Positive contact dominates Jewish–Palestinian interactions in mixed Israeli neighborhoods

Abstract

Partition theory holds that ethnic mixing is associated with violence and therefore promotes separation. This article assesses the empirical validity of this logic through a survey in mixed neighborhoods in Israel. The findings largely contrast with partition theory, suggesting that Jewish and Palestinian Israelis interact frequently and positively with each other, and that these interactions are associated with support for contested conflict resolution proposals. Consistent with the psychology literature on inter-group contact, the identified correlations show that even in conflict environments marked by physical separation and violence, ethnic mixing may be related to peaceful interactions and support for conflict resolution.