Legalizing Jerusalem or, of Law, Fantasy, and Faith

Abstract

In this study, the author sought to apply his general approach to one aspect of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, often considered one of the most 'baffling' in the world. His analysis criticizes the idea that internationalism provides a neutral and rational perspective, and that it, in that sense, radically differs from nationalism. Just as there are various forms or conceptions of the universality of international authority, so are there competing conceptions of its rationality. He focuses on three attitudes, three different forms of reason, that characterize international lawyers and policymakers dealing with nationalism. The author prefers to speak of a "dedoublement passionnel" of their internationalist and nationalist longings. He says that, the fantasy of such a policy proposer "dedouble" is that there is a way we can be both believers in cosmopolitan peace and yet remain who we are: passionate, partisan nationalists. Keywords:dedoublement passionnel; Israeli-Palestinian; partisan nationalists