Explore the Israeli and Palestinian narratives of the complex history of 1948 and how these deeply personal stories shape the conversation about the conflict today.
Essential Questions
- What role do the events of 1948 play in the national narratives of Israelis and Palestinians?
- What are the benefits and challenges of seeing a complex event (such as the 1948 War) through multiple perspectives?
- What external and internal factors contributed to the 1948 War and how did this event affect the trajectory of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
Big Ideas
- A Lasting Impact: The events of 1948 are formative to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and continue to have resonance today.
- Promoting Empathy and Understanding: By exploring the history and stories of both Israelis and Palestinians, we can recognize the humanity of each people and promote greater understanding.
- The Complex Lead-Up to 1948: There were numerous international, local, military, ideological, political, and economic considerations that contributed to the events of 1948, and the narratives that formed around these moments highlight different aspects of the era.