History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict with Professor Rachel Fish

This four-session course examines relations between Arabs and Jews in the territory referred to as Eretz Yisrael, Palestine, and the modern nation-state of Israel. In this course, students explore how Arab-Jewish relations have transformed over time. Domestic, regional, and international politics that have impacted those relations are considered. The course goal is to develop students' knowledge and to provide nuance to their understanding of this topic. Course participants read two articles or book chapters in advance of each class session. Additional supplemental readings will also be provided for those interested in exploring the topics further.

Presented through generous underwriting by Judy and Ben Bertram, and with the support of members of the JCA's Community Relations Council.

This class meets:
Sunday, April 8 -- 1:00 - 3:00 PM
Mondays, April 23, April 30, May 7 -- 7:30 - 9:00 PM

The four class sessions cover the following topics:

1) Yishuv Period and 1948 War- Interactions between Jews and Arabs during the period of the Yishuv. The role of the British and how they influenced the Arabs and the Zionists. We will spend time examining the events of the 1948 war (War of Independence/al-Naqba) and how it is understood by Israeli Jews, the Arab world and the Palestinian Arab community.

2) 1967 War (the Six Day War/al-Naqsa)- This class will focus on the pressures of Egypt and Nasser's actions and the international response (or lack thereof) and Israel's preemptive strike and the Israeli domestic societal changes that occurred because of these events. We will discuss the impact of this historical moment for the Palestinian population, the region of the Middle East, and the implications for Jews living outside of Israel.

3) Lebanon War and First and Second Intifada- This class will focus on the War of Lebanon as a war of choice, the first in Israel's history, and the actions taken by Ariel Sharon. It will lead us into a discussion about the First Intifada and changes that began taking place within Palestinian society. We will explore what is happening in the territories in distinction to the Palestinians who are citizens of the state of Israel. We will also discuss the role of Palestinian leadership during the First and Second Intifadas.

4) Future Options: One State, Two State or Beyond- This class examines where we are today with Israelis, Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza and the Palestinians who are citizens of the state of Israel and the greater Middle East region. We will discuss the possibilities of a One state, Two state or alternative paradigms. We will also consider the role of Russia, Hezbollah, and Iran in the region and in particular on the Palestinian-Israeli relationship or conflict.

Professor Rachel Fish is associate director of the Schusterman Center for Israeli Studies at Brandeis University. She completed her doctoral degree in the Near Eastern and Judaic Studies department at Brandeis University in 2013. Her dissertation, "Configurations of Bi-nationalism: The Transformation of Bi-nationalism in Palestine/Israel 1920's-Present," examines the history of the idea of bi-nationalism and alternative visions for constructing the State of Israel. She has worked as an educator and consultant in various capacities in the Jewish community and higher education, teaching about Zionism and Israeli history at Brandeis University, UMASS Amherst and the Me’ah Adult Jewish Education program. At Brandeis, Fish teaches the Myra Kraft seminar on Israel at the Hornstein Jewish Professional Leadership Program. In 2015 she held the Rohr Visiting Professorship at Harvard University, where she lectured on modern Israel and received the Derek Bok Certificate of Teaching Excellence. She is co-editor, with Ilan Troen, of the forthcoming Essential Israel: Essays for the Twenty-First Century (Indiana University Press).