Examining Collaborative Intergroup Efforts During Times of Crises: The Case Study of The Israeli Jews-Arabs Agreements Council

In the complex reality of the Israeli multicultural society, past attempts to overcome intergroup conflicts between Jews and Arabs included efforts to establish a constitution through various means, approaching the court system as a responsible adult, and using multicultural models that addressed the social-identity relations level of the conflict. In this paper we examine a new initiative for applying consensus-building theories and models within the Jewish-Arab Agreements Council. Established in 2020, prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Jewish-Arab Agreements Council unexpectedly faced major consequences, due to this national and global crisis. In this case study, four main themes emerged: (1) a steppingstone for promoting pragmatic thinking and joint ventures through intergroup relationships and collaborations; (2) a barrier to transformative processes through intergroup relationships between Council members; (3) new channels of communication through screens; and (4) a spotlight on the potential of promoting a desirable joint future. The manner in which the Council adapted its conduct in light of the pandemic could provide an example for conducting conflict management in unique circumstances in future crisis situations.