Literary Representations of the Palestine/Israel Conflict After the Second Intifada

This edited collection explores the complexities of the Palestine/Israel conflict through literary works, offering new perspectives and examining the role of aesthetic representation. It highlights the thematic concerns that connect literary engagements across the globe and explores how emergent forms of writing and representation illuminate and re-describe the conflict.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 31 August 2022
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

This edited collection brings together discussions of literary works from Israel, the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the Palestinian and Jewish Diasporas, as well as from authors not directly involved who are seeking to unpack the conflict's complexities for a wider audience. It offers new perspectives into how the Palestine/Israel conflict is, and can be, represented after the Second Palestinian Intifada, an epochal event for both Israelis and Palestinians. The collection foregrounds the thematic concerns that link literary engagements with Palestine/Israel across the globe but also examines the role that aesthetic representation plays in framing the conflict and its power dynamics. As such, the contributors address how emergent forms of writing and representation illuminate but also re-describe conflict in the context of Israel and Palestine and how depicting this conflict has had reverberations for representing conflict and conflict zones more widely.

The collection explores the diverse range of literary works that have been produced in response to the Palestine/Israel conflict, including novels, poetry, plays, and memoirs. It examines how these works have sought to represent the complex realities of the conflict, including the experiences of both Israelis and Palestinians, as well as the broader political and social context in which it occurs.

One of the key themes that emerges from the collection is the role of memory in shaping the conflict. Contributors argue that the memory of past events, such as the Nakba (the displacement of Palestinians during the creation of Israel), continues to shape the present-day dynamics of the conflict. They also explore how the media, cultural institutions, and educational systems play a role in perpetuating these memories and shaping public perceptions of the conflict.

Another theme that is explored is the role of identity in the conflict. Contributors argue that the identities of both Israelis and Palestinians are shaped by the conflict, and that these identities are often contested and fragmented. They explore how literature can help to complicate and challenge these identities, as well as how it can contribute to the construction of new narratives and perspectives on the conflict.

The collection also examines the role of gender in the conflict, particularly the experiences of women and girls. Contributors argue that the conflict has had a particularly devastating impact on women and girls, who are often marginalized and excluded from the peace process. They explore how literature can help to raise awareness of these issues and promote gender equality and social justice.

Finally, the collection explores the role of literature in promoting peace and reconciliation. Contributors argue that literature can play a powerful role in promoting understanding and empathy between different groups and communities. They explore how literature can help to bridge the gap between Israelis and Palestinians, as well as between different communities within Israel and Palestine.

In conclusion, this edited collection offers a valuable contribution to the study of the Palestine/Israel conflict. It provides new perspectives into how the conflict is represented in literature and the role that aesthetic representation plays in shaping public perceptions and understanding of the conflict. The collection is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of this complex and ongoing conflict.

Weight: 540g
Dimension: 163 x 241 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781474499736