Course Description:

The state of Israel just celebrated its 75th anniversary. For those 75 years, its survival has hung in the balance. Many of its neighboring states have sought to destroy it. And, even some of those living within it have tried to undermine its stability. Today, headlines are full of news about Israel, Netanyahu, and the Israeli Supreme Court. Stories about Gaza and the West Bank are frequent. Though Israel is a democracy, it is in a drastically different situation than the United States, and as such, its politics and circumstances re difficult for many Americans to grasp. This course will examine the different political eras in Israel’s history in an attempt to understand what is happening there today.

Topic Outline/Schedule:

Week 1, March 29: The Different Facets of Zionism

Week 2, April 5: Revisionist Zionism, the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution

Week 3, April 12: Israel and Religion; Israel and the Arabs

Week 4, April 19: Israel, the Palestinians, and the Settlers

Week 5, April 26: The Rise of the Right

Week 6, February 28: The Politics of Today (Criticism of Israel and the Charge of Genocide)