EXCLUSION/INCLUSION OF SELF & THE OTHER VIA MORAL DISENGAGEMENT IN U.S. PRESIDENTIAL RHETORIC ON PALESTINE

Abstract

This paper explores moral disengagement as a discursive strategy in the political speeches of recent American presidents regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It argues that the processes of inclusion and exclusion of Self and Other in U.S. presidential discourse—specifically under Barack Obama, Donald Trump, and Joe Biden—are shaped by distinct mechanisms of moral disengagement. In particular, the exclusion of Palestinians from the moral framework endorsed by the U.S. administration, and the corresponding inclusion of Israelis, is evident in how each group is framed as either deserving or undeserving of rights, recognition, and legitimacy. The study undertakes a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of key speeches and public statements made by these presidents between 2009 and 2023. It aims to: (1) identify the discursive mechanisms of moral disengagement used to justify the differential treatment of Palestinians and Israelis, and (2) examine the ideological representations that underpin and legitimize these rhetorical choices. The analysis draws upon Bandura’s (1998) theory of moral disengagement and van Dijk’s (1998) framework of binary oppositions in political discourse. Findings indicate that all three presidents have employed rhetorical strategies such as moral justification, euphemistic labelling, dehumanization, attribution of blame, and binary framing to construct in-groups (Israelis and their allies) positively and out-groups (Palestinians or Palestinian leadership) negatively. These discursive practices not only shape public perception but also contribute to sustaining particular policy positions and geopolitical alignments. The study holds implications for scholars of discourse analysis, international relations, and Middle East politics, as well as for practitioners engaged in policy development and diplomatic negotiation.