Peacemaking through dialogue? Effects of intergroup dialogue on perceptions regarding the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

This study examines the effect of continued participation in conflict management dialogue workshops on perceptions regarding the management and the resolution of the protracted conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The analysis is based on a unique set of data, which includes in-depth interviews with Israeli Jews who have been involved in Israeli-Palestinian conflict management workshops for extended periods of time, as well as full transcripts of the discussions in such workshops. Our findings indicate that continuous involvement in conflict management workshops with Palestinians increases Israeli Jews' awareness of the different and often contrasting perspectives, issues and considerations that relate to the resolution of the conflict. Extended participation in these workshops provides Israeli Jews with a new awareness of the depth and complexity of the conflict, and of the needs and perspectives of the Palestinians. Moreover, the repeated encounter with Palestinians brings Israeli Jews to recognize the serious limitations of commonly discussed proposals for solving the conflict, and the need to continue searching for additional solutions. These findings significantly contribute to our understanding of both the potential and limitations of bottom-up grassroots conflict management interventions, alongside top-down political processes of conflict resolution and peace negotiations, in promoting peacemaking and reconciliation.