HYM4195 - Israelis and Palestinians between war and peace

Leader(s): Mark Baker

Offered

Not offered in 2009

Synopsis

This three-week intensive unit will be based at Haifa University in Israel where students will experience first-hand the complexities of Israeli and Palestinian society. The focus will be on investigating current attempts to mediate peace between Jews and Palestinians through political, social and educational institutions. Themes to be explored include the impact of the conflict on the lives of people, poverty, illegal workers, immigrants, settlements and security issues, terrorism and counter-terrorism, Jerusalem and its holy sites. Students will travel the length and breadth of Israel where they will visit schools, museums, the Supreme Court and NGOs engaged in reconciliation work.

Objectives

Upon completion of this unit, students will be expected to have the ability to:

1. understand the geography of Israel and the Palestinian territories
2. understand debates about security issues and the impact security measures have on the day-to-day life of people
3. appreciate the social and political divisions in Israeli and Palestinian society
4. have an in-depth understanding of peace movements and the obstacles they confront
5. In addition, students studying at a fourth-year level will be expected to have the capacity to understand the changing historiographical debates about the conflict.

Assessment

Major essay (4000 words): 50%
Analytical travel diary (3000 words): 30% +
Exam (2 hours): 20%

Off-campus attendance requirements

20 hours per week for three weeks of intensive study in Israel