ – ‘the use, or misuse, of images as a guiding principle or a substitute for traditional military means to achieve political objectives’ (p. 12). The current study tests their theoretical framework, and examines whether the use of imagefare as part of a political actor’s conflict strategy improves its foreign image as presented by its ability to promote its preferred frames to the foreign press. The study compares the foreign media’s coverage of two recent rounds of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, in one of which (operation ‘Pillar of Defence’) image considerations played a significant role in the Israeli policy-making process. Findings suggest that whenever a country uses imagefare as part of its strategy, it increases its ability to promote its preferred messages to the foreign press and to improve the country’s image.

 

 

 

New Article: Bodas et al, Perception of the Threat of War in Israel

Bodas, Moran, Maya Siman-Tov, Shulamith Kreitler, and Kobi Peleg. “Perception of the Threat of War in Israel – Implications for Future Preparedness Planning.” Israel Journal of Health Policy Research (early view; online first).

 

URL: http://dx.doi.org/110.1186/s13584-015-0026-7

 

Abstract

Background
It has been recently reported that the preparedness of the Israeli public to a war scenario is mediocre. These findings suggest a need to study the psychosocial mechanisms behind individual motivation to engage in preparedness behavior. One component of these mechanisms is the perception of threat. The purpose of this study is to portray the perception of the threat of war by the Israeli public and to deduce possible implications for resilience-promoting policies.

Methods
Portions of the data accumulated in a telephone-based random sampling of 503 households (representing the Israeli population) performed in October 2013 were utilized to examine the perception of the threat of war by Israelis. The questionnaire was used to examine the level of household preparedness, as well as attitudes toward perception of threat, preparedness responsibility, willingness to search for information, and sense of preparedness. Statistical analysis was performed to determine the correlations between different components of threat perception, and to evaluate the preparedness promoting features of specific perception factors.

Results
The data suggest that the perception of threat is influenced by different socio-demographic factors. In particular, age, religion and education seem to play an important role in the perception of threat. Compared to data collected almost a decade ago, the likelihood perception and threat intrusiveness rates were significantly reduced. The regression analysis suggests that perception of the severity of the impact on a family’s routine and willingness to search for information, two known preparedness promoting factors, can be predicted by various socio-demographic and threat perception components.

Conclusion
The data suggest that the Israeli public, post the Second Lebanon War (2006) and the Gaza conflicts of 2009 and 2012, perceives the probabilities of war and being affected by it as diminished. The Israeli public demonstrates what can be considered as the unique characteristics of a war-victimized population. Implications for a future resilience-promoting policy were discussed.

 

 

New Article: Bouris, The Vicious Cycle of Building and Destroying: the 2014 War on Gaza

Bouris, Dimitris. “The Vicious Cycle of Building and Destroying: the 2014 War on Gaza.” Mediterranean Politics (early view; online first).

 

URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13629395.2015.1007000

 

Abstract

The 2014 summer war on Gaza was the third in the last six years and in many ways the most devastating one. While the triggers to this war were the kidnapping and killing of the three Israeli teenagers angazd the subsequent kidnapping and burning alive of a Palestinian teenager, the real reasons can be traced back to the international community’s failed and myopic policies towards Gaza. Moreover, by adopting the ‘West Bank first’ strategy the international community has failed to blow some fresh air into what is left of the so-called Middle East Peace Process and has acted as the abettor of the recent war.

 
 
 
 
 

ToC: Israel Affairs 21.2 (2015) – special issue: Israel at the Polls 2013

 

Israel Affairs, Volume 21, Issue 2, April 2015 is now available online on Taylor & Francis Online.

Special Issue: Israel at the Polls 2013: Continuity and Change in Israeli Political Culture

This new issue contains the following articles:

Articles
The Run-Up to Israel’s 2013 Elections: A Political History
Manfred Gerstenfeld
Pages: 177-194
DOI: 10.1080/13537121.2015.1008240

The Peculiar Victory of The National Camp in the 2013 Israeli Election
Arie Perliger & Eran Zaidise
Pages: 195-208
DOI: 10.1080/13537121.2015.1008243

‘Something new begins’ – religious Zionism in the 2013 elections: from decline to political recovery
Anat Roth
Pages: 209-229
DOI: 10.1080/13537121.2015.1008238

An uneasy stability: the Haredi parties’ emergency campaign for the 2013 elections
Nissim Leon
Pages: 230-244
DOI: 10.1080/13537121.2015.1008241

The political transformation of the Israeli ‘Russian’ street in the 2013 elections
Vladimir (Ze’ev) Khanin
Pages: 245-261
DOI: 10.1080/13537121.2015.1008244

The Transmigration of Media Personalities and Celebrities to Politics: The Case of Yair Lapid
Rafi Mann
Pages: 262-276
DOI: 10.1080/13537121.2015.1008239

‘New politics’, new media – new political language? A rhetorical perspective on candidates’ self-presentation in electronic campaigns in the 2013 Israeli elections
Eithan Orkibi
Pages: 277-292
DOI: 10.1080/13537121.2015.1008242

The 2013 Israeli elections and historic recurrences
Eyal Lewin
Pages: 293-308
DOI: 10.1080/13537121.2015.1008245

ToC: Journal of Palestine Studies 44.1 (2014)

Table of Contents Alert

University of California Press is happy to notify you that the new issue of Journal of Palestine Studies is now available. The online issues of this journal are hosted on JSTOR on behalf of University of California Press.

Journal of Palestine Studies Vol. 44, No. 1, Autumn 2014 SPECIAL ISSUE: OPERATION PROTECTIVE EDGE Published by: University of California Press on behalf of the Institute for Palestine Studies

Cover Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1 Front Matter Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1 Table of Contents Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1 FROM THE EDITOR The Dahiya Doctrine, Proportionality, and War Crimes Rashid I. Khalidi Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 5-13. ANALYSIS OF THE WAR Politicide in Gaza: How Israel’s Far Right Won the War Max Blumenthal Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 14-28. Another Freedom Summer Robin D.G. Kelley Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 29-41. The Psychosis of Permanent War Chris Hedges Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 42-51. The Twelve Wars on Gaza Jean-Pierre Filiu Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 52-60. The Implications of Joining the ICC after Operation Protective Edge Victor Kattan Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 61-73. Photos Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 74-75. AN OFFICIAL PERSPECTIVE Interview with Hanan Ashrawi: Oslo, the PA, and Reinventing the PLO Rashid Khalidi Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 76-87. Photos Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 88-90. DISSECTING THE DISCOURSE Blaming the Victims Diana Buttu Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 91-96. Crisis Moments: Shifting the Discourse Yousef Munayyer Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 97-105. Interview with Noura Erakat: Framing the Palestinian Narrative Nehad Khader Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 106-117. Photos Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 118-119. PERSONAL REFLECTIONS After the Smoke Clears: Gaza’s Everyday Resistance Laila El-Haddad Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 120-125. Interview with Dr. Basil Baker: Quick Death under Fire, Slow Death under Siege Nehad Khader Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 126-132. A Response to Elie Wiesel Sara Roy Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 133-134. Photos Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 135-136. CENTENNIAL PERSPECTIVE Palestine and Palestine Studies: One Century after World War I and the Balfour Declaration Walid Khalidi Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 137-147. RECENT BOOKS Review: The Battle for Justice in Palestine The Battle for Justice in Palestine by by Ali Abunimah Review by: Richard Falk Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 148-150. Review: 40 Years of Israeli Occupation: 1967–2007 40 Years of Israeli Occupation: 1967–2007 by by Hiltrud Awad; Hilmi S. Salem; Suhail Khalilieh; Jad Issac Review by: Ahmad El-Atrash and Lubna Shaheen Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 150-152. Review: Arab Christians in British Mandate Palestine: Communalism and Nationalism, 1917–1948 Arab Christians in British Mandate Palestine: Communalism and Nationalism, 1917–1948 by Noah Haiduc-Dale Review by: George Emile Irani Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 152-154. Review: UNRWA and Palestinian Refugees: From Relief and Works to Human Development UNRWA and Palestinian Refugees: From Relief and Works to Human Development by edited by Sari Hanafi; Leila Hilal; Lex Takkenberg Review by: Benjamin Schiff Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 154-156. Review: Zionism and Land Tenure in Mandate Palestine Zionism and Land Tenure in Mandate Palestine by by Aida Asim Essaid Review by: Michael R. Fischbach Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 156-158. Review: Unfree in Palestine: Registration, Documentation and Movement Restriction Unfree in Palestine: Registration, Documentation and Movement Restriction by by Nadia Abu-Zahra; Adah Kay Review by: Roger Heacock Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 158-160. Review: Memories of Absence: How Muslims Remember Jews in Morocco Memories of Absence: How Muslims Remember Jews in Morocco by by Aomar Boum Review by: Sami Shalom Chetrit Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 160-163. SELECTIONS FROM THE PRESS Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 164-190. PALESTINE UNBOUND Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 191-203. UPDATE ON CONFLICT AND DIPLOMACY Ben White Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 204-237. DOCUMENTS AND SOURCE MATERIAL Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 238-272. JPS Responds to Israel’s Prime Minister Journal of Palestine Studies Autumn 2014, Vol. 44, No. 1: 273-274.

New Article: Heemsbergen & Lindgren, Air Strikes and Social Media Feeds in the 2012 Israel–Hamas Conflict

Heemsbergen, Luke Justin and Simon Lindgren. “The Power of Precision Air Strikes and Social Media Feeds in the 2012 Israel–Hamas Conflict: ‘Targeting Transparency’.” Australian Journal of International Affairs 68.5 (2014): 569-91.

 

URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/10357718.2014.922526

 

 

Abstract

This article analyses the evolving uses of social media during wartime through the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) Spokesperson Facebook and Twitter accounts. The conflict between Israel and Hamas-affiliated groups in November 2012 has generated interesting data about social media use by a sovereign power in wartime and the resultant networked discourse. Facebook data is examined for effective patterns of dissemination through both content analysis and discourse analysis. Twitter data is explored through connected concept analysis to map the construction of meaning in social media texts shared by the IDF. The systematic examination of this social media data allows the authors’ analysis to comment on the evolving modes, methods and expectations for state public diplomacy, propaganda and transparency during wartime.

New Article: Kober, Israel’s Way of War in Asymmetrical Conflicts

Kober, Avi. “From Heroic to Postheroic Warfare: Israel’s Way of War in Asymmetrical Conflicts.” Armed Forces & Society (online first)

URL: http://afs.sagepub.com/content/early/2013/08/01/0095327X13498224.abstract

DOI: 10.1177/0095327X13498224

 

Abstract

Since the late 1970s Israel has been operating postheroically, with postheroic behavior gradually becoming an integral part of its strategic culture and way of war, and often coming at the expense of mission fulfillment. In the Israeli case, the strongest explanation for such behavior has been the marriage of two factors: Israel’s engagement in low-intensity conflicts (LICs), which have not threatened its basic security, let alone its existence, and sophisticated technology, which has played a significant facilitating role in applying postheroic warfare. Sparing the lives of the Israel Defense Forces’ (IDF’s) own troops and of enemy civilians helped gaining greater domestic and legitimacy, as well as greater sustainability in LICs. On the other hand, living up to postheroic warfare’s rules had a price not only in terms of fulfilling the military missions, but also in terms of sensitivity to unexpected, sometimes sudden leaps in casualties and/or collateral damage; the danger of lowering the threshold war; and asymmetry with enemies that do not cooperate with postheroic rules and rather fight heroically. The analysis of the Israeli case covers the LIC events Israel has been engaged in from the 1978 Operation Litani, in which postheroic warfare was detected for the same time, to the more recent 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense.