Beyond Borders:

The History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

This course provides students with a strong, text-based historical overview from the late nineteenth century through today. The course material is designed to encourage discussion and debate, challenging students to appreciate the basis of the conflicting historical claims made by all sides. The complexity of the controversy forces students to grapple with issues of religion and culture, history and politics, combined with economics, identity and survival—all reflected through primary sources, including newspaper articles, poetry, songs, government documents, speeches, photographs and memoirs. The 20-lesson course will provide students with new tools for understanding and critiquing texts and events as the conflict continues to unfold.

 

Table of Contents

Lesson 1 – Introduction to the Region – Palestine Pre-1880

Lesson 2 – The Underpinnings of Jewish and Arab Nationalism

Lesson 3 – The Development of Jewish Palestine Through WWI

Lesson 4 – Between the Wars

Lesson 5 – WWII and the Aftermath of the Holocaust

Lesson 6 – Moving Towards Zionist Independence

Lesson 7 – Israel’s War of Independence

Lesson 8 – The Suez Canal Crisis and the Sinai Campaign

Lesson 9 – Rise of Palestinian Nationalism

Lesson 10 – The Six-Day War

Lesson 11 – The War of Attrition

Lesson 12 – The Yom Kippur War

Lesson 13 – Peace with Egypt

Lesson 14 – Hoping for Peace, Preparing for Conflict

Lesson 15 – Intifada

Lesson 16 – The Price for Peace

Lesson 17 – From Peace Talk to Peace Talk

Lesson 18 – Shattered Dreams

Lesson 19 – Mounting Tensions

Lesson 20 – Visions for a Lasting Peace

 

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