Israelis and Palestinians : Victims versus Victims

Today's Israeli-Palestinian conflict is the latest manifestation of a protracted and bitter dispute that has taken various shapes over the past 120 years. Several elements have, however, remained constant during the entire span of this still unresolved dispute:- e.g.,

1. two peoples are competing for possession and control of a single land; and
2. the original, local conflict does not exist in isolation, but brings with it varying degrees of involvement of outside parties.

Any attempt to understand the depth and longevity of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict requires us to focus more on myths and stereotypes than on "facts." Each side is quick to interpret episodes in its national history as reinforcing its deep sense of grievance and victimhood at the hands of the other. This is evident in Benny Morris' aptly-titled historical survey of the conflict since 1881: Righteous Victims. ¹ Each side sincerely and righteously believes that it is the sole victim of the other side's aggression and evil intentions.