Encounters at the Cultural Boundaries of Conflict

This chapter explores the significance of cultural production to the realities and enactment of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It demonstrates how tangible and intangible cultural products made by Israelis, Palestinians and others have determined what aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have become visible and known, where, how and also to whom. Part of the text explains how scholarly literature on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has traditionally revolved around the so-called national and Marxist historiographical paradigms, studying (contested) national histories and endeavours, on the one hand, and critically analysing issues concerning social, economic and political sovereignty, on the other. Assessing the implications and the risks involved in focusing on national aspects and criticism alone, the chapter promotes the importance of cultural products as research sources that allow us to attend to issues of relevance to individual, social and political diversity. It suggests that in conceptualising cultural products this way, we will be able to access realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict that go beyond its formal national and state politics, and open up subsequently posibilities to expand its historical imagination and pave the way towards inter-national dialogue in which each party can recognise the emotional and practical needs of the other with greater empathy