Encountering the Narrative of the “Other”: Comparing Two Types of Dialogue Groups of Jews and Arabs in Israel

Using contact approach within the context of intergroup relations, this paper compares 2 types of contact in dialogue groups carried out with the aim of increasing the acknowledgment of the collective narrative of the “other” and willingness to reconcile. The comparison was conducted between intraand interdialogue groups of Jewish and Arab Israeli students at an Israeli university. The intragroup included Israeli-Jewish students only. Perceptions of collective narratives, feelings and trust in the other, and willingness to reconcile were examined. Among Israeli-Jewish participants in both groups, the legitimacy of Palestinian narratives and trust toward Palestinians increased, whereas hatred, fear, and anger decreased. Shame toward Palestinians increased in the intragroup but decreased in the intergroup. The comparison between the dialogue groups is discussed with regard to the question of interpersonal contact not only as a promoting factor but also as a potential barrier of the process of accepting the other.