Abstract:
Israel and the Islamic Republic of Iran have had a problematic relationship for the last four decades. Despite
their tense relations, Israel is home to thousands of Persians and Iran has the second largest Jewish population in
the Middle East. There are social, political and psychological obstacles to dual identification. Using qualitative
thematic analysis and Identity Process Theory, this article examines the construction and management of
Persian/Iranian and Jewish/Israel identities among these groups. The following themes are discussed: (1) The
Challenges and Maintenance of Dual Identification, (2) Breaking Down Boundaries Between Identities, and (3)
Persian/Iranian or Jewish/Israel? Establishing Coherence in Identity. Results suggest that, while the social and
political institutions in Iran and Israel construct barriers to dual identification, individuals deploy creative
strategies for constructing an ethnic identity that acknowledges both components of their heritage. The
implications for self-identity are discussed.
