Peace discourse in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

A 2023 pro-Israel march, with a sign blaming Hamas for the lack of peace. A 2009 pro-Palestinian satirical cartoon regarding different interpretations of "peace". Peace discourse in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the study of Israeli and Palestinian desires for "peace" and the underlying intentions of the Israeli–Palestinian peace process . The peace narrative serves core strategic and ideological functions, including legitimacy, blame, and justification. Scholars have shown that references to peace often conceal or rationalize ongoing violence, shifting responsibility onto one party while reinforcing positive self-representations for the other. Both sides frequently claim to have done everything they can to achieve peace, remaining dependant on the other side to match their commitment. The main claim is that these presuppositions create the semantic vagueness surrounding the term peace, transforming it into a black box or, more precisely, into an attractive but empty box. This semantic void facilitates the loading of the concept with semantic, cultural and political cargoes that are sometimes bereft of the universally positive aura enveloping this concept. Thus, when Israeli politicians talk about peace, they may paradoxically be participating in a Just War discourse.