Hillel Cohen: Haters, Love Story: on the relations between Mizrahi Jews and Palestinian Arab
b'Hillel Cohen discusses his new book on Mizrahim, Arabs, and Asheknazim in Israel The prominence of Mizrahi Jews as perpetrators of violent acts against Palestinians that have topped the headlines in recent years was the starting point of my recent study. The media coverage and public denunciation of these incidents are usually accompanied by reference to the attackers\\u2019 Mizrahi origins, frequently invoking controversy among the commentators: Does \\u2018Mizrahi culture\\u2019 generate excessive violence towards Palestinians? Are the Israeli media racist, denouncing Mizrahi Jews more than they do others? Or maybe this violence has to do with class and religious perceptions rather than ethnic origin?\\nIn this talk I will start with suggesting a definition to Mizrahi acts, i.e., what makes a certain act or view (violent or otherwise) to be defined as \\u2018Mizrahi\\u2019; then move on to present Mizrahi views and acts regarding the \\u2018Palestinian Question\\u2019 from the outset of Zionism to present. The changes over time will be discussed in the light of the influence of the Ashkenazi-Zionist hegemony over Mizrahim and Arabs alike, as well as vis-\\xe0-vis Palestinian acts and ideas regarding ethnic relations within the Yishuv and the Jewish society in Israel.'