The Psychopathology of Everyday Peacemaking

Arabs, Israelis, and outside diplomats trying to aid Mideast peace efforts would do well to accept that insight, for it helps explain why peace repeatedly appears so close, only to be swept away by new violence. If ending the conflict only entailed finding a resolution of practical interests that wo...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Jerusalem report 2001-03, p.46
Main Author: Spiegel, Fredelle Z
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary:Arabs, Israelis, and outside diplomats trying to aid Mideast peace efforts would do well to accept that insight, for it helps explain why peace repeatedly appears so close, only to be swept away by new violence. If ending the conflict only entailed finding a resolution of practical interests that would please both sides, surely the negotiations of the last 25 years would have had better results. But both sides are stuck in repeating familiar patterns of behavior because changing them would require examining their own sense of self and of the significant other. The current violence can be viewed as yet another effort to maintain the status quo ante. Unfortunately, it may accomplish just that. Palestinians can continue to view the Israelis as thieves and murderers. Israelis can see the Palestinians as terrorists who will be satisfied with nothing less than all of Israel.
ISSN:0792-6049