Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
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Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Global Classroom Workshops made possible by: THE Photo Courtesy of Bill Taylor NORCLIFFE FOUNDATION A Resource Packet for Educators Compiled by Kristin Jensen, Jillian Foote, and Tese Wintz Neighbor And World May 12, 2009 Affairs Council Members HOW TO USE THIS RESOURCE GUIDE Please note: many descriptions were excerpted directly from the websites. Packet published: 5/11/2009; Websites checked: 5/11/2009 Recommended Resources Links that include… Lesson Plans & Charts & Graphs Teacher Resources Audio Video Photos & Slideshows Maps TABLE OF CONTENTS MAPS 1 FACT SHEET 3 TIMELINES OF THE CONFLICT 4 GENERAL RESOURCES ON THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT 5 TOPICS OF INTEREST 7 CURRENT ARTICLES/EDITORIALS ON THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT 8 (Focus on International Policy and Peace-Making) THE CRISIS IN GAZA 9 RIPPED FROM THE HEADLINES: WEEK OF MAY 4TH 10 RELATED REGIONAL ISSUES 11 PROPOSED SOLUTIONS 13 ONE-STATE SOLUTION 14 TWO-STATE SOLUTION 14 THE OVERLAPPING CONUNDRUM – THE SETTLEMENTS 15 CONFLICT RESOLUTION TEACHER RESOURCES 15 MEDIA LITERACY 17 NEWS SOURCES FROM THE MIDEAST 18 NGOS INVOLVED IN ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN RELATIONS 20 LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS & RESOURCES 22 DOCUMENTARIES & FILMS 24 BOOKS 29 MAPS http://johomaps.com/as/mideast.html & www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/is.html Other excellent sources for maps: From the Jewish Virtual Library - http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/maptoc.html Foundation for Middle East Peace - http://www.fmep.org/maps/ OR http://www.fmep.org/maps/all-maps Integrated Regional Information Networks - http://www.irinnews.org/maps.aspx 1 Source: BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/5122404.stm Source: CIA World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the- world-factbook/geos/is.html Source: CIA World Factbook https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/we.html 2 FACT SHEET Source: CIA World Factbook ISRAEL WEST BANK GAZA STRIP UNITED STATES Area - Comparative slightly smaller than New slightly smaller than slightly more than 2x Similar to China; more than 2x Jersey Delaware Washington, DC the EU Natural Resources timber, potash, copper ore, arable land arable land, natural gas coal, copper, lead, phosphates, natural gas, phosphate rock, uranium, bauxite, gold, iron, magnesium bromide, clays, mercury, nickel, potash, silver, sand tungsten, zinc, petroleum, natural gas, timber Land Use arable land: 15.45% arable land: 16.9% arable land: 29% arable land: 18.01% permanent crops: 3.88% permanent crops: 18.97% permanent crops: 21% permanent crops: 0.21% other: 80.67% (2005) other: 64.13% (2001) other: 50% (2002) other: 81.78% (2005) Renewable Water 1.7 cu km (2001) no data no data 3,069 cu km (1985) Resources Population 7,233,701 2,461,267 1,551,859 (July 2009) 307,212,123 (2009) note: includes about 187,000 note: in addition, there are Israeli settlers in West Bank, about 187,000 Israeli 20,000 in the Israeli-occupied settlers in the West Bank Golan Heights, & 177,000 in and fewer than 177,000 East Jerusalem (2009) in East Jerusalem (2009) Population Growth 1.671% (2009) 2.178% (2009) 3.349% (2009 est.) 0.975% (2009 est.) Urban Population 92% of total pop. (2008) 72% of total pop. (2008) 72% of total pop. (2008) 82% of total pop. (2008) Life expectancy at Birth total population: 80.73 yrs total population: 74.54 yrs total population: 73.42 yrs total population: 78.11 yrs Ethnic Groups Jewish 76.4% (Israel-born Palestinian Arab and Palestinian Arab white 79.96%, black 12.85%, 67.1%, Europe/America- other 83%, Jewish 17% Asian 4.43%, Amerindian and born 22.6%, Africa-born Alaska native 0.97%, native 5.9%, Asia-born 4.2%), non- Hawaiian and other Pacific Jewish 23.6% (mostly Arab) islander 0.18%, two or more (2004) races 1.61% (2007) Religion Jewish 76.4%, Muslim 16%, Muslim 75% Muslim (predominantly Protestant 51.3%, Roman Arab Christians 1.7%, other (predominantly Sunni), Sunni) 99.3%, Christian Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%, Christian 0.4%, Druze 1.6%, Jewish 17%, Christian & 0.7% other Christian 1.6%, Jewish unspecified 3.9% (2004) other 8% 1.7%, Buddhist 0.7%, Muslim 0.6%, other 2.5%, unaffiliated 12.1%, none 4% (2007) Literacy total population: 97.1% total population: 92.4% total population: 92.4% total population: 99% male: 98.5% male: 96.7% male: 96.7% male: 99% female: 95.9% (2004) female: 88% (2004) female: 88% (2004) female: 99% (2003) Government Type parliamentary democracy Israel-occupied Israel-occupied Constitution-based federal republic Suffrage 18 y.o.; universal no data no data 18 y.o.; universal GDP per capita (PPP) $28,200 (2008) $2,900 (2008) $2,900 (2008 est.) $47,000 (2008) Unemployment 6.1% (2008) 16.3% (June 2008) 41.3% (June 2008) 7.2% (Dec. 2008) Military Service Age and 18 y.o. for compulsory (Jews, In accordance with peace In accordance with 18 years of age (17 years of age Obligation Druzes) & voluntary agreement; not permitted peace agreement; not with parental consent) for male (Christians, Muslims, conventional military permitted conventional and female voluntary service Circassians) service; both forces (2008) military forces (2008) sexes (2008) Refugees and Internally IDPs: 150,000-420,000 (Arab refugees (country of refugees: 1.017 million refugees: U.S. admitted 62,643 Displaced Persons villagers displaced from origin): 722,000 (Palestinian Refugees during 04/05; 10,586 (Somalia); homes in northern Israel) (Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA)) (2007) 8,549 (Laos); 6,666 (Russia); (2007) (UNRWA)) (2007) 6,479 (Cuba); 3,100 (Haiti); 2,136 (Iran) (2006) 3 “Peace cannot be achieved through violence; it can only be attained through understanding.” Ralph Waldo Emerson We all know there are two sides to any argument, but the key to discussing real prospects for peace is by truly understanding the other side’s opinions, perspectives, and concerns without using volatile language, demonizing your adversary, or unfairly dominating the debate. Keeping an open mind and open ear can be extremely difficult when it comes to controversial topics, such as the Israel-Palestine conflict, but no solution will ever succeed unless we all try to step outside of our comfort zones and listen to opinions and ideas we may not agree with. We might then discover common ground we would not have found if the discussion had not taken place, and it can start with one person, one idea, one discussion, one acknowledgement, just one. TIMELINES OF THE CONFLICT Below are links to timelines of the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Please be aware that any timeline is fraught with dangers. Israelis, Arabs, and Palestinians would develop very different timelines. Each would include events that would not be included on the others' timelines. And each would provide very different descriptions for events they all include. Therefore, it is important to consult a number of different timelines to get a sense of which events the various groups consider important and how they understand those events. - Professor Bill Taylor A HISTORY OF THE ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT – PROMISES PBS (2001) http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2001/promises/promises-timeline.pdf The history of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is elastic; it changes dramatically depending on who is telling it and where they start the story. Therefore, it is important to note that a historic timeline of events concerning this conflict is always difficult to present in an objective manner. For this reason, as you read through the Timeline sections, certain events include both a Palestinian (in green) and an Israeli (in blue) perspective. To explore the Timeline, click one of the four highlighted sections: 1880-1936, 1947-1973, 1974-1988 or 1991-2001. The information on the Israeli perspective was put together using the Israeli Government’s official Web site, produced by Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Information on the Palestinian perspective was compiled using the Palestinian National Authority’s official Web site and the Palestinian National Authority’s Ministry of Information’s Web site. Other History Sites: The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in a nutshell – MidEast Web http://www.mideastweb.org/nutshell.htm Israeli-Arab/Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Timeline 1967-2007 – The Foundation for Middle East Peace http://www.fmep.org/resources/reference/timeline.html Israel Factsheet – The Economist http://www.economist.com/countries/Israel/profile.cfm?folder=Profile-FactSheet Mideast Crisis – BBC http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/middle_east/2001/israel_and_the_palestinians/default.stm 4 GENERAL RESOURCES ON ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN CONFLICT “More than ever before in human history, we share a common destiny. We can master it only if we face it together.” Kofi Annan TEN THINGS STUDENTS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE ORIGINS OF ISRAEL AND PALESTINE (April 2008) http://www.fpri.org/footnotes/1304.200804.luxenberg.originsisraelpalestine.html As the sixtieth anniversary of Israel’s independence in May 2008 approaches, that country remains a focal point of world attention, as it has been since its birth. The state’s origins do much to explain why the Arab-Israeli conflict has been so hard to resolve, but also provides a glimpse of the possibilities of peace. Here are ten things for students to know, along with ten things for them to research. PROCON http://israelipalestinian.procon.org/ Israeli-Palestinian ProCon.org presents statistics, maps, timelines, historical documents, photos, and pro and con statements on questions related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For the best overview of the website, start with the three boxes on the main page entitled: 1-Minute Overview, Top 10 Pros and Cons, and fun facts in Did You Know? SHIFTING SANDS: BALANCING U.S. INTERESTS IN THE MIDDLE EAST – CHOICES CURRICULUM http://www.choices.edu/resources/detail.php?id=24 The Choices Curriculum for the 21st Century Education Program is a national education initiative based at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies.