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

Cancelled in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, this popular course is returning to ILR’s Middle East program this fall. “Palestine and Israel, Twice-Promised Land: An Exploration Through Film” provides a rare opportunity to examine one of the most important and contentious issues of our time. For more than seven decades, the Palestine-Israel conflict, the “most fundamental fault line in the Middle East,” has stood at the epicenter of political debate in the region and beyond. The 2020 “deal of the century” notwithstanding, peace continues to elude the Holy Land. The persistent failure to resolve the competing visions held by the inhabitants of a land that is sacred to three great religious traditions is a tragedy of the modern age, not only for Arabs and Jews but also, by extension, for international stability. In many ways, the Palestine-Israel conflict has become a lightning rod, a measure by which the efficacy of public policy and respect for international law are measured and evaluated. Through classroom lecture, discussion, handouts, guest speakers, and the medium of film -featuring interviews, documentaries, and dramatic representations -participants will gain a greater understanding of this conflict, including its profound human dimension. This course will explore the historic roots of this seemingly intractable issue, untangle the deeply held convictions of protagonists on both sides, examine popular misconceptions, analyze the effects of policies that impact the inhabitants of the Holy Land, and consider the role of the United States in the Middle East as it relates to this conflict, including the influence of Christian Zionism in American foreign policy. Student participation, including the sharing of individual perceptions and insights, will serve to enrich the conversation. Please be advised that while all opinions and points of view are welcome, it is expected that classroom discussion will be characterized by measured discourse and mutual respect.