A Completely Incomplete Reference Guide to

Teaching the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Overview:
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been one of the most controversial issues for decades
and teaching the topic presents immense challenges. Despite the inevitable difficulty of
navigating a subject that engenders such intense feelings, the topic provides incredible
opportunities for students to learn to appreciate complexity and nuance, understand
different arguments and perspectives, reexamine assumptions, correct misconceptions,
build empathy, identify obstacles to peace, and learn conflict resolution skills.

The goal of this resource guide is to provide teachers with a broad range of textual and
multimedia resources to help students achieve these goals.

Top 5: Top from Each Sub-Topic + BONUS Overall Helpful Source

1) Origins -
Bar-On, Dan; Naveh, Eyal J. (2012): Side by Side: Parallel Histories of Israel-Palestine.
New York: The New Press.

Israeli and Palestinian teachers came together to create a “dual narrative” of their
shared history, literally setting Israeli and Palestinian interpretations of the same
events side-by-side on the page to allow readers to compare and contrast the
narratives. It’s an extremely thought-provoking book, and the mere existence of a
project such as this offers some hope. “Learning Each Other’s Historical
Narrative: Palestinians and Israelis, Peace Research Institute in the Middle East”
is an earlier version of the project that has a useful glossary, and here is a
teacher’s Powerpoint presentation (designed in a Fulbright-Hays Summer
Seminar) built around the same idea: Teacher Presentation: “The Israeli-
Palestinian Conflict”: A Lesson in Perspective (also contains a good source list on
last slide)

2) Wars/Conflicts -
“Myths and Facts 9: Does Resolution 242 require Israel to return to pre-1967
borders? with Dr. Bard.” Video file, 3:47. YouTube. Posted by Jewish Virtual
Library, April 5, 2010. Accessed July 27, 2017.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdy1HXMZoiA&t=18s.

This video from Jewish Virtual Library presents a pro-Israeli perspective on UN

Resolution 242. It argues that the resolution does not require Israel to return all
 territories acquired from the 1967 War. At around 4 minutes, it is a succinct
overview of the Israeli perspective on this key document that has influenced the
peace process. It serves as a video complement to the written web page
referenced above. There are also many other short videos, each covering a
specific issue, that are part of this series.

3) Occupations: Support and Resistance -

Collection of Interactive Maps
"Maps." B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied
Territories, www.btselem.org/maps. Accessed 27 July 2017.

A diverse collection of interactive maps - many with articles connected to the

different regions and communities related to the Israeli Occupied Territories. The
maps are topical and include information on everything from the map of Gaza
before disengagement, to locations of settlements, to “forbidden roads.” The
maps are listed chronologically, so students can move through them to see
changes within the territories over the years.

4) The Peace Process -

“Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin Letters Before Signing Oslo Declaration of
Principles.” ProCon.org,
http://israelipalestinian.procon.org/sourcefiles/ispaldoc1993.pdf

Primary source documents between Prime Minister of Israel Rabin and

Palestinian Liberation Organization Arafat declaring intention to recognize the
PLO as a legitimate authority and, from the PLO, recognizing Israel’s security
and right to exist.

5) BONUS Overall Helpful:

The World Affairs Council has created a teacher resource packet that includes a
wealth of great materials and suggestions for readings, films, and numerous
other teaching tools for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Origins:

Theodor Herzl, “On the Jewish State” (1896)

Herzl’s influential pamphlet, excerpted here, is an excellent primary source to use as a

starting point for examining the origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because it
provides the philosophical underpinnings of Zionism and serves as a call to action to
establish a Jewish homeland (not necessarily in Palestine). It should be discussed in the
context of other 19th century nationalist movements and the experience of Jews in
Europe during the 1880s-90s (e.g. pogroms).

1947 U.N. Partition Plan

Each of these sources relate to the UN Partition Plan of 1947, which has to figure
prominently in any discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
i. Primary Source Quotes on Partition (Choices curriculum at Brown
University)
ii. UN Partition Plan & Analysis
iii. BBC
iv. Jewish Virtual Library
v. PBS Learning Media

NPR Seven-Part Series Traces the Israeli-Palestinian Dispute

NPR ran a program back in 2002 that examined the roots of the I-P conflict, from the
standpoints of both Israeli and Palestinian historians. According to NPR News, the goal
is to “help listeners understand the complex situation in the Mideast, the history, and
the consequences of the confrontation.” The link leads to the actual audio of the
program, written transcripts of the program, and supplemental materials like maps and
timelines.

http://origins.osu.edu/article/new-view-israeli-palestinian-conflict-needs-and-
narratives-negotiation
http://pov-tc.pbs.org/pov/pdf/promiese/promises-timeline.pdf

http://www.merip.org/primer-palestine-israel-arab-israeli-conflict-new

Wars/Conflicts - Focus on the 1967 War and different perspectives on it

http://www.npr.org/news/specials/mideast/history/history4.html

This is a page accompanying an NPR series called The Mideast: A Century of Conflict.
This section on the 1967 war includes an overview, maps, the audio of the radio
broadcast, and a transcript of the broadcast.
https://theintercept.com/2017/06/05/a-50-year-occupation-israels-six-day-war-
started-with-a-lie/

This is a short article by Mehdi Hasan on the 50th anniversary of the war. The title, that
the war “started with a lie,” provides a clear indication of the perspective. Hasan lays
out some anecdotal evidence that Israel was not really under a threat in 1967 and goes
on to list out what sees as the devastating consequences for the Arab world, particularly
the Palestinians.

https://unispal.un.org/DPA/DPR/unispal.nsf/0/7D35E1F729DF491C85256EE700686
136
This is the complete text of UN Resolution 242 from the UN website. It includes a
facsimile of the original document. This is such a key primary source for understanding
the issues since 1967, and it is brief enough that students can read and examine it in full.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/the-meaning-of-un-security-council-resolution-
242

This page from the Jewish Virtual Library is an excellent example of the Israeli
perspective. It carefully explains that perspective regarding UN Resolution 242.
Students should be able to clearly see how Israelis interpret this key document.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qdy1HXMZoiA&t=18s

This video from Jewish Virtual Library presents a pro-Israeli perspective on UN

Resolution 242. It argues that the resolution does not require Israel to return all
territories acquired from the 1967 War. At around 4 minutes, it is a succinct overview of
the Israeli perspective on this key document that has influenced the peace process. It
serves as a video complement to the written web page referenced above.

Occupations and Resistance

Background on the Settlements

"Israeli Settlements, Explained: Settlements Part I." YouTube, uploaded by Vox, 19 Sept.
2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0uLbeQlwjw. Accessed 26 July 2017.

Very helpful 8 minute video that simply explains how and why the West Bank became
an occupied territory. The approach is very objective though it does address specific
obstacles and difficulties faced by Palestinians as a result of the occupation in a matter-
of-fact manner (not overtly meant to sway the viewer).
Primary Source - UN Stance on Israeli Occupation of The West Bank -

A resolution passed by the UN in 1979, UN Resolution 446 explicitly states the

determination that the Israeli has no legal right to occupy Arab territories seized after
1967. Short document that is appropriate for high school students to read on their own,
but middle school students will need some assistance.

Recognizing 50 Years of Occupation

Balanced Article with Photographs -

Beaumont, Peter. "A Day in the Life of the West Bank Occupation." The Guardian, 6 June
2017. The Guardian, www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jun/06/a-day-in-the-life-of-
the-west-bank-occupation. Accessed 26 July 2017.

Written in recognition of the 50th anniversary of the six-day war, this article
chronologically showcases what a “typical” day in the West Bank looks like through
pictures and brief stories of people within the region. Rather balanced article that
provides perspectives of both Israelis and Palestinians.

Less-Balanced, Interactive Article -

McNeill, Sophie. "Occupied Lives: Palestinians in the West Bank Have Now Spent 50
years Under Israeli Military Control." ABC News, 5 June 2017,
www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-06/occupied-lives-palestinians-israel-military-
control/8578368. Accessed 26 July 2017. Interactive source involving text, pictures, and
video.

Israeli and Pro-Israeli Sources Supporting Occupation and Perspective on Palestinian

Opposition

Article Discussing Israeli Justification for Settlements -

Sarid, Yossi. "Lebensraum as a Justification for Israeli Settlements." Haaretz, 26 Aug.
2011. Haaretz, www.haaretz.com/lebensraum-as-a-justification-for-israeli-settlements-
1.380787. Accessed 27 July 2017.

Article in an Israeli online newspaper that addresses the argument that lebensraum
(territory that a state needs to develop in order to survive/thrive) is an acceptable
rationale for Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. More info on the
host source - According to Haaretz.com, they “provide extensive and in-depth coverage
of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the
Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international
relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and Diaspora.
A Jewish Perspective on Hamas -
Barsky, Yehudit. "HAMAS: The Islamic Resistance Movement of Palestine." AJC Series
on Terrorism. American Jewish Committee, May 2006, www.ajc.org/atf/cf/%7B42D75369-
D582-4380-8395-D25925B85EAF%7D/HAMASMAY2006.PDF. Accessed 25 July 2017.

Rather lengthy doc that is part of the American Jewish Committee’s Series on Terrorism.
Collection of excerpts from writings and speeches from the founders of Hamas and pro-
Israeli interpretations of the sources. Provides a perspective for students on how Hamas
is viewed by certain Jewish/pro-Israeli sources.

Primary Source - Perspective -

Written by Major General Rephael Vardi, somewhat lengthy, categorized article that is
not entirely supportive of the occupation, but it provides insight from the principal
figure in the government of Judea, Samaria and Gaza in the decade after the 1967 war.

Resistance: Opposing Occupation

Stance of the PLO -

"Palestine Liberation Organization." Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to
the United Nations New York, 2017, palestineun.org/about-palestine/palestine-liberation-
organization/. Accessed 28 July 2017.

Site of the Permanent Observer Mission of the State of Palestine to the United nations
New York. Internal explanation of the mission of the PLO, its structure, and goals.

Stance of Hamas -
BBC News. "Profile: Hamas Palestinian Movement." BBC News, 12 May 2017,
www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-13331522. Accessed 25 July 2017.

Rather than a direct link to Hamas’s website (can be controversial to even post such a
link), this is an article by BBC that discusses/explains the Hamas Palestinian
Movement. On the page, there is a link to a new policy document published by Hamas
in 2017 that can be helpful (recognizing potential controversy) for students to read in
order to see the organization’s current policy stance.

Central Site for Al Jazeera’s West Bank News -

Al Jazeera Media Network. Occupied West Bank News,
www.aljazeera.com/topics/subjects/occupied-west-bank.html. Accessed 26 July 2017.

Rather than a link to a specific article, this is a link to the central site for Al Jazeera
News focusing solely on current events within the West Bank. Despite a pro-Palestinian
slant, the articles are helpful with providing readers with current and relevant
information about events related to the West Bank. Great site for students to browse to
stay on top of what’s happening in the region.

Pro-Palestinian Article with Map and Narration Regarding Israeli Occupation -

Al Jazeera Staff. "Vanishing Palestine: The Making of Israel's Occupation." Al Jazeera, 5
June 2016, www.aljazeera.com/indepth/interactive/2016/06/vanishing-palestine-
making-israel-occupation-160605090749034.html. Accessed 26 July 2017.

Very short, pro-Palestinian article regarding the occupation of the West Bank by Israeli
forces.

Host site of the Israeli NGO Breaking the Silence -

Breaking the Silence. www.breakingthesilence.org.il/. Accessed 26 July 2017.

Articles and testimonies from Israeli soldiers about their experience in the occupied
territories.

Collection of Essays -
Chabon, Michael, and Ayelet Waldman, editors. Kingdom of Olives and Ash. Harper
Perennial, 2017.

This book is a collection of essays that address the impact of 50 years of occupation of
The West Bank and Gaza Strip. Writers collaborated with Israeli NGO Breaking the
Silence in order to provide readers with accurate perspectives on what is happening
within the territories.

Opposition to Occupation Editorial -

Eshman, Rob. "Even the Experts are Turning on the West Bank Occupation." Jewish
Journal, 26 Apr. 2017, jewishjournal.com/opinion/rob_eshman/218353/even-experts-
turning-west-bank-occupation/. Accessed 26 July 2017.

Editorial that cites the stance of 270 Israel’s Commanders for Israel’s Security on the
two-state proposal. Easy to read for high school students, but middle school students
could utilize it with teacher assistance. Provides an alternate perspective to the more
typical, pro-Israeli occupation stance found within Jewish sources.

Various Videos

Video - "A City Divided: Jerusalem's Most Contested Neighborhood." YouTube,

uploaded by Vice News, 2 Jan. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zAQG_5DG6A.
Accessed 26 July 2017.
A video by Vice News focusing upon the Jewish desire to take control over the city of
Silwan and the impact this move has upon the relationship between Israelis and
Palestinians because of the religious significance of this area to both Jewish and Islamic
history. Vice News provides a balanced perspective through interviews with parties on
both sides of the dispute.

"Settlers, Olives, and Occupation: Voices from the West Bank." YouTube, uploaded by
Vice News, 13 Jan. 2015, www.youtube.com/watch?v=uc3hYl8aGwc. Accessed 26 July
2017.

Video focusing on the stories of several Palestinians living within Israeli occupied
territory. The primary perspective is focused upon an American from Texas who
immigrated to the territory as a member of the International Solidarity Movement.

"Why Israeli Settlements Don’t Feel Like a Conflict Zone: Settlements Part II." YouTube,
uploaded by Vox, 26 Sept. 2016, www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6L9mS9ti6o. Accessed
26 July 2017.

If students are overwhelmed with videos and articles about conflicts within the
occupied territories, this video is a nice change of pace. It provides information about
the history and demographics of the territory, but it also showcases a more peaceful and
optimistic life in contrast to what is typically showcased in the news.

“The Peace Process”

https://www.usip.org/regions/middle-east/israel-and-palestinian-territories)

Camp David Accords

“Peace Treaty Between the Arab Republic of Egypt and the State of Israel.” 26 March
1979. http://israelipalestinian.procon.org/sourcefiles/ispaldoc1979.pdf

This primary source is the actual text announcing peace between Israel and Egypt.
Details of the treaty include land concessions regarding Sinai, showing readers this
peace treaty was more than just a friendly handshake between neighboring parties.

“Camp David Accords and the Arab-Israeli Peace Process.” United States Department
of State, https://history.state.gov/milestones/1977-1980/camp-david

Providing background information on motivations for a peace deal between Israel and
Egypt, this source provides key, in-depth information that shows how the deal came to
be, and the context surrounding this treaty.
Oslo Accords

“Oslo Explained.” Al-Jazeera, 13 September 2013,

http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/9/13/oslo-accords-explained.html

A who, what, where, why, when guide to the Oslo Peace Accords, including overview
of both Palestinian and Israeli reactions to the groundbreaking peace efforts.

“Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin Letters Before Signing Oslo Declaration of
Principles.” ProCon.org,
http://israelipalestinian.procon.org/sourcefiles/ispaldoc1993.pdf

Primary source documents between Prime Minister of Israel Rabin and Palestinian
Liberation Organization Arafat declaring intention to recognize the PLO as a legitimate
authority and, from the PLO, recognizing Israel’s security and right to exist.

Roadmap to Peace

“The Road Map to Peace.” The Guardian, Simon Jeffrey, 4 June 2003,
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2003/jun/04/israel.qanda

Providing insight to the reader on the early 2000s political situation in Israel, America
and Palestine, this Guardian article explains and succinctly sums up President George
Bush’s “Road Map to Peace.”

“President Discusses the Road Map for Peace in the Middle East.” The White House,
President George W. Bush, 14 March 2003, https://georgewbush-
whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2003/03/20030314-4.html

After introducing the “Road Map for Peace” in mid-2002, President Bush takes time to
update the American people on progress since kicking off the two-state solution for
peace. The President uses this speech to further his efforts for peace. President Bush,
one senses, realizes he needs to keep pushing this Road Map and keep it in the news,
otherwise it will fall by the wayside, and this speech is partially intended to keep the
peace process in the news.

Rabin

“U.S., Mideast Leaders React to Rabin’s Death.” CNN, 5 November 1995.

http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/9511/rabin/reaction/

When tragedy strikes and a leader is assassinated many reactions to the news is
expected. Here we see world leaders ranging from French President Jacques Chirac,
PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and and King of Jordan all offering condolences and
remembrances for a man leading the charge in the region.

“Netanyahu, Rabin and the Assassination the Shook History.” PBS Frontline, 16 January
2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhMF30VLZCA

An eight-minute video providing insight into Israel’s political climate in the year Rabin
was assassinated, along with showing images of who was protesting the peace process
with Palestinians and their reason for doing so. An excellent look into the complexity of
peace and helps answer why peace is not always popular.

Current movements and organizations

“The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: What you need to know.” CNN, 3 May 2017, Oren
Liebermann. http://www.cnn.com/2017/05/03/politics/israel-two-state-
explainer/index.html

President Trump has signaled changes to recent United States President’ approaches,
namely he is open to either a two-state or one-state solution, with a solution to the issue
being driven mainly by Arab parties. This move marks a sharp break from recent
administrations. This source provides maps on the current stalemate, alongside
explanations for where the world is currently in the process up to within several
months of this writing.

Mostly Non-Annotated, Browsable-Worthy Other Useful Sources:

“Teaching the Arab/Palestinian-Israeli Conflict – A Multiple Narratives Approach.”

Project LookSharp: “The Politics of Maps”

World Affairs Council: “Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict”

Encounter Point. Justvision. Classroom Screening Guide.

"If you lost your loved ones, if you spent ten years in prison, if conflict drove you
from your home... Would you seek revenge? Or struggle for peace? A true story
about the everyday leaders who refuse to sit back as the IsraeliPalestinian
conflict escalates." As part of Just Vision's efforts to publicize grassroots non-
violent peace building, they released an award-winning feature documentary
film, Encounter Point, to sold-out audiences in theaters and festivals around the
world. For two years, the Just Vision crew followed the stories of ordinary
people who feel driven to work for an end to bloodshed and occupation in favor
of peace.
Ten Things Students Need To Know About the Origins of Israel and Palestine

Vox: “Everything You Need to Know About Israel-Palestine”

The Mideast: A Century of Conflict

Status of Jerusalem and “Right of Return”

“Jerusalem Must Be Capital of Both Israel and Palestine” (UN News Center)

Palestinian “Right of Return”

The Gaza Strip, Hamas, and Hezbollah

Profile: Gaza Strip (BBC)

Hamas (Council on Foreign Relations)

Gaza-Israel conflict: Is the fighting over?

Hezbollah (Council on Foreign Relations)

One and Two-State Solutions

Overview of One-State Solution

Overview of Two-State Solution

“Is Israel Abandoning a Two-State Solution”?

Life Along Israel’s Barrier

“A Decade in the Making, West Bank Barrier Is Nearly Complete”

“Palestinians Test Out Gandhi-Style Protest”

Congressional Research Service: U.S. Foreign Aid to Israel

Abbas’s Sharm Address - http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/abbas-s-sharm-address

Sharon’s Sharm Address - http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/prime-minister-

sharon-speech-at-conclusion-of-the-sharm-el-sheikh-peace-summit-february-2005