Three Narratives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Oct 19, 2017
Nevet Basker
Three Narratives on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Nevet Basker is an independent educator, public speaker, writer and policy adviser specializing in modern-day Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Based in Seattle, Washington, Nevet speaks regularly to youth and adults, Jewish and non-Jewish, and leads discussion groups about current events in Israel and the Middle East. Her approach is pluralistic and inclusive, nuanced and open to a range of viewpoints, welcoming constructive debate as an essential component of love and support for Israel. She focuses on education and also—and especially—on building community, emphasizing shared values, collective identity, and respectful discourse.

What is the Israeli-Palestinian conflict all about? The answer is not as straightforward or unambiguous as it might seem. Like the old parable of the blind men and the elephant, there are multiple and divergent answers to this question. Each answer is based on historical truths and strong passions—and each points to a completely different path in the quest for progress and, hopefully, eventual peace.

This session explores, without judging or taking sides, the facts and the underlying emotions of three different perspectives on the conflict. It explains the Israeli right-wing/settler version, the Palestinian/refugee version, and the international/two-state version. It offers a baseline for a deeper understanding and engagement, for dialog and debate. And it also clearly explains why the conflict has been so intractable for so long!

If you are familiar with the basic issues of the conflict, learn how others see it. And if you aren’t really sure where to start, you’ll find some possible angles to consider.