Introduction

It seems that the need to disseminate and consolidate the culture and values of

tolerance in the Palestinian society has become now, more than ever before, a

necessity and an urgent task. Moreover, transforming this culture and values into

a societal conduct is not less important. Dealing with this culture as an abstract

intellectual concept detached from the actual human behavior is not beneficial.

Behavior patterns preceding, accompanying and following the series of conflicts

between the Fateh and Hamas movements, the last few years, have proved the

need to take rapid steps to spread and plant a culture of tolerance in the Palestinian

society. The conflict, in addition to the absence of judiciary and security roles of

the Palestinian Authority in the wake of Operation Defensive Shield, carried out

by Israeli occupation forces against the infrastructure of the Palestinian Authority,

has led to a decline in the levels of tolerance among the Palestinians. This does not

imply that the Palestinian society was tolerant at all times, it does not mean that it

was not in need of such culture and values, but that the intensity of the conflict,

and the tragedies that have accompanied it have made it a more urgent matter than

before.

The importance of exhibiting tolerant behavior assumes more prominence after

tragic events suffered by nations and peoples; absence of tolerance allows for

absence of restrictions on conflicting parties, makes them deploy inhuman acts

and extreme use of violence without any ethical or legal restrictions. This is what

happened when the conflict intensified between Fateh and Hamas in Gaza Strip,

and during the retaliatory actions in the West Bank in the wake of the decisive

military victory by Hamas. There were executions of fighters captured by their

opponents committed in the streets; some were kidnapped and executed, political

opponents were shot dead and, in some cases, shooting aimed at causing damage

or disability to opponents. If the two parties to the conflict had shown a certain

level of tolerance, these acts would not have been committed.

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