The Palestinian Shame Society

Palestinians -- like World War Two era Japanese and most Arab Muslims generally -- live in what is termed by sociologists as a "shame society." That means that members of such a society frequently behave as though "the acquisition of honor and the avoidance of shame are the key motivators" behind their actions. Thus you will hear Arafat talk about erasing the humiliation to Palestinians caused by Jewish occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and thus you will hear many Palestinians talking about the great honor that comes to those who die in a jihad.

While all people are motivated to some extent by avoiding embarassment and being admired, with Palestinians "the blame and fame game" is at the top of the list of what makes them tick.

Israelis have a much different frame of mind. They are moved more by typically Western European motivators such as "life, liberty, and the pursuit of property." Thus Israelis are not embarassed when suicide bombers attack them. They get angry and retaliate because they are more motivated by creating and protecting a society in which people's lives are secure, in which their political freedoms are protected, and in which conditions are stable enough to allow for the economic development of their society.

Thus every success of the Israelis humiliates the Palestinians, and every success by the Palestinians angers the Israelis. What the Palestinians consider successful and honorable behavior, for example, bombing a pool hall or pizzeria, is exactly what the Israelis consider criminal and barbaric behavior. And every success of the Israelis in building a modern productive state and an open, democratic society merely serrves to humiliate the Palestinians and harden them in their opposition to the Israeli way of life.

These two very different orientations to what is important in life are absolutely incompatible. So one must conclude that human nature is also working against the solution of the problems between the Israelis and the Palestinians.