The Hidden Bridge: Discovering Shared Intra-group Experiences in a Conflict -Ridden Environment

Abstract: This study examines the experiences of non-religious Jews and Arabs within their intra-group encounters. Drawing on the Developmental Model of Intercultural Sensitivity (DMIS), the study explores how non-religious individuals interpret inter-identity encounters within their own identity groups. Using qualitative research and semi-structured interviews, we investigated the experiences of 28 secular Jewish and 28 secular Arab participants regarding religiosity-based conflicts in intra-group settings. Findings indicate similar experiential components among non-religious participants across both groups. By analyzing these encounters in both Jewish and Arab societies, the study provides novel insights into intra-group dynamics in peace-building contexts. It highlights the importance of identifying commonalities rather than differences in conflict-ridden environments. These findings contribute to peace-building efforts by emphasizing the need to address internal group dynamics alongside inter-group relations, offering new perspectives for dialogue facilitation in conflict resolution theory and practice.

Keywords: Intra-group dynamics, Religion, Jewish-Arab religious-non-religious encounters, Qualitative research