Shared Histories: A Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue

There is no single history of the development of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli historical narrative speaks of Zionism as the Jewish national movement, of building a refuge from persecution, and of national regeneration. The Palestinian narrative speaks of invasion, expulsion, and oppression. Its no wonder peace remains elusive. This volume attempts to present both histories with parallel narratives of key points in the 19th and 20th centuries to 1948. The histories are presented by fourteen Israeli and Palestinian experts, joined by other historians, journalists, and activists, who then discuss the differences and similarities between their accounts. By creating an appreciation, understanding, and respect for the “other,” the first steps can be made to foster a shared history of a shared land. The reader has the opportunity to witness first hand a respectful confrontation between the competing versions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

There is no single history of the development of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli historical narrative speaks of Zionism as the Jewish national movement, of building a refuge from persecution, and of national regeneration. The Palestinian narrative speaks of invasion, expulsion, and oppression. Its no wonder peace remains elusive. This volume attempts to present both histories with parallel narratives of key points in the 19th and 20th centuries to 1948. The histories are presented by fourteen Israeli and Palestinian experts, joined by other historians, journalists, and activists, who then discuss the differences and similarities between their accounts. By creating an appreciation, understanding, and respect for the "other," the first steps can be made to foster a shared history of a shared land. The reader has the opportunity to witness first hand a respectful confrontation between the competing versions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Paul Scham, an adjunct scholar Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C., is a writer, speaker, and activist specializing in conflict resolution and Israeli-Palestinian understanding at grassroots, scholarly, and diplomatic levels. He earned his BA from Columbia Universityand his J.D. from the Universityof California Berkeley, and completed graduate work at Princeton University. Mr. Scham practiced law for several years, and in 1989 founded the Washington office of Americans for Peace Now. He subsequently became a research fellow at the Truman Institute for the Advancement of Peace at Hebrew University, coordinating on its large program of Arab-Israeli research, academic cooperation, and civil society pro jects. Since his return to the U.S.in 2002, he has been a frequent guest on radio and television programs, and has continued to write and lecture extensively on the subject. Mr. Scham speaks English, Hebrew, and some Arabic.

Walid Salem is a journalist and director of the Palestinian Center for the Dissemination of Democracy and Community Development (Panorama), Jerusalem.

Benjamin Pogrund is a journalist and director of the Yakar Center for Social Concern, Jerusalem.