Lifetime Learning Chavurah in-depth learning opportunity
Israel: How did it come to this? An historical review of the events, dynamics and drivers of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
J School, part of the educational arm of J Street, presented a series of online seminars to help people understand the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Those sessions are available online, and are listed below.
The Lifetime Learning Chavurah is providing an opportunity for people to discuss each seminar. CJC Members and our friends are welcome to join in these discussions. Twice a month, people will watch one session on their own, and then we will get together online or in person to discuss it. Each person can participate in any or all of the seminars.
We’ll meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month, beginning on Wednesday, April 22 at 7pm.
If interested, contact Laura Alster-Martin (hmblaura@gmail.com).
Following are the descriptions of each seminar found on the J School webpage. Also on the webpage are downloadable materials and video links.
https://jstreet.org/jstream/j-school/
1) On Zionism: Looking at History through Personal Narratives
Lesson Overview
From Herzl and the First Zionist Congress, early Zionists dreamt of freedom from persecution and the freedom to create a sovereign state for the Jewish people. How exactly to build the Jewish homeland, however, has always been far more contested, even among early Zionists. In this J School session on Zionism, Jeremy Ben-Ami and Dr. Fania Oz-Salzberger will walk us through a selection of key events and flashpoints in the Zionist movement by discussing how their own family narratives fit within the larger history of the Jewish people’s quest for freedom and autonomy.
Presenters
Jeremy Bem-Ami, J Street
Fania Oz-Salzberger, Israeli historian
2) Palestinian Narratives on Both Sides of the Green Line
Lesson Overview
Learning about the Palestinian people’s history, culture and political debates is crucial to understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. This session will be an opportunity to explore that history through topics such as nationalism, culture, citizenship, Palestinian history and land laws. We will be taught by Sami Adwan who will offer historical and personal insights, helping shed light on what it means to be Palestinian in 2020.
Presenters
Sami Adwan, Professor of Education at Hebron University
Maisam Jaljuli, political activist with Standing Together1)
3) Occupation 101
Lesson Overview
Join Frank Lowenstein, former special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations under President Obama’s State Department, for a powerful and in-depth presentation about the on-the-ground realities of Israeli occupation and annexation. This session will enable us to walk away with an understanding of the actors, policies and intentions that have led us to our current reality of occupation and the implications of any moves towards annexation. With his experience in Obama’s State Department, Frank offers unique insight into the policy-making process and the practical and political limitations of American foreign policy in the region.
Presenter
Frank Lowenstein, former special envoy for Israeli-Palestinian negotiations
4) Israeli Politics 101
Lesson Overview
With its complex, multi-party political system, Israeli politics can be fast-paced to follow as leaders from divergent political ideologies, religious affiliations, and ethnic identities jostle for power and influence. The complexity of Israel’s electoral system is a major factor in the country’s approach to the conflict and the concessions it will and won’t make for peace. This session will examine some of these challenges and broaden our understanding of the impact of Israeli politics on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
5) Palestinian Politics 101
Lesson Overview
American media tends to characterize “Palestinians” as a monolithic group, and such a characterization obscures the diversity of attitudes, institutions and political actors found within Palestinian society. Palestinian businessman Sam Bahour joins J School to discuss the history of Palestinian politics, where we are now, and where we might be heading in the wake of annexation discussions. He’ll explore topics such as the Palestinian Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Authority, examine the ideological differences between Fatah and Hamas and dive into how Palestinian public opinion shapes Palestinian politics and policy.
Presenter
Sam Bahour, Palestinian-American commentator and business leader
6) A History of Negotiations: The Five Core Issues and How They Can Be Resolved
Lesson Overview
From Oslo to Madrid to the Arab Peace Initiative, international stakeholders have repeatedly sought to lay the foundations for a negotiated end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Each time, five core issues surface as the key sticking points to reaching an agreement. This session of J School, taught by conflict expert, Dr. Galia Golan, a long-time pro-peace advocate, will examine how and why these five core issues- Jerusalem, borders and security, refugees and settlements continually arise in peace negotiations. During this one-hour course, we’ll explore the history of each issue, its relevance to each side and a range of potential solutions. We’ll also examine the role of third parties, the international environment more broadly, alternative diplomacy, public opinion and the politics of compromise.
Presenter
Dr. Galia Golan, Peace Now Co-Founder and Professor at Hebrew University
7) J Street, American Jews and The Israel Lobby
Lesson Overview
Before Israel was even a state, grassroots advocacy shaped America’s’ policy positions toward the US-Israel relationship. There is no singular “Israel Lobby,” instead, there is an interconnected ecosystem of Israel advocacy lobbies that represent a wide range of opinions on what it means to be “pro-Israel” in the US. This session will examine some of the perspectives that comprise the US Israel lobbies, from Congress, to state capitals, to college campuses, to the K Street corridor in Washington DC where influential stakeholders shape the direction of Israel advocacy. We will discuss how these players have historically shaped policy for and how they shaped the different narratives that exist about the US-Israel relationship.
Presenters
Dov Waxman, Professor and The Rosalinde and Arthur Gilbert Foundation Chair in Israel Studies at UCLA
If interested in participating in CJC’s discussions, contact Laura Alster-Martin (hmblaura@gmail.com).