Palestine and Israel, Twice-Promised Land: An Exploration Through Film

Few places evoke such powerful attachments—or such profoundly competing claims—as the land Palestinians and Israelis call home. Revered by followers of three great religious traditions, this small territory lies at the heart of a conflict whose consequences extend far beyond the Middle East. Through carefully selected documentaries, dramatic films, firsthand testimony, and guided discussion, participants will explore the historical roots of the conflict, competing national aspirations, and differing narratives of history, identity, and belonging. Through individual stories, the films illuminate the human experience of loss, fear and hope, resistance and resilience.
Along the way, longstanding assumptions about the land's inhabitants and development, the history of Arab–Jewish relations, and questions of democracy and political rights will be thoughtfully reconsidered. The discussion will also draw on diverse perspectives within Palestinian and Israeli societies and consider the roles of religion, historical memory, and U.S. policy, including Christian Zionism.
This course will also examine occupation, settlements, the protection of civilians, violations of international law, and questions of accountability. Throughout, participants will be encouraged to distinguish historical evidence from popular myth, challenge familiar assumptions, and consider difficult questions of justice, self-determination, and the prospects for a lasting peace that offers security, dignity, and opportunity for all who call the Holy Land home.