As the Israeli-Palestinian conflict enters its darkest chapter in decades, both sides are evoking the same foundational moment in their past: the events of 1948.

David K. Shipler, a former Jerusalem bureau chief for The New York Times and the author of a Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the conflict, discusses the meaning and reality of what happened that year.

Guest: David K. Shipler, author of “Arab and Jew: Wounded Spirits in a Promised Land.”

Background reading: 

• Recent violence in an Israeli town carries bitter echoes of the past for Palestinians.
• From the archive: Israel declares independence on May 14, 1948.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.