The world has known many periods when two factions held such strong hatred of each other that bloody conflicts were regular, ongoing, unsurprising events. But there is perhaps no modern period of conflict as sustained as that of the ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict. As renewed hatred pumped the people of Israel and Palestine in summer 2006 fueling a flurry of bombings, kidnappings, and murders, author Moises Salinas continued to conduct interviews and his research in those nations for this book. Here the psychology professor explains why it may seem this conflict that has been raging more than 70 years is ironic. While in recent years both groups have basically agreed on the broad parameters of a peace agreement, the fight still rages nonetheless. Dr. Salinas says the obstacles to achieve a solution are not just political, but also psychological. Research - and interviews with residents - shows that just as much as disagreements over borders, refugees, and settlements, both parties are kept from the negotiating table by psychological factors including mistrust, hatred, stereotypes, and prejudice. Dr. Salinas shows us how the hatred and mistrust were created and persist for the populace, with interviewees ranging from an Israeli right wing settler and a Palestinian militant to commoners on both sides simply the victims of that violence. This book includes compelling reviews of the psychological research regarding Israeli-Palestinian relationships, and into stereotype and prejudice formation, violence and dehumanization, posttraumatic stress and, also, reconciliation, mediation, and peacemaking.

Reviews:

    * Through extensive interviews (with Jews conducting those with Jews and Palestinians conducting those with Palestinians to assure that both sides are fairly represented), he explores the psychological factors that have made the situation seemingly stuck in granite. He begins by summarizing the history of the conflict and then each chapter explores in turn prejudice, pain, hatred and hope. Most of this won't be new to people who have read about the damaging affects of prejudice and trauma, but through the substantial detail and juxtaposition of the voices of Palestinians and Israelis, we can see that they experience trauma in the same way. This goes a long way in creating empathy and breaking down stereotypes....The extensive interviews needed for his book brought him into the heart of individual suffering for both Israelis and Palestinians. Although he understood this trauma intellectually, he found himself deeply shocked and saddened at the suffering of the Palestinians who were interviewed.
      —Jewish Ledger August 15, 2007

    * Endorsement From Yossi Beilin
      Former Israel Cabinet Secretary, Deputy Foreign Minister, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, and Minister of Justice: This is a very important work. Salinas' conclusion is the only reasonable one, and it is sad that so few people know this. My hope is that this book will help to increase this understanding.

Dr. Salinas is the author of a previous Praeger Title: The Politics of Stereotype: Psychology and Affirmative Action. He has also contributed chapters for Chicano School Failure and Success by Richard R. Valencia, Intelligence Testing and Minority Students by Richard R. Valencia and Lisa A. Suzuki, and Readings about the Social Animal, by Elliot Aronson.

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BOOK INFORMATION:

Title: Planting Hatred, Sowing Pain: The Psychology of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflcit
Author: Moises F. Salinas, Ph.D.
List Price: $49.95 (UK Sterling Price: £27.95)
Publisher: Praeger Publishers
ISBN-13: 978-0-275-99005-3
Publication Date: June 2007
Publicity Contact information:
    Karin Kuczynski-Holmgren
    Senior Marketing Manager, Praeger
    Karin.Holmgren@greenwood.com
    203-226-3571
    88 Post Road West,
    Westport, CT  06991