| Chapter Introduction: | Introduction |
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Historical Narratives: Palestinians and Israelis,” a program in which the two sides work to learn about each other's perspectives; this program has been documented as being successful in bringing about empathy and reconciliation. Dennis Fox argues in his essay that objectivity and neutrality in the study of the conflict––instead of being desirable––are actually counterproductive. He explains how, on the one hand, biases and emotional involvement are inevitable. On the other, in an asymmetrical conflict in which it is clear that one side is more powerful, it is necessary to recognize one side as the victim; in this case, the Palestinians, to develop empathy and be an effective advocate for the weaker party. The last chapter in this section, by Chaya Rubin and Carl Auerbach, looks at the psychological and social conditions necessary to create empathy in order to make individuals able to view people on the other side not just as threatening enemies but as complex individuals (not unlike themselves).
The fourth section of this volume that provides a historical context comprises two chapters. The first chapter by Daniel Levine explores the historical significance of the novel A Drive to Israel: An Egyptian Meets His Neighbors by Egyptian author Ali Salem, whose 1994 visit to Israel aroused the ire of many in the Arab world. The second chapter by Peter Feinman examines the historical and archaeological evidence regarding the ties of both Jews and Arabs to the land of Israel/Palestine.
The final section focuses on theological and philosophical perspectives. In one chapter, Sarah MacMillen looks at a group of Israeli and Palestinian parents who have lost children to the conflict. She uses ethnographic and interview data to explore how mutual recognition and acceptance can help develop empathy and ease pain and suffering. In another chapter, Hazza Abu Rabi explores the development of the Islamic movement in Israel as a religious, political, and cultural movement among the Palestinian Arabs who live within the Green Line. Yehezkel Landau argues in his essay that it is imperative to include a religious dimension as part of the peace process, including the participation of religious leaders and educators to heal the damage created by the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. This view is reinforced by the final essay in this volume by Sarah Heidt, who argues from a theological and philosophical perspective