Political Cartoons and the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Do political cartoon predict violence? To answer this question Ilan Danjoux examined over 1200 Israeli and Palestinian editorial cartoons to explore whether changes in their content anticipated the outbreak of the Al-Aqsa Intifada in October of 2000. Despite stark differences in political, economic and social pressures, a notable shift in focus, style and tone accompanied the violence. With numerous illustrations and detailed methodology, Political Cartoons and the Israeli Palestinian Conflict provides readers an engaging introduction to cartoon analysis and a novel insight into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In a region fraught with contested realities, the cartoon’s ability to capture the latent fears and unspoken beliefs of these antagonists offers a refreshing perspective on how both Israelis and Palestinians perceived each other and their chances for peace on the eve of the Second Intifada. In 2005, twelve political cartoons of the Islamic prophet Mohammed sparked international waves of protest and violence. What troubled many people about these provocative images was the anti-Islamic sentiment they purportedly exposed. Satire and polysemous symbolism have long made political cartoons safe havens for extreme opinion and unfounded accusation. It would be easy to dismiss the Danish cartoon controversy as a gross overreaction to a few offensive images until one considers that many Jews in Nazi Germany or Tutsis in Rwanda dismissed the seriousness of political cartoons that demonised their communities. Yet even if one accepts that targets of ridicule become victims of violence, it remains unclear whether political cartoons are actually the harbingers of conflict Examines Israeli And Palestinian Editorial Cartoons To Explore Whether Changes In Tone And Content Anticipated The Outbreak Of The Al-aqsa Intifada In Oct. 2000. Cartoons And The Study Of Conflict -- Reading Cartoons -- The Meaning Of Peace -- Locating Cartoons -- Cartoon Issues -- Cartoon Appearances -- Conclusion : A Cartoon Analysis Of Conflict. Ilan Danjoux. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 132-145) And Index. Front matter Dedication Contents List of illustrations Acknowledgements Introduction Cartoons and the study of conflict Reading cartoons The meaning of peace Locating cartoons Cartoon issues Cartoon appearances Conclusion: A cartoon analysis of conflict References Index