Class DiscussionTuesday, March 26th

Why is the Arab / Israeli conflict so problematic for the United States of America? Name every US President since 1948.

Here is the plan…

Students will understand the political and religious systems of Israel.

Students will be able to differentiate religious from secular Jewish citizens.

Students will comprehend the connection between Israel and the United States.

Israel Is an MDC (high GDP

per capita) with a stable, democratically elected government.

The United States is a strong ally of Israel.

PM Benjamin Netanyahu

Success? The Israelis have

used technology and hard work to develop industry and agriculture – the land is not rich in natural resources.

Much $ and effort is spent on national defense.

What’s wrong with this ad promoting Israel’s technology??

Traitor? Bar Rafeli is a

supermodel, businesswoman who dated Leonardo DiCaprio.

However she is controversial in Israel because she received an exemption on her required military service.

Palestine There is NO

country called Palestine.

The Palestinian Territories are the Gaza Strip & The West Bank.

Impoverished (low GDP per capita) and crowded.

Palestinian Split Mahmoud Abbas is the

leader of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO).

Head of the Fatah wing of the party and the recognized leader of the West Bank.

Rival group (Hamas) controls the Gaza Strip.

Evening News…

Terms

Oslo Accords Balfour

Declaration Theodor Herzl Mahmoud Abbas Yasser Arafat UN Partition Plan

Two State Solution

Anwar Sadat Benjamin

Netanyahu Hamas Yitzhak Rabin Gilad Shalit

Judaism

Zionism The movement to

create a Jewish state was begun in the late 1800’s by Theodor Herzl.

The idea of a Jewish state really gained momentum after the Holocaust.

Holocaust Anti Semitism is prejudice,

hatred, or discrimination against Jews.

The Holocaust was a genocide committed against the Jewish people by Nazi Germany.

Between 1933-1945 over 6 million Jews plus additional undesirables were executed by the Nazis

Israel Israel is about 75%

Jewish – much of the remaining population are Arab / Muslims

NOT all JEWISH people are the same! Orthodox and secular Jews often look at issues very differently.

Orthodox Jew

Secular Jew

Oslo Accords

Gaza Strip Overwhelmingly Arab

(99%) and overwhelmingly Muslim (99%)

Self rule was granted to the Palestinians on a temporary basis in 1993.

Extremely crowded and very impoverished.

West Bank 83% Palestinian

Arab and 17% Jewish.

The Jewish “settlers” of this area are a major issue of contention in any possible peace talks between the two sides.

Settlers – a source of contention

Intifada The first Palestinian

uprising took place in 1987. Periodic outbreaks of violence between the two sides have occurred many times since.

Peace has been elusive because both sides have elements who don’t agree or would like to derail the process.

Why cant’ we be friends?

Get into groups of 4 and discuss -what are some of the obstacles to peace?

Now let’s play a little game.

Two State Solution

Also known as Land for Peace. Who will control Jerusalem? What will be the actual borders? Right of Palestinian return? The Jewish settlers? Can the PA ensure peace?

Anwar Sadat - 1981

Yitzhak Rabin - 1995

Political Cartoons

Political Cartoons

Political Cartoons

Political Cartoons

Political Cartoons

Here is the plan…

Students will understand the political and religious systems of Israel.

Students will be able to differentiate religious from secular Jewish citizens.

Students will comprehend the connection between Israel and the United States.