This essay has, as its focus, the peaceful initiatives in the conflict between
             Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs. It describes a specific project and
             uses this case to discuss theories about social psychology and cultural
             theories about intergroup conflicts and how such knowledge can be utilized
             to improve interpersonal and intergroup relations in the area. It discusses
             how trust and understanding can be promoted from the grass root level where
             there is hate, fear and misconceptions.
             The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is an ongoing dispute over territory,
             nationality, power, religion and history. There has been violence for the
             whole period of time since 1948, when the UN gave the land that is now Israel to the
             Jews, and a state was established.[1] One group has strong feelings about
             having created their own country after the horror they experienced in the
             Holocaust, in the territory they feel is rightfully theirs, while the other
             group thinks that their land has been stolen and that they, and their culture,
             have been pushed out. The fight has been conducted by armies, paramilitary,
             terror groups and individuals, and the history of death and suffering is
             felt on both sides. Political leaders, decision makers, the international
             community and media coverage play an important role in the conflict as
             well as in its solution, whether it will be a one or two state solution or
             Many attempts have been made to negotiate peace, and
             there have been different phases in the conflict, each affecting
             the next, but it is beyond the purpose of this essay to describe historical
             and political aspects of the conflict. Rather, this paper will discuss how
             there is an ongoing conflict between groups who have not yet found a
             solution to their seemingly incompatible goals.[3]
             Neve Shalom Wahat al-salam - The Oasis of Peace
             It is important to study what has gone wrong in an intergroup conflic...