academic research papers
2020, “The voices of Israeli and Palestinian women - Storytelling at the intersection between Peace and Conflict Studies and Feminist Theory” by Beatrice Blanda
The voices of Israeli and Palestinian women" can be placed at the intersection between the theoretical and practical context of Peace and Conflict Studies and Gender Theories. Stemming from the standpoint of Feminist International Relations, at the same time, the thesis's approach is enriched by the critical observations of PCS theorists and practitioners, on the relevance of Track II diplomacy in the treatment and elaboration of intractable conflicts.
In this context, the voices of Jewish Israeli, Arab-Israeli and Palestinian women, are the focus of an analysis that considers storytelling as an invaluable tool for the understanding of complex situations and, at the same time, for unveiling the biased, static and monolithic conception of femininity within the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The findings of this work are also relevant to show that notwithstanding the asymmetries and differences between the Israeli and Palestinian situations, there is the common ground for a mutual recognition and understanding.
July-August 2018, “The political is personal - everyday lives of women in Israel/Palestine” by Shir Daphna-Tekoah, Ayelet Harel-Shalev and Sarah Arnd Linder, Women’s Studies International Forum
This study analyzes women's narratives of their experiences in an intractable conflict. Data were obtained from a series of personal interviews of diverse women - Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza, Palestinians citizens of Israel, and Jewish Israelis. Interviewing these women revealed narratives of their everyday life experiences. Analyzing the women's responses to challenges and achievements in the context of severe political conflict, gender hierarchies and traditional societies, in a climate of surrounding armed conflicts was the key to understanding their narratives. This paper challenges the intractable conflict paradigm that emphasizes the zero-sum nature of conflicts. The interviewees presented longings for a safe space and home, but simultaneously demonstrated emotional capacity to look beyond their own ‘side’ of the conflict and to reach out to the ‘other’ side. Our study contributes to the ongoing debate on women's narratives of security and insecurity in conflict zones.