1 Legitimization and Feelings towards the Narrative Of the “Other” among Arab and Jewish Adolescents in Israel: Between Peace Talks and Violent Events Prof. Shifra Sagy Ben Gurion University of the Negev Program of Conflict Resolution and Conflict Management

2 One of the major challenges for the process of peace building is to overcome the rigid structure of the socio- psychological repertoire that accompanies it (Bar-Tal, 2007; Kelman, 2007).

3 The aim of our longitudinal study was to examine one element of this repertoire among Jewish and Arab adolescents in Israel

Our study relates to the psychological elements of cognitive legitimacy and emotional reactions (empathy, anger) towards the historical narrative of the opponent.

5 We focused our question on the impact of the socio-political context and the role of the violent reality in the development of the psychological barriers toward peaceful conflict resolution: Between Oslo peace talks and the violent events of the Second Lebanon War.

6 Central points in the Israeli – Palestinian conflict Balfour Declaration of 1917 Holocaust 1948 War Oslo Accords The assassination of Prime Minister Rabin October 2000 violent events in the Arab villages in northern Israel Second Lebanon War

7 Four stages of the study The peace talks following the Oslo Accords ( ) The violent events of the Al-Aksa Intifada (2002) Arafat’s death and the evacuation of Israeli settlements in the Gaza Strip (2005) The Second Lebanon War (2007)

8 Many Jewish-Israelis view the Holocaust as the greatest tragedy that ever happened to any nation and this fact provides justification for establishing a Jewish state for the Jews. How do you feel about their attitude? Many Palestinians view the Holocaust as a tragedy of the Jewish people that does not justify inflicting suffering on the Palestinian people. How do you feel about their attitude? The Narratives Questionnaire

9 Many Jewish-Israelis view the 1948 war as an important event marking their survival and independence. How do you feel about their attitude? Many Palestinians view the 1948 war as a disaster/catastrophe. How do you feel about their attitude?

10 1. I think that their attitude is founded on historical facts. 2. I feel their attitude is legitimate. 3. I feel empathy for their attitude. 4. I feel angry about their attitude. 5. I feel shame about their attitude. 6. I feel proud about their attitude. 7. Their attitude is not relevant for me. 8. I know little about this event. 9. We have discussed this event in school. Not at all true Not so true Some- what true TrueVery true Answer Items

11 Demographic characteristics of Israeli Jews and Arabs in the four stages of the study JewsArabsJewsArabsJewsArabsJews Arabs n Gender Male40%41% 43%47%35%51% 37.2% Female60%59% 57%53%65%49% 62.8% Class 10 th Grade55%52%55%50%52%54%55% 53.5% 12 th Grade45%48%45%50%48%46%45% 46.5% Religion Jews96%-98%-96%-87% - Muslims-77%-84%-68%- 98% Christians-23%-16%-32%- 2%

12 Legitimization of the “other’s” narrative High Low

13 Feelings of empathy towards the “other’s” narrative High Low

14 Anger towards the “other’s” narrative High Low

15 While considering the adolescents’ answers regarding legitimization towards their own and the other’s narrative, we formed four groups of respondents: 1.Respondents who were ready to accept both narratives as legitimate. 2.Respondents who were ready to legitimate only their own collective narrative. 3.Respondents who were ready to legitimate only the other group’s narrative. 4.Respondents who were not ready to legitimate any of the narratives.

16 Levels of Legitimization of narratives Israeli JewsIsraeli Arabs Both narratives are legitimate Neither of the narratives is legitimate Only my group’s narrative is legitimate Only the other group’s narrative is legitimate

17 There was a significant decrease in both groups in their readiness to legitimate the other group’ when violent events increased (years 2002 and 2007). This was found to be a gradual process among the Jews, which appeared as most prominent immediately after the Second Lebanon War. Among the Israeli-Arabs, the decrease in their readiness to legitimate the Jewish narrative appeared only after the period of the violent events of Results

18 The results of both groups suggest a possible impact of the violent reality on the adolescents’ perceptions of the “other”. Differential tendencies in the two groups of adolescents have emerged as the political reality has changed. Results - Summary

19 The results suggest the impact of peace talks by leaders in the intractable conflict on the change of perceptions of young adolescents towards a greater openness to legitimacy of the narrative of the opponent. At the same time, our results indicate the potential role of violent reality in reducing the openness towards the “other”. Thus, our longitudinal study hints at the possibility of “top- down” direction in the vicious circle of conflicts. Summary

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