Haters, Love Story: on the relations between Mizrahi Jews and Palestinian Arab’
A coffee and tea reception will be offered from 2pm.
The prominence of Mizrahi Jews as perpetrators of violent acts against Palestinians that have topped the headlines in recent years was the starting point of my recent study. The media coverage and public denunciation of these incidents are usually accompanied by reference to the attackers’ Mizrahi origins, frequently invoking controversy among the commentators: Does ‘Mizrahi culture’ generate excessive violence towards Palestinians? Are the Israeli media racist, denouncing Mizrahi Jews more than they do others? Or maybe this violence has to do with class and religious perceptions rather than ethnic origin?
In this talk I will start with suggesting a definition to Mizrahi acts, i.e., what makes a certain act or view (violent or otherwise) to be defined as ‘Mizrahi’; then move on to present Mizrahi views and acts regarding the ‘Palestinian Question’ from the outset of Zionism to present. The changes over time will be discussed in the light of the influence of the Ashkenazi-Zionist hegemony over Mizrahim and Arabs alike, as well as vis-à-vis Palestinian acts and ideas regarding ethnic relations within the Yishuv and the Jewish society in Israel.
Date: 15 November 2022, 14:00 (Tuesday, 6th week, Michaelmas 2022)
Venue: St Anne's College, Woodstock Road OX2 6HS
Venue Details: Seminar Room 5
Speaker: Professor Hillel Cohen (Hebrew U)
Organiser: Alissa Symon and Professor Yaacov Yadgar (University of Oxford)
Organiser contact email address: alissa.symon@sant.ox.ac.uk
Part of: Israel Studies Seminar Series Michaelmas Term 2022
Booking required?: Not required
Audience: Public
Editor: Caroline Davis