The Jerusalem Conference from an Other-Centered Perspective (Henry Laurens as a Case Study)

Abstract

The study of the Palestinian cause has not been confined to Arab scholarship alone; rather, it has attracted many non-Arab thinkers, regardless of their motives for engaging with it and writing about it. For some European scholars, this writing evolved into a genuine intellectual preoccupation, as evidenced by their extensive and numerous works. This research endeavor aims to analyze the practical value and civilizational dimensions of the Jerusalem Conference through an “other-centered” approach undertaken by the contemporary French Arabist Henry Laurens (born 1954), author of the scholarly encyclopedia La question de Palestine. This is achieved by examining a set of key elements, including the temporal and contextual determinants of the Jerusalem Conference, the preparatory and procedural aspects of its activities, and its internal and external repercussions. Among the preliminary findings of the study is that a single truth may vary with a change in perspective. Laurens draws the reader’s attention to the particular significance of this conference in terms of its capacity to bring together fragmented elements, reunite dispersed efforts, and articulate pressing contemporary issues. However, he also points out a number of maladies that continue to afflict the nation in general and its scholars in particular—namely narcissism, emotional impulsiveness, superficial treatment of issues, and the failure to distinguish between what should be revealed and what ought to remain concealed. In this regard, his analysis carries a noteworthy forward-looking dimension.