Dr Gadi Taub

The lecture will survey the underlying forces of the conflict, its current stage, and the prospects of its future, based on what the press is refusing to tell us. Contrary to the prevailing narrative about the occupation and the struggle against it, there are underlying interests which have led the Palestinians to refuse any and all compromises, and this will remain the case until we begin to change the incentives that drive the conflict. What we need to do is start listening to what they say, not what we like to think they say.

The British Jewish liberal philosopher used to say, in jest, that every nation is unique, but the Jews are uniquer. Is Israel really a unique case among nation states? Does its constitutional structure blend state and religion in a way that other democracies don't? Does the fact that it has a non-Jewish minority constitute a violation of democratic principles? The surprising answer is that Israel is far less unique than we usually assume