Professor Mona Khoury of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem has made herself an authority in Israel with social studies. The friction between young Arabs and Jews has preoccupied them for decades. The Hamas attacks on October 7 were also a turning point for them.
Ms. Khoury, until October 7, you had great hope for peaceful coexistence between Arabs and Jews. Do you still have them?
The current situation even causes people like me to have doubts. I now wonder: have I been too naive in recent years?
Was it you?
In the end I always say, “No.” Because if people like me lose hope now, nothing will change. We cannot give up.
Attackers and victims of the Hamas attacks were often the same age, around 20. Is this generation lost? On both sides?
First of all, we need a solution to the problem. And then it will probably take another two generations before everyone finds each other again. But first a solution is needed. And now.
What was the situation at your university after the attacks? Arab, Jewish and Christian young people study side by side.
We closed the university for over two months and only started the semester at the end of December. That gave us a lot of time to prepare.
What did these preparations look like?
We trained our faculty teachers and provided psychological support. After the attacks, many employees were in a very bad psychological state, very scared and very worried. Among the students, it was mainly the Arab girls who were easily recognizable because of their headscarves and who no longer dared to come to campus. We set up their own buses for them, so that they no longer had to use public transport.
Were there heated situations?
No, it was silent. Completely silent. Both sides were in shock, no one expected these attacks. Even people who were normally very program-conscious remained reserved. The atmosphere was so tense that no one wanted to show up to support Hamas with a careless statement.
Oskar Deutsch, the president of the Jewish Community in Vienna, said a few days ago that attacks on Jews were just the beginning and that the entire democracy was under threat. Do you see that reflected in your studies?
At some point, those who act violently no longer discriminate. In Nazi Germany too, it was not just the Jews, but the Roma and Sinti, who were political opponents. It rarely stops with one group.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
