Today’s guest is Dr. Daniel Bar-Tal, Professor Emeritus at the School of Education, Tel Aviv University. In this episode, we discuss differing narratives between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs and how to bridge that gap, the decline of the Israeli peace movement, and changing public opinion toward Israel abroad.
Listen now; link in bio.
Full bio
Dr. Daniel Bar-Tal is Professor Emeritus at the School of Education, Tel Aviv University. Dr. Bar-Tal received his graduate training in social psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, and completed his doctoral thesis in 1974. He previously served as a Director of the Walter Lebach Research Institute for Jewish-Arab Coexistence through Education, Tel Aviv University and as President of the International Society of Political Psychology, and was Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Palestine Israel Journal. In 2013 he received honorary membership in the Polish Society of Social Psychology.
Since the early eighties his interest has shifted to political psychology and the study of the socio-psychological foundations of intractable conflicts and peace building, including reconciliation. In the latter area, he studied the evolvement of the socio-psychological infrastructure in times of intractable conflict that consists of shared societal beliefs of ethos of conflict, collective memory, and emotional collective orientations. He also studied socio-psychological barriers to peacemaking and ways to overcome them, and acquisition of the conflict repertoire by children and adolescents.
Within this scope of studies he developed with his collaborators theoretical frameworks for concepts like siege mentality, intractable conflict, delegitimization, collective victimhood, socio-psychological infrastructure, culture of conflict, effects of lasting occupation, barriers to peace making, construction and struggle over conflict supporting narratives, acquisition of intergroup psychological repertoire, early development of the ethos of conflict, transitional context, collective identity, and peace education, among many others.
Elizabeth Hoffman, Executive Director, North America at ONE, joined me on my podcast to discuss the urgent humanitarian situation in Sudan as a result of its ongoing civil war. She speaks about the background to the civil war and the players involved, and discusses the techniques of fear being used in the war, and the horrific crimes against humanity being committed by both the RSF and the SAF.
Listen to this and more in my latest episode, available now - link in bio.
Human Rights Watch warns that the abrupt US foreign aid cuts in 2025 devastated organizations working to document abuses, protect vulnerable communities, and defend fundamental freedoms worldwide. These cuts weakened accountability at a time when authoritarianism, repression, and global conflict are rapidly expanding.
Today’s podcast guest is Elizabeth Hoffman, Executive Director, North America at ONE, a global, nonpartisan organization advocating for the investments needed to create economic opportunities and healthier lives in Africa. In this episode, we discuss the background to the current civil war in Sudan, Elizabeth’s on-the-ground observations from her journey to the country earlier this year, the atrocities being committed against the people of Sudan, and what the international community, particularly the US, can do to help end this conflict.
Listen now; link in bio.
Full bio
Elizabeth Hoffman is Executive Director, North America at ONE, a global, nonpartisan organization advocating for the investments needed to create economic opportunities and healthier lives in Africa.
She has extensive experience in government relations and international policy. Before joining ONE, she held positions at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and as a senior staff member in the House of Representatives focused on foreign policy, national security, and human rights. She also worked at the George W. Bush Institute, where she developed and executed a leadership program for Burmese political leaders.
Elizabeth is a nonresident senior associate at CSIS and a term member at the Council on Foreign Relations. She has published articles and analysis for a variety of organizations and outlets and is a frequent media commentator on foreign policy and defense.
She holds an M.A. in International Affairs from George Washington University and a B.A. in Political Science from Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.
Six men were executed by hanging in Jordan in a single morning, marking the country's largest mass execution since 2017. The six men had been convicted of terrorism and drug-related crimes that resulted in the deaths of police and security officers. While those responsible for violent crimes should be held accountable, the death penalty remains one of the world's most controversial punishments because it is irreversible. If mistakes are made during an investigation or trial, they can never be corrected. Human rights organizations have also raised concerns because all six men were tried before Jordan's State Security Court, a special court that has faced criticism for failing to provide the same due process protections as ordinary civilian courts. An increasing number of countries have abolished capital punishment, arguing that life imprisonment can provide justice while protecting against irreversible judicial errors. Justice should deliver accountability while upholding fairness, due process, and respect for human rights.
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After the fall of Bashar al-Assad's government, many Syrians have taken to the streets demanding justice for decades of torture, killings, disappearances, and other abuses committed under his rule. Their calls for accountability are both understandable and necessary. But in recent days, some protests have reportedly turned into vigilante attacks and sectarian violence. People accused of having ties to the former Assad government, particularly members of the Alawite community, the religious minority from which Assad comes have been attacked, threatened, and had their homes and businesses vandalized. Holding criminals accountable is essential. Punishing entire communities because of their religion, ethnicity, or perceived political affiliation is not justice—it is collective punishment. Syria's future depends on the rule of law, fair trials, and equal protection for all its citizens. If revenge replaces justice, the country risks repeating the same cycle of violence that has already cost countless lives.
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Majority of the boot licking baathist in syria were from the suni Majority sect. These same people are still influential only now they grow their beards shave their moustaches and chant anti sectarian slogans. Don't be fooled the suni majority always controlled the state overall..be it banking , trade, Police , baathist regional and city members etc Its obvious now ... Assad inherited the leadership from his father because the majority suni that were making $$$ from the regime wanted the same status quo. The only thing the alawites and other minorities got was stability and security which was enough for 40 plus years.
Today’s guest is Dr. Daniel Bar-Tal, Professor Emeritus at the School of Education, Tel Aviv University. Dr. Bar-Tal is a noted psychologist, who since the early eighties has focused on political psychology and the study of the socio-psychological foundations of intractable conflicts and peacebuilding, including reconciliation.
In this episode, we discuss differing narratives between Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs and how to bridge that gap, the decline of the Israeli peace movement, changing public opinion toward Israel abroad, and how, as they posit, the Jews have transformed from victims to victimizers.
Listen now: soundcloud.com/alon-ben-meir/on-the-issues-episode-154
Full bio
Dr. Daniel Bar-Tal is Professor Emeritus at the School of Education, Tel Aviv University.
Dr. Bar-Tal received his graduate training in social psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, and completed his doctoral thesis in 1974. He previously served as a Director of the Walter Lebach Research Institute for Jewish-Arab Coexistence through Education, Tel Aviv University and as President of the International Society of Political Psychology, and was Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Palestine Israel Journal. He has won numerous awards, including the Alexander George Award of the International Society of Political Psychology, Nevitt Sanford Award of the International Society of Political Psychology, and Morton Deutsch Conflict Resolution Award of the Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence. He was awarded the Golestan Fellowship at the Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences in 2000-2001, and in 2013 received honorary membership in the Polish Society of Social Psychology.
Since the early eighties his interest has shifted to political psychology and the study of the socio-psychological foundations of intractable conflicts and peace building, including reconciliation. In the latter area, he studied the evolvement of the socio-psychological infrastructure in times of intractable conflict that consists of shared societal beliefs of ethos of conflict, collective memory, and emotional collective orientations. He also studied socio-psychological barriers to peacemaking and ways to overcome them, and acquisition of the conflict repertoire by children and adolescents.
Within this scope of studies he developed with his collaborators theoretical frameworks for concepts like siege mentality, intractable conflict, delegitimization, collective victimhood, socio-psychological infrastructure, culture of conflict, effects of lasting occupation, barriers to peace making, construction and struggle over conflict supporting narratives, acquisition of intergroup psychological repertoire, early development of the ethos of conflict, transitional context, collective identity, and peace education, among many others.
The work in these areas has resulted in books, Group Beliefs (1990), Shared Beliefs in a Society (2000), Stereotypes and Prejudice in Conflict: Representations of Arabs in Israeli Jewish Society (2005), Living with the conflict (2007), and Intractable conflicts: Socio-psychological foundations and dynamics (2013). He co-edited a wide variety of volumes, and in addition has published over two hundred articles and chapters in major journals, books and encyclopedias.
Of special importance in his professional life is founding and leading a “learning community” of 10-15 graduate (mostly doctoral) students, who come from different disciplines and universities, to carry their studies about conflict and their resolution. The learning community serves as a framework for learning, reflecting, debating, and developing; carrying conceptual and empirical studies; socialization for academic career and societal involvement; and for social support.
Through the years he has lectured widely on his work, and worked as Visiting Professor at Vanderbilt University, Brandeis University, Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales, University of Muenster, University of Maryland College Park, Polish Academy of Science, University of Palermo, and Australian National University.
He retired in 2015 and decided to devote his second career to political activism. He founded a peace movement Save Israel-Stop the Occupation with the goal to end the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and establish the Palestinian state. SISO’s website can be found here: www.siso.org.il/.
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At least 52 people have died in ICE custody since the start of Trump's current administration. That number should alarm every American. Immigration detention is not supposed to be a death sentence. Yet as the number of people held in ICE facilities has surged, so have reports of inadequate medical care, delayed treatment, and deteriorating detention conditions. According to recent findings, the death rate in ICE custody has increased dramatically, raising serious concerns about accountability and the protection of basic human rights. Every person in government custody has the right to adequate medical care and humane treatment, regardless of their immigration status. A country committed to the rule of law must also be committed to protecting human dignity.
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That's an astoundingly low number, far below that of regular prisons in the U.S.
That you know of
The lesson here is : self deport
Really Meir?
Those 52 illegal aliens should have took up President Trump’s offer for a Free(TAXPAYER EXPENSE)Air Line Ticket Back Where they come from.
No concern about Americans that have died in jails!
Then this should outrage you even more....... In the United States, an average of 350 to 500 prisoners die per month across state and federal facilities. Nationwide, this translates to about 4,200 to 6,100 deaths annually, with the vast majority resulting from natural causes and long-term illness in an aging incarcerated population
Alon Ben-Meir
Did you hear about all the. Illegal aliens that have died while self-deporting on a taxpayer provided airline flight and $1,000 of cash-in hand? Me either. Those encouraging illegal aliens into dangerous and bad deportation options should be held accountable.
Weird how there were 56 similar deaths during Obama's time, and yet not 1 peep...
Please cite a factual source...
How many American citizens died by the hands of an illegal? Hmmm Alon Ben-Meir? I’ll wait .
Ok and ur point
Imagine being upset fewer people are dying
Amen
Let us know when he reaches Obama's numbers , will ya !!!!
During the Obama administration, 56 individuals have died while in ICE custody. This report focuses on eight deaths during a three-year period (2010 to 2012). Based on documentation from ICE investigations conducted after each death, which the ACLU received through a Freedom of Information Act request, the report shows that violations of ICE’s medical standards contributed to the deaths. Funny Obama had more nothing said
Shouldn't invaded the wrong country.
Great news but more to go to catch obama and biden’s record of deaths in custody but we aren’t supposed to know or talk about that.
Lies!!
Make the number 5200
Fake news
Given how many people have been detained, 52 might be an average number. And as many have died under previous administrations. Liars love to misuse statistics.
