Between Bethlehem and Jerusalem: Can Empathy Bridge the Gap?

The author, an Israeli therapist and a political activist, describes watching the controversial Israeli feature film Bethlehem with a Palestinian friend, hoping to discuss with him the complicated issues raised by the film. The dramatic incident that ensued caused the surfacing of long-standing questions in the author’s mind regarding the ways to apply Kohut’s views and self psychology’s basic tenets about essential human goodness, the sources of rage and aggression, to the turmoil of the local circumstances. Drawing from classical and contemporary self psychological contributions, as well as from other philosophical and religious writings, she discusses the question of whether empathy can bridge the gap between Palestinians and Israelis.