S. Gutman Office: Main 210 A HIS 461; JST 461 Hours: Tu:& Th. 1:30-3 TR Class: 11:40-12:555 TR, B134A Tel. 753-2065 Fall, 2011 E-mail: [email protected] MODERN ISRAEL AND THE ARAB-ISRAELI CONFLICT This course will cover the history of Zionism and modern Israel from the 1860's to the present. There will be two major areas of focus: the Jewish nationalist ideology of Zionism and the Jewish state and society in the land of Israel; and the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. For the first area of focus we will examine the sometimes conflicting goals of Zionist thinkers from the mid-nineteenth century to the present and the internal history of the Jewish settlement (the Yishuv) from the 1890's to 1948 and later the state of Israel from 1948 to the present. We will also study the conflicts among the Jewish inhabitants arising from secular-religious divisions, ethnic rivalries, and political differences on how to settle the Arab-Israeli conflict. The second major area will focus on the conflict between Jews and Arabs over the land of Palestine. As part of this we will also examine the prominent role played by outside powers such as Great Britain, the United States and the former Soviet Union. The conflict between Jews and Arabs has several dimensions. Before 1948, the major issue was whether there should be a Jewish state created in Palestine. In 1948 and after, the conflict widened to include Israel and her neighboring Arab states. After 1948 two other problems emerged as well: the place of the Arab minority in the new Jewish state; and what to do with the Arab refugees who left the territory of the new Jewish state after the 1948 "War of Independence." The latter problem was considerably exacerbated after the 1967 war when hundreds of thousands of additional refugees fled - or were forced out of - the occupied territories on the West Bank of the Jordan and the Gaza strip, which were formerly administered by Jordan and Egypt, respectively. Since 1967, Israel has occupied the West Bank and Gaza Strip (the Gaza Strip until a few years ago) where Palestinian Arabs have demanded a Palestinian-Arab state. Some Palestinians demand all of Palestine, including Israel, for an Arab state. Thus the Arab-Israeli conflict after 1948 included a conflict among countries, a conflict between Jews and Arabs in the state of Israel, a conflict between the state of Israel and Arab refugees, and a conflict between Israel and Palestinian demands for a separate Palestinian Arab state. All these issues are still involved in the current conflict and negotiations being pushed by the United States, the United Nations, and European powers. With the outbreak of the second (Al-Aksa) Intifada in 2000, and more recently the wars in Lebanon and Gaza, the great hopes for a permanent peace settlement started in 1993 have been dashed (we will examine why), but new efforts toward reestablishing the peace process are going on as we talk, and Palestinians are seeking a declaration of a Palestinian state by the United Nations. Because we are in the middle of this still unfolding story, we will start with the current situation between Israelis and Palestinians and then follow the history of the conflict back to the present. This is one history course where we students of history are still living through the historical process that we are studying. REQUIRED READINGS: Ian Bickerton and Carla Klausner, A Concise History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict. 5th edition. Short, balanced, and up-to-date account with very useful maps, primary documents, chronologies, and bibliography. (Listed in the course outline as B&K) Baruch Kimmerling and Joel S. Migdal, The Palestinian People. One of the best scholarly (but still readable) histories of the Palestinians from the 19th century to 2000. David Grossman, Yellow Wind, A very interesting study of the effects of the Israeli occupation on the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza by a notable Israeli novelist and journalist. Course Packets (2) and Handouts: Readings and documents to supplement the information and perspectives of the above. These readings are as important as the assigned books. (Page #=s listed in the syllabus are those I gave them, not the originals, and are at the top or bottom of the page.) WRITTEN REQUIREMENTS Paper-Exam based on required readings, class lectures, and discussions. (TBA) 20 points Mid-Semester In-Class Exam 20 points Final Exam 20 points Paper (5-6 pages) (Based on internet) 25 points Class Participation and quizzes 15 points CLASS PARTICIPATION: I encourage class participation and questions. Given the nature of the course content it is only natural that differences of opinion will arise. I encourage you to state your views, but they should be informed by the readings, internet, and other media. Please state your opinions in a way that encourages more discussion rather than closing it; in other words recognize that other views may also have merit. I want to hear from as many of you as possible, so I will occasionally call on you even if you do not have your hand raised. You can always Apass@ if you do not wish to contribute. ATTENDANCE POLICY: Since this class meets twice a week, only two un-excused absences will be allowed without penalty. Each un-excused absence after the first two may result in the loss of a quarter of the final grade. (For example, B to B-). Please inform me if you have a valid reason for missing class. You are responsible for the material covered in class even if absent. STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES SUNY Cortland is committed to upholding and maintaining all aspects of the federal American With Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. If you are a student with a disability and wish to request accommodations, please contact the office of Disability Services located in B-1 Van Hoesen Hall or call (607) 753-2066 for an appointment. Any information regarding your disability will remain confidential. Because accommodations may require early planning, please let me know at the beginning of the semester of any special needs you may have. The office of Disability Services and I will meet your needs as best we can. COURSE OUTLINE Aug. 30 Course Description and Requirements; Historians' perspectives and biases Sept. 1 Current Situation in Israel-Palestine Readings: Bickerton and Klausner (B&K), pp.1 to p. 3, 11-14, 390-400 Visit Several Internet Sites Sept. 6 Who Are the Jews: Ancient to Late 19th Century Readings: B&K, pp. 4 to end of 1st parag. p. 7, 19-22. Sept. 8 Origins of Zionism in Europe Readings: Handout I (Zionist Idea), 1-23 on Hess, Pinsker, and Herzl (Introductions plus starred * passages); B&K, 22-24 Sept. 13 Cultural Zionism, Practical Zionism, and Socialist Zionism Readings: B&K, 25-26; Handout I (Zionist Idea), 24-42 on Ahad Ha=am, Weizmann, Syrkin, Gordon Sept. 15 Islam, Arabs, and Palestinians Readings: B&K, 4-10; Palestinian People (K&M), xxv-xxix, 3-54 Sept. 20 Arab and Palestinian Nationalism Readings: B&K, 16-19, Docs. 1.1&1.2 (pp.30-31); K&M, 54-76 Sept. 22 Origins of the Conflict in Palestine, 1914-1922 Readings: B&K, 27-29, 35 - 50, Docs. 2.1 - 2.9 (pp. 55-63); K&M, 76-93 Sept. 27 British Policy and Arab Revolts, 1922-1939 Readings: B&K, 50-54, Docs. 2.10-2.11(pp. 63-64); K&M, 93-131 Sept. 29 First Day of Rosh Hashanah (NO CLASS) Oct. 4 The AYishuv,@ British Policy, and the Holocaust, 1929-1945 Readings: B&K, Docs. 2.10-2.11 (pp. 63-64); and 66-75; Handout I, 43-48 (Jabotinsky) Oct. 6 Palestine and The End of the British Mandate, 1945-1947 Readings: B&K, 75-88, Docs. 3.2 through 3.5 (pp. 89-95); Oct. 11 The War of Independence and AThe Disaster@ Readings: B&K, 97-102; Handout I, 49-56, 64-75; K&M, 135-166 Oct. 13 MID-SEMESTER EXAM Oct. 18 The Birth of Israel, 1948-1966 Readings: B&K, 102-105, Docs. 4.1& 4.2 (pp. 109-111); Handout I, 57-63 (Ben Gurion) Oct. 20 AIsraeli@ Arabs or Palestinian Israelis, 1949-2000 Readings: B&K, 105-108; K&M, 169-213; extra handout Oct. 25 Suez Crisis: 1956 Readings: B&K, 114-127, Docs. 5.1 through 5.4 (pp.128-132) Oct. 27 The Turning Point: The ASix-Day War,@1956-1967 Readings: B&K, 133-145, Docs. 6.1 through 6.3 (pp.150-152); Handout I, 76-93 Nov. 1 Results of the Six Day War: Israeli Perspectives; The ANew@ Jew Readings: B&K, 145-149, Docs. 6.4 &6.5 (pp.152-153); Handout I, 94-110 (“The Sabra”) Nov. 3 The West Bank & Gaza; Rise of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Readings: B&K, 155-162, Docs. 7.1 (p. 172-174); K&M, 214-273 Nov. 8 The AYom Kippur War@ (1973) and the AHolocaust Syndrome@ Readings: B&K, 162-172, Docs. 7.2 through 7.4 (pp. 174-176); Nov. 10 Kibbutznik v. Likudnik: the Revolution in Israeli Politics, 1973-1979; Camp David Accords Readings: B&K, 179-193, Docs. 8.1 through 8.8 (pp. 194-203); Handout II, 1-6 (On Kibbutzim) Nov. 15 Ethnicity in Israel: How Deep the Divide? Readings: Handout II, 7-45 Nov. 17 What is a AJewish@ State?: Religion in Israel; Role of Women Readings: Handout II, 46-78; Start Grossman, Yellow Wind Nov.