There I was, invited to observe, listen, participate in silence. As lecturers and discussion facilitators know, one can actively participate, in silence. So I did.

Data was presented by activist researchers – an Arab Israeli woman and a Jewish Israeli woman. Three other Palestinian citizens of Israel in the room with eight Jewish Israelis. The data from surveys and studies of local public opinion among different age cohorts over the past three years – before and after October 7, 2023. Attitudes and perceptions tracked relate interactions among members of two national groups – Jewish citizens of Israel and Palestinian citizens of Israel – and their feelings about each other, with those surveyed reflecting a wide range of subgroups within their respective societies.

Regardless of the breakdown, by age, residential location, political alignments and other distinguishing characteristics, the data was disturbing, though hardly unfamiliar to the people in the room. The bulk of data at once made the severity reverberate........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)