Ifat Maoz | The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (original) (raw)

Papers by Ifat Maoz

Research paper thumbnail of Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water: Using Facebook to Mobilize Solidarity Among East Jerusalem Palestinians During the 2014 War in Gaza

This study explores the use of a major Facebook page by East Jerusalem Palestinians during the pe... more This study explores the use of a major Facebook page by East Jerusalem Palestinians during the peak of the war in Gaza for building solidarity with the Gaza people in the asymmetric conflict with Israel. A data set containing 253 posts and 1,149 comments was qualitatively analyzed. Our findings reveal three mechanisms—calling for solidarity, maintaining engagement, and calling for protest—reflecting a configuration in which collective actions were performed through connective discursive practices. We also discuss our study as an account of a bounded protest in which online platforms are limited in their ability to transcend domination and the lack of resources for political mobilization while the offline circumstances of asymmetrical power relations remain unchanged.

Research paper thumbnail of Threat, Dehumanization, and Support for Retaliatory Aggressive Policies in Asymmetric Conflict

Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2008

Public opinion can permit or encourage retaliatory aggressive state policies against vulnerable b... more Public opinion can permit or encourage retaliatory aggressive state policies against vulnerable but threatening out-groups. The authors present a model in which public support for such policies is determined by perceived threat from and dehumanization of the target group. This two-factor model predicts Israeli Jews' support for two retaliatory aggressive policies: the more hypothetical notion of Palestinian population transfer and concrete, coercive actions toward Palestinians. The authors find (1) that threat and dehumanization are distinct constructs, each having unique contributions to explaining support for aggressive retaliatory policies, (2) that threat and dehumanization significantly explain support for aggressive retaliatory policies when respondents' hawkishness, socioeconomic status (SES), and education level are taken into account, and (3) that the association of hawkishness and SES with support for aggressive retaliatory policies is largely mediated by threat perception. Results are highly consistent across two studies, suggesting the two-factor model may be useful for understanding support for aggressive action in situations of asymmetric conflict.

Research paper thumbnail of Dialogue and ideology: The effect of continuous involvement in Jewish-Arab dialogue encounters on the ideological perspectives of Israeli-Jews

International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2010

This study explores the impact of continuous involvement in planned intercultural Jewish-Arab enc... more This study explores the impact of continuous involvement in planned intercultural Jewish-Arab encounters on the ideological perspectives of Israeli-Jews. Specifically, we examine the extent to which continuous involvement of Israeli-Jewish group facilitators in encounters with Arabs is associated with reported changes in their attitudes toward the status of the Arab minority in Israel and toward the definition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. A thematic content analysis of 13 in-depth interviews with Jewish facilitators of major encounter programs in Israel reveals that these facilitators' continuous involvement in encounters is associated, in most cases, with a reported ideological shift. Specifically, the interviewees described encounters as raising their awareness to the asymmetric relations between Jews and Arabs in Israel, and to claims regarding discrimination toward the Arab citizens of Israel. Moreover, the vast majority of interviewed Jewish-Israeli group facilitators described their continued encounter with Arab citizens of Israel as leading them to an increased detachment from Zionist ideology and to a significant decrease in their support of the definition of Israel as a Jewish state.

Research paper thumbnail of Peacemaking through dialogue? Effects of intergroup dialogue on perceptions regarding the resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Peace Building in Violent Conflict: Israeli-Palestinian Post-Oslo People-to-People Activities

International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society, 2000

This article deals with peace-building activities in the context of the intractable conflict betw... more This article deals with peace-building activities in the context of the intractable conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Scores of people-topeople projects were conducted after the September 1993 signing of the Oslo peace accords, but these projects did not seem to prevent the collapse of the peace process and the re-emergence of severe violence between the sides in late September 2000. However, evidence from the field indicates that peace-building activities are still continuing. This article will describe peacebuilding activities both before and after September 2000, discuss their effectiveness, and define their relevance in the ongoing violent conflict between the sides.

Research paper thumbnail of Is there contact at all? Intergroup interaction in planned contact interventions between Jews and Arabs in Israel

International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2002

In the past few decades, planned intergroup contact interventions play an important role in attem... more In the past few decades, planned intergroup contact interventions play an important role in attempts at conflict management and peace building. The present research raises a fundamental question regarding these interventions of ''is there contact at all?'' Based on previous research and observations, we claim that the occurrence of intergroup interactions in planned contact interventions between groups in conflict can subject to marked variability. Thus, this study's goal is to construct and apply a measure assessing the extent of intergroup interaction in such interventions. The data was collected through observations of planned encounters between Jews and Arabs that were conducted in Israel in 1999-2000. The findings show variability in the extent of intergroup interaction in the investigated programs. While the majority of these encounters (Some 65% of them) were characterized by a high extent of intergroup interaction, some 20% of them contained a medium level of interaction and some 15% a low level one. The findings further indicate that programs targeted at high school students and adults were characterized by higher levels of intergroup interaction while programs targeted at preschool to fourth grade children and especially programs targeted at fifth to ninth graders included a lower extent of such interaction. Theoretical and practical implication of these findings are discussed. r

Research paper thumbnail of Psychological Correlates of Public Support for Reconciliation: The Israeli-Jordanian Case

Tu Weiming, 2009

Psychological Correlates of Public Support Peace and Conflict Studies -26-• Volume 16, Number 1 P... more Psychological Correlates of Public Support Peace and Conflict Studies -26-• Volume 16, Number 1 PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR RECONCILIATION: THE ISRAELI-JORDANIAN CASE Ifat Maoz, Jacob Shamir, Gadi Wolfsfeld and Shira Dvir ...

Research paper thumbnail of An Experiment in Peace: Reconciliation-Aimed Workshops of Jewish-Israeli and Palestinian Youth

Journal of Peace Research, 2000

... Suha (PF): 'My house looks over the checkpoint and I saw soldiers catching Palestini... more ... Suha (PF): 'My house looks over the checkpoint and I saw soldiers catching Palestinians, putting them against the wall.' While Jews emphasize in their accounts the role of the encounter as changing their previous generalized violent image of Pales-tinians, we find no parallel ...

Research paper thumbnail of Dangerous stories: Encountering narratives of the other in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict": Correction to Ron and Maoz (2013)

Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of The Road to Peace: The Potential of Structured Encounters Between Israeli Jews and Palestinians in Promoting Peace

Peace Psychology Book Series, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Threat Perceptions and Feelings as Predictors of Jewish-Israeli Support for Compromise with Palestinians

Journal of Peace Research, 2009

... showed that each of these factors was asso-ciated with different cognitive and behav-ioral re... more ... showed that each of these factors was asso-ciated with different cognitive and behav-ioral responses of US citizens to terrorism. ... Furthermore, the present study succeeded in distinguishing three aspects of threat – perception of col-lective threat, perception of zero-sum, and ...

Research paper thumbnail of Threat, Dehumanization, and Support for Retaliatory Aggressive Policies in Asymmetric Conflict

Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2008

Public opinion can permit or encourage retaliatory aggressive state policies against vulnerable b... more Public opinion can permit or encourage retaliatory aggressive state policies against vulnerable but threatening out-groups. The authors present a model in which public support for such policies is determined by perceived threat from and dehumanization of the target group. This two-factor model predicts Israeli Jews' support for two retaliatory aggressive policies: the more hypothetical notion of Palestinian population transfer and concrete, coercive actions toward Palestinians. The authors find (1) that threat and dehumanization are distinct constructs, each having unique contributions to explaining support for aggressive retaliatory policies, (2) that threat and dehumanization significantly explain support for aggressive retaliatory policies when respondents' hawkishness, socioeconomic status (SES), and education level are taken into account, and (3) that the association of hawkishness and SES with support for aggressive retaliatory policies is largely mediated by threat perception. Results are highly consistent across two studies, suggesting the two-factor model may be useful for understanding support for aggressive action in situations of asymmetric conflict.

Research paper thumbnail of Reactive Devaluation of an "Israeli" vs. "Palestinian" Peace Proposal

Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2002

Abstract Three studies used the Palestinian-Israeli context to investigate the tendency for polit... more Abstract Three studies used the Palestinian-Israeli context to investigate the tendency for political antagonists to derogate each other's compromise proposals. In study 1, Israeli Jews evaluated an actual Israeli-authored peace plan less favorably when it was attributed to ...

Research paper thumbnail of Political expression on Facebook in a context of conflict: Dilemmas and coping strategies of Jewish-Israeli youth

Social media, and Facebook in particular, embody a complex and challenging context for impression... more Social media, and Facebook in particular, embody a complex and challenging context for impression management, particularly when it comes to political expression. The Israeli case presents a unique context in which to examine these questions as Jewish-Israeli youth are embedded in a divided society involved in the protracted Israeli–Palestinian conflict. A thematic content analysis of 15 in-depth interviews with Israeli-Jewish students who are regular Facebook users revealed distinct dilemmas. Jewish-Israeli youth are highly motivated to discuss politics on Facebook, while also aware of social risks involved in such discussion. Thus, they adopt unique coping strategies in which political expression is an integral part in the delicate act of impression management. This research extends our understanding of Facebook as a platform for expressing political content in divided societies, characterized by considerable internal and external conflict as well as high levels of political involvement.

Research paper thumbnail of Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water: Using Facebook to Mobilize Solidarity Among East Jerusalem Palestinians During the 2014 War in Gaza

This study explores the use of a major Facebook page by East Jerusalem Palestinians during the pe... more This study explores the use of a major Facebook page by East Jerusalem Palestinians during the peak of the war in Gaza for building solidarity with the Gaza people in the asymmetric conflict with Israel. A data set containing 253 posts and 1,149 comments was qualitatively analyzed. Our findings reveal three mechanisms—calling for solidarity, maintaining engagement, and calling for protest—reflecting a configuration in which collective actions were performed through connective discursive practices. We also discuss our study as an account of a bounded protest in which online platforms are limited in their ability to transcend domination and the lack of resources for political mobilization while the offline circumstances of asymmetrical power relations remain unchanged.

Research paper thumbnail of Threat, Dehumanization, and Support for Retaliatory Aggressive Policies in Asymmetric Conflict

Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2008

Public opinion can permit or encourage retaliatory aggressive state policies against vulnerable b... more Public opinion can permit or encourage retaliatory aggressive state policies against vulnerable but threatening out-groups. The authors present a model in which public support for such policies is determined by perceived threat from and dehumanization of the target group. This two-factor model predicts Israeli Jews' support for two retaliatory aggressive policies: the more hypothetical notion of Palestinian population transfer and concrete, coercive actions toward Palestinians. The authors find (1) that threat and dehumanization are distinct constructs, each having unique contributions to explaining support for aggressive retaliatory policies, (2) that threat and dehumanization significantly explain support for aggressive retaliatory policies when respondents' hawkishness, socioeconomic status (SES), and education level are taken into account, and (3) that the association of hawkishness and SES with support for aggressive retaliatory policies is largely mediated by threat perception. Results are highly consistent across two studies, suggesting the two-factor model may be useful for understanding support for aggressive action in situations of asymmetric conflict.

Research paper thumbnail of Dialogue and ideology: The effect of continuous involvement in Jewish-Arab dialogue encounters on the ideological perspectives of Israeli-Jews

International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2010

This study explores the impact of continuous involvement in planned intercultural Jewish-Arab enc... more This study explores the impact of continuous involvement in planned intercultural Jewish-Arab encounters on the ideological perspectives of Israeli-Jews. Specifically, we examine the extent to which continuous involvement of Israeli-Jewish group facilitators in encounters with Arabs is associated with reported changes in their attitudes toward the status of the Arab minority in Israel and toward the definition of Israel as a Jewish and democratic state. A thematic content analysis of 13 in-depth interviews with Jewish facilitators of major encounter programs in Israel reveals that these facilitators' continuous involvement in encounters is associated, in most cases, with a reported ideological shift. Specifically, the interviewees described encounters as raising their awareness to the asymmetric relations between Jews and Arabs in Israel, and to claims regarding discrimination toward the Arab citizens of Israel. Moreover, the vast majority of interviewed Jewish-Israeli group facilitators described their continued encounter with Arab citizens of Israel as leading them to an increased detachment from Zionist ideology and to a significant decrease in their support of the definition of Israel as a Jewish state.

Research paper thumbnail of Peacemaking through dialogue? Effects of intergroup dialogue on perceptions regarding the resolution of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict

Dynamics of Asymmetric Conflict, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Peace Building in Violent Conflict: Israeli-Palestinian Post-Oslo People-to-People Activities

International Journal of Politics, Culture, and Society, 2000

This article deals with peace-building activities in the context of the intractable conflict betw... more This article deals with peace-building activities in the context of the intractable conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Scores of people-topeople projects were conducted after the September 1993 signing of the Oslo peace accords, but these projects did not seem to prevent the collapse of the peace process and the re-emergence of severe violence between the sides in late September 2000. However, evidence from the field indicates that peace-building activities are still continuing. This article will describe peacebuilding activities both before and after September 2000, discuss their effectiveness, and define their relevance in the ongoing violent conflict between the sides.

Research paper thumbnail of Is there contact at all? Intergroup interaction in planned contact interventions between Jews and Arabs in Israel

International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 2002

In the past few decades, planned intergroup contact interventions play an important role in attem... more In the past few decades, planned intergroup contact interventions play an important role in attempts at conflict management and peace building. The present research raises a fundamental question regarding these interventions of ''is there contact at all?'' Based on previous research and observations, we claim that the occurrence of intergroup interactions in planned contact interventions between groups in conflict can subject to marked variability. Thus, this study's goal is to construct and apply a measure assessing the extent of intergroup interaction in such interventions. The data was collected through observations of planned encounters between Jews and Arabs that were conducted in Israel in 1999-2000. The findings show variability in the extent of intergroup interaction in the investigated programs. While the majority of these encounters (Some 65% of them) were characterized by a high extent of intergroup interaction, some 20% of them contained a medium level of interaction and some 15% a low level one. The findings further indicate that programs targeted at high school students and adults were characterized by higher levels of intergroup interaction while programs targeted at preschool to fourth grade children and especially programs targeted at fifth to ninth graders included a lower extent of such interaction. Theoretical and practical implication of these findings are discussed. r

Research paper thumbnail of Psychological Correlates of Public Support for Reconciliation: The Israeli-Jordanian Case

Tu Weiming, 2009

Psychological Correlates of Public Support Peace and Conflict Studies -26-• Volume 16, Number 1 P... more Psychological Correlates of Public Support Peace and Conflict Studies -26-• Volume 16, Number 1 PSYCHOLOGICAL CORRELATES OF PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR RECONCILIATION: THE ISRAELI-JORDANIAN CASE Ifat Maoz, Jacob Shamir, Gadi Wolfsfeld and Shira Dvir ...

Research paper thumbnail of An Experiment in Peace: Reconciliation-Aimed Workshops of Jewish-Israeli and Palestinian Youth

Journal of Peace Research, 2000

... Suha (PF): 'My house looks over the checkpoint and I saw soldiers catching Palestini... more ... Suha (PF): 'My house looks over the checkpoint and I saw soldiers catching Palestinians, putting them against the wall.' While Jews emphasize in their accounts the role of the encounter as changing their previous generalized violent image of Pales-tinians, we find no parallel ...

Research paper thumbnail of Dangerous stories: Encountering narratives of the other in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict": Correction to Ron and Maoz (2013)

Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of The Road to Peace: The Potential of Structured Encounters Between Israeli Jews and Palestinians in Promoting Peace

Peace Psychology Book Series, 2016

Research paper thumbnail of Threat Perceptions and Feelings as Predictors of Jewish-Israeli Support for Compromise with Palestinians

Journal of Peace Research, 2009

... showed that each of these factors was asso-ciated with different cognitive and behav-ioral re... more ... showed that each of these factors was asso-ciated with different cognitive and behav-ioral responses of US citizens to terrorism. ... Furthermore, the present study succeeded in distinguishing three aspects of threat – perception of col-lective threat, perception of zero-sum, and ...

Research paper thumbnail of Threat, Dehumanization, and Support for Retaliatory Aggressive Policies in Asymmetric Conflict

Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2008

Public opinion can permit or encourage retaliatory aggressive state policies against vulnerable b... more Public opinion can permit or encourage retaliatory aggressive state policies against vulnerable but threatening out-groups. The authors present a model in which public support for such policies is determined by perceived threat from and dehumanization of the target group. This two-factor model predicts Israeli Jews' support for two retaliatory aggressive policies: the more hypothetical notion of Palestinian population transfer and concrete, coercive actions toward Palestinians. The authors find (1) that threat and dehumanization are distinct constructs, each having unique contributions to explaining support for aggressive retaliatory policies, (2) that threat and dehumanization significantly explain support for aggressive retaliatory policies when respondents' hawkishness, socioeconomic status (SES), and education level are taken into account, and (3) that the association of hawkishness and SES with support for aggressive retaliatory policies is largely mediated by threat perception. Results are highly consistent across two studies, suggesting the two-factor model may be useful for understanding support for aggressive action in situations of asymmetric conflict.

Research paper thumbnail of Reactive Devaluation of an "Israeli" vs. "Palestinian" Peace Proposal

Journal of Conflict Resolution, 2002

Abstract Three studies used the Palestinian-Israeli context to investigate the tendency for polit... more Abstract Three studies used the Palestinian-Israeli context to investigate the tendency for political antagonists to derogate each other's compromise proposals. In study 1, Israeli Jews evaluated an actual Israeli-authored peace plan less favorably when it was attributed to ...

Research paper thumbnail of Political expression on Facebook in a context of conflict: Dilemmas and coping strategies of Jewish-Israeli youth

Social media, and Facebook in particular, embody a complex and challenging context for impression... more Social media, and Facebook in particular, embody a complex and challenging context for impression management, particularly when it comes to political expression. The Israeli case presents a unique context in which to examine these questions as Jewish-Israeli youth are embedded in a divided society involved in the protracted Israeli–Palestinian conflict. A thematic content analysis of 15 in-depth interviews with Israeli-Jewish students who are regular Facebook users revealed distinct dilemmas. Jewish-Israeli youth are highly motivated to discuss politics on Facebook, while also aware of social risks involved in such discussion. Thus, they adopt unique coping strategies in which political expression is an integral part in the delicate act of impression management. This research extends our understanding of Facebook as a platform for expressing political content in divided societies, characterized by considerable internal and external conflict as well as high levels of political involvement.