This is a case study of a citizen peacemaking effort
called the Compassionate Listening Project. The
project
organizes delegations of north Americans most but
not all of
whom are Jewish on trips to Israel, Gaza and the
West Bank with
the intention of listening to a broad spectrum of
positions and views
on the conflict. Based on participant observations
and in-depth
interviews, this work looks at how citizens involved
with this peace
effort those that go to listen and those they listen
to construct
and reconstruct the meaning of conflict and peace
through their
words, behaviors and interactions. Descriptive
narrative illuminates
the experiences of those involved with this project,
revealing how
ordinary citizens grapple with the complexities and
contradictions
that arise in ethnic and identity-based conflicts,
particularly as
related to themes of reconciliation, justice and
coexistence.
Focused on the period marked by the disintegration
of the peace
process and the outbreak of the Second Intifada
(1999-2000), it
provides insight about a range of citizen attitudes,
assumptions,
beliefs and expectations leading up to the collapse.
called the Compassionate Listening Project. The
project
organizes delegations of north Americans most but
not all of
whom are Jewish on trips to Israel, Gaza and the
West Bank with
the intention of listening to a broad spectrum of
positions and views
on the conflict. Based on participant observations
and in-depth
interviews, this work looks at how citizens involved
with this peace
effort those that go to listen and those they listen
to construct
and reconstruct the meaning of conflict and peace
through their
words, behaviors and interactions. Descriptive
narrative illuminates
the experiences of those involved with this project,
revealing how
ordinary citizens grapple with the complexities and
contradictions
that arise in ethnic and identity-based conflicts,
particularly as
related to themes of reconciliation, justice and
coexistence.
Focused on the period marked by the disintegration
of the peace
process and the outbreak of the Second Intifada
(1999-2000), it
provides insight about a range of citizen attitudes,
assumptions,
beliefs and expectations leading up to the collapse.