Course Description
The territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River is a small piece of land claimed by two people, Jews and Arabs, and revered by three monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. During the 20th century, it became a place of conflict which has become one of the most contentious conflicts of the last 80 decades. Even though the Israeli-Arab/Palestinian conflict has been, till October 7 2023, relatively a low-intensity conflict with a number of causalities much lower compared to many post-WWII conflicts, it attracted global attention. The October 7 massacre marked a turning point, leading to a massive bombardment of Gaza by Israel. Furthermore, the escalation also led to heightened concerns about regional stability and the potential for further spreading of the conflict beyond Gaza and Israel.
The course is focused on the causes of the conflict, the main issues which define it, the personalities that shape it, and the role of the international actors which influence it. We will look at the conflict through various perspectives and interpretations. Special attention in this course is given to conflicting Israeli and Palestinian narratives. The course also focuses on the most recent developments in the region.
- Teacher: Irena Kalhousová
- Teacher: Ariel Reichard
- Teacher: Mansheetal Singh