Crash Course on the History of Israel, Zionism, and the Conflicts

This course will include the following five sessions — each an hour long — providing the participants with an in-depth understanding of the history of the Arab-Israeli and Israeli-Palestinian conflicts, as well as the current Iranian-Israeli conflict.

1. From Ancient Empires to Modern Nationalism

To understand the modern-day conflict, one must understand the history of both Jewish and Arab connection to the land. Diving deep into Jewish history, this session will cover Jewish indigeneity and historic presence in the land, both the Babylonian and Roman exiles, and the roots of Zionism. We will also trace rule of Judea/Palestine post-exile, which will bring us to Islamic conquest and the beginning of Arab/Muslim connection to the land.
 

2. Zionism and Jewish Statehood

As we enter modern times, the territory rests in the hands of the Ottoman Empire, and we start to see the rise of nationalism in Europe. With that as our backdrop, here we will uncover the evolution of the Jewish national movement, discuss key Zionist figures, and their efforts to gain support for a Jewish State. Lastly, we will examine the impact of WWI, the Mandate period, attempts at partition, and resulting statehood.
 

3. The Rise and Decline of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

The War of Independence in 1948 will result in a Jewish State, and an aftermath of both new territorial boundaries and refugees. We also see ongoing Arab-rejectionism, which eventually will lead to both the Six Day and the Yom Kippur Wars. We will discuss all these issues and wrap up this session by discussing Israel’s peace treaties and warming relations with the Arab world today.
 

4. The Evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

From the aftermath of the nakba (the Catastrophe) in 1948, a new distinct people will emerge: the Palestinians. In this session we will dive deep into the evolution of the Palestinian National identity and movement, their terror actions taken against the state, and the numerous attempts Israel had made in the last 30 years to negotiate a peaceful settlement with their leaders.

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5. Understanding October 7th and the Aftermath

The world has changed dramatically since the horrible attack by Hamas on October 7th, 2023. This session will focus on the context leading up to the attack, including the evolution of the Gaza Strip before and after Hamas rule, as well as how Israeli policy was altered and adapted given the changing political reality. Moreover, we will learn to better understand the post-Oct 7th world for Israel and Jews, and how to navigate it more effectively with these new and challenging circumstances.