Encountering the Suffering of the Other Reconciliation Studies amid the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Band 7

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezechiel 36:26). This biblical image, particularly significant for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, gives insight into the central issues of this book: how a greater readiness to reconcile can take place among individuals and groups who experience the "suffering of the other," even in the midst of a protracted conflict such as the Israeli-Palestinian one. This book offers a collection of essays written by the team members of a transdisciplinary DFG project between Jena University, Ben Gurion University, Tel Aviv University, and the Wasatia Academic Institute “Hearts of Flesh – not Stone” analyzed the effects of encountering the suffering of the opposing group (out-group), by investigating three main hypotheses: 1. Encountering the suffering of the out-group can massively contribute to overcome a widespread marginalization or even denial of such suffering in conflicting societies. 2. Encountering the suffering of the out-group can generate empathy. Empathy may further lead to willingness to reconcile. Yet, it should be clarified under which conditions empathy leads to willingness to reconcile. 3. Contextual factors play a very important role in encountering the suffering of the out-group, and its effects in terms of willingness to reconcile Ferrari unites scientific papers related to the first major international project in transdisciplinary reconciliation studies, by focussing on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict What happens when members of societies who deny the pain of their "enemies" meet the reality of the suffering?