Narrative and collective memory story at work in Israel /

by 1977- Mallini, Lia

Collective memory plays an important role in conflicts, either by sustaining the identity of victimhood of the ingroup and dehumanization of the outgroup, or by providing a means to reconciliation that is more compatible with the group’s true identity. This thesis examines how collective memory can be shaped by narrative in different forms: political rhetoric, fiction writing, and personal testimony. Menachem Begin used rhetoric first to shape the collective memory in favor of Zionism, relying on biblical imagery and history, then he used rhetoric, relying on the same biblical notions, to create a possibility for peace with Egypt. Amos Oz’s work as a novelist illustrates how fictional retellings of the “truth” can demonstrate the complexity of a conflict in a way that nonfiction writing and political rhetoric can not. Finally, personal testimonies of Israeli soldiers and American Jewish scholars complete the task, covering topics that even Oz feels are too difficult.