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Edward Said - The Burdens of Interpretation and The Question of Palestine (1986)
Edward Said - The Burdens of Interpretation and The Question of Palestine (1986)
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The Burdensof Interpretation
and the Questionof Palestine
EdwardSaid*
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30 JOURNALOF PALESTINESTUDIES
tProfessor
Kelman'sabstract reads,in part,as follows:"Herbert Kelman'spresidentialaddressstartswith
the propositionthatthe Israeli-Palestinianconflictis perceivedby the partiesas a zero-sumconflict
aroundnationalidentity andexistence.This viewhas ledto mutualefforts todelegitimizetheotherwith
dangerously
dehumanizing implications.The delegitimizing efforts
createan atmosphere antagonisticto
Theyundermine
negotiation. thestepstowardnegotiation thatleaderson bothsideshave in facttaken
becauseeach definesthe negotiating framework in waysthatare profoundly threatening to the other.
Negotiationsare possibleonly in a framework of mutualrecognition,which makes it clear that
of the other'srightsrepresents
recognition assertion,ratherthanabandonment, of one's own rights.
Suchnegotiations can be facilitated
through a prenegotiationprocessconduciveto differentiationofthe
enemyimage,including a breakdown ofthemonolithic viewoftheenemycamp,a distinction between
theenemy'sideologicaldreamsand operational programs, and a splitbetweenthenegativeand positive
components of theother'sideologyand symbolsof legitimacy."
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BURDENSOF INTERPRETATION 31
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32 JOURNAL
OF PALESTINESTUDIES
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BURDENSOF INTERPRETATION 33
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OF PALESTINESTUDIES
34 JOURNAL
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BURDENSOF INTERPRETATION 35
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OF PALESTINESTUDIES
36 JOURNAL
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BURDENSOF INTERPRETATION 37
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