Year Zero of the Arab-Israeli Conflict (with Hillel Cohen)

Empathy

Empathy plays a crucial role in understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Hillel Cohen emphasizes the importance of recognizing the narratives of both sides, despite the challenges posed by differing political environments 1. He shares his experience of engaging with various Palestinian perspectives, from Hamas to intellectuals, to foster a deeper understanding 2.

What I do as historian is to try to make people understand the other side, my own view.

--- Hillel Cohen

Russ Roberts acknowledges the frustration of Israelis who feel their narrative is often overlooked, highlighting the need for empathy to bridge these divides 1.

   

Morality

Moral judgments in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are deeply influenced by each side's narrative. Russ Roberts discusses the complexity of moral outrage and the tendency to view actions through the lens of one's own narrative 3. Hillel Cohen argues that understanding the opposing narrative is crucial to challenging one's own moral judgments and fostering a broader perspective 3.

Everybody does moral judgment, and everybody judges according to what he was thinking before.

--- Hillel Cohen

Both sides believe their actions are morally justified, which complicates the pursuit of peace 4.

   

Discrepancies

Narrative discrepancies between Israelis and Palestinians are rooted in historical biases and misunderstandings. Hillel Cohen highlights the challenge of presenting a balanced historical account, noting that people tend to believe narratives that align with their preconceptions 5. He shares his efforts to tell both sides of the story, despite the inherent difficulties 6.

We tend to believe what we want to believe. This is who we are, and this is also who I am.

--- Hillel Cohen

The translation of his work into Arabic marks a significant step towards mutual understanding, though it also faces resistance due to political tensions 5.