Developing a Dual Israeli-Palestinian Historical Narrative

[ProgressiveMuslim]

DUAL ISRAELI/PALESTINIAN HISTORICAL NARRATIVE TEXTBOOKS
EMPHASIZE EDUCATIONAL ROLE IN BUILDING PEACE

Washington, D.C., March 23 –– The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) held a briefing today at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The briefing was titled "Developing a Dual Israeli-Palestinian Historical Narrative". Dr. Sami Adwan of Bethlehem University and Dr. Dan Bar-Or of Ben Gurion University presented their experiences as co-directors of the Peace Research Institute in the Middle East (PRIME) in developing and teaching the 'Dual Historical Narrative' booklets to their pupils.

Dr. Bar-On began the briefing by discussing the two narratives project. Dr. Bar-On explained that the dual narratives project; working under the auspices of PRIME, "is a joint research project" meant to "facilitate the peace process". One of the most apparent factors affecting the project was the distinct asymmetry of power between the Israelis and Palestinians. Dr.
Bar-On also explained the psychology of each group in the periods of time, pre-Oslo, during the Oslo process and at the outset of the second Intifada.

In an effort to provide security for oneself, the Israelis and Palestinians alike focused on their own narrative while dehumanizing the other and de-legitimizing the other's narrative....

http://www.americantaskforce.org/media/3-23-07.php

There is also video from the briefing...

http://www.americantaskforce.org/media/carn32307.php