Generational Transmission of Collective Memory of 1948 War Events among Internally

Displaced Palestinians in IsraelEman Nahhas

Tel Aviv UniversityAbstract: The main purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the Internally Displaced Palestinian family in the construction of a particular Palestinian collective memory and transmitting it to the second and third generations. This collective memory has been targeted by Israeli institutions in continuous attempts to suppress the possibility of being communicated in official channels. The study tries to answer three major questions. Firstly, the amount, extent, and dominating themes of intergenerational transmission of the Palestinian collective memory, concerning the events of 1948; to find factors that reactivate, maintain and fortify the generational collective memory; and finally, to investigate the relation between collective memory and the collective social identity of IDPs. The present study seeks to contribute to broader knowledge of the IDPs’ role in transmitting the Palestinians’ collective memory across generations. In addition, it aims to provide a profound notion of the relation between IDP’s collective memory of the events of 1948, and their social identity, as well as to afford a documentation of the Palestinian narrative.

Abstract: The main purpose of this study is to investigate the role of the Internally Displaced Palestinian family in the construction of a particular Palestinian collective memory and transmitting it to the second and third generations. This collective memory has been targeted by Israeli institutions in continuous attempts to suppress the possibility of being communicated in official channels. The study tries to answer three major questions. Firstly, the amount, extent, and dominating themes of intergenerational transmission of the Palestinian collective memory, concerning the events of 1948; to find factors that reactivate, maintain and fortify the generational collective memory; and finally, to investigate the relation between collective memory and the collective social identity of IDPs. The present study seeks to contribute to broader knowledge of the IDPs’ role in transmitting the Palestinians’ collective memory across generations. In addition, it aims to provide a profound notion of the relation between IDP’s collective memory of the events of 1948, and their social identity, as well as to afford a documentation of the Palestinian narrative.

Procedure and Interview Schedule: In-depth three designed interview schedules with open-ended questions, one for each generation, concerning their collective memory; participation in commemoration activities; feelings about what happened and emotions felt while sharing the memory with others; and the influence of the events of 1948 on the interviewees’ identity.

Conclusion:IDP’s family played a crucial role in transmitting the collective memory of the events of 1948 through three generations.The three generations reconstruct different collective memory with some similarities. The three generations rebuild their memory accounts of the village of origin through diverse means: The first generation is largely indulged in story telling while younger generations participate more in commemoration activities.2nd and 3rd generations express a stronger assertion in future return than the 1st generation .

IDPs’ Collective MemoryThe three generations talked about the uprooting experience: Experiencing fear and witnessing violent actions; Negative self perception; Self blame; Sense of victimhood, and grief over the loss of village of origin.2nd and 3rd generations blame the 1st generation of “leaving” their homes while the 1st generation tries to justify his coping strategy.2nd and 3rd generations believe that there was an operation of ethnic cleansing while the 1st perceived the uprooting as temporary.

IDPs’ Values & Attitudes 2nd and 3rd generations express a strong readiness to sacrifice for their land and are adherent to the right of return . However, the 1st generation is more desperate.

IDPs’ IdentityThe three generations assert their sense of being refugees in their own homeland.

Results Results

The right of return is generationally transmitted from one generation to

another to another….

Sample: 10 Grandparents (age around 80), who experienced displacement during 1948 events. Their elderly male sons: (10 men, age around 50), and their elderly male grand children:(10 fellows, age around 25).

Introduction: Arabic narratives have promoted the term Al-Nakba (the immense catastrophe) to refer to the Palestinian experience in 1948. More than half of the 1.4 million Palestinian Arabs were expelled from historic Palestine. In addition, thousands were killed and injured. Although IDPs in Israel did not cross the borders of the newly established state of Israel, they configure as part of the overall Palestinian refugee problem. Nevertheless, Israeli authorities prevented the families to return to their original villages, making them refugees in their own homeland.