ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The dominant image is that in the public discourse, Jews and Muslims are unequivocally and diametrically opposed on the issue of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This image is rooted in the regular flare-ups of the conflict in the Middle East, the demonstrations organised by pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian activists in response, the Jewish and Islamic symbols visible at these demonstrations, the attention these demonstrations receive in the media, and statements by some pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli supporters that are perceived as threatening. The prevailing image leads many Jews and Muslims to assume that they can hardly talk to each other about the Israeli-Palestinian issue and it hinders the development of balanced and stable relations between the two population groups. It is argued that there is far more variety in the views held on this issue, among Jews and Muslims in London and Amsterdam alike, than is often assumed.
