ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT - A COGNITIVE ANALYSIS

The present paper attempts to analyze the Israel-Palestinian conflict in the framework of an epistemological approach as an example of cognitive analysis of international conflicts. It suggests that the beliefs of one group are incompatible with the beliefs of the other. This situation of cognitive discrepancy is assumed to enhance and maintain the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In order to analyze the sources and dynamics of the cognitive discrepancy, the epistemological approach to beliefs acquisition is presented. In this framework, of special importance are the three epistemic motivations that determine whether the beliefs are "frozen" or "opened" for substitution by alternative hypotheses. It is suggested that the motivation for specific conclusion reflects freezing on a specific belief through the desire to hold a given belief as truth and refraining from entertaining rival alternative hypotheses. The motivation for specific conclusion indicates that certain needs in the form of wishes and/or fears motivate the maintenance of the given beliefs. On the assumption that both Israelis and Palestinians have the motivation for specific conclusion, the present paper analyzes a few of the fears and wishes that underlie their motivation. Finally, a few suggestions for "unfreezing" the beliefs of the two opposing sides are offered. © 1990.