A cultural conflict between Arab and Jewish educators in Israel: An interdisciplinary approach to mediation using NVC

Abstract: This work focuses on a particular conflict between two different cultural groups living together in a divided society—Bedouin-Arab and Jewish educators, who all hold Israeli citizenship. The conflict concerns the "explosive" and highly sensitive issue of the memory of the Holocaust. The case we wish to discuss involves a project organized in partnership between a Holocaust Memorial Museum and an educational association (NGO) from within the Bedouin society in Israel. We will present the main areas of tension that accompanied the project, and will focus on a particular case of “explosion” that occurred between those involved, and on the mediation process that we implemented which is based on NVC (Non Violent Communication) principles.

Keywords: Cultural conflict, mediation, NVC, Arab-Israeli conflict