• Home
• Study
• Study Information
• Modules
• Module Information

Conflict and Peacemaking Palestine/Israel

Module description

It is no exaggeration to say that the conflict in Palestine/Israel over ownership, belonging, and identity is one of the central problems of world politics affecting wider relations in the Middle East. You will examine the factors that have produced the current situation, analysing the historical development of nationalisms, the dynamics of the conflict as well as the previous attempts to reach a peaceful settlement. The module does not assume any prior knowledge of the subject, but previous experience of modules in Middle East history and/or politics will be an advantage. Nevertheless, you will not take an exclusively historical approach to the question, you will also discuss ways in which understanding of previous rounds of negotiations and attempts at settlements can inform our ability to think creatively about solutions.

Module aims - intentions of the module

To provide an understanding of the factors which have affected attempts to reach a peaceful settlement of the Palestine/Israel problem. This involves a thorough knowledge of the dynamics of the conflict, the proposals which have been put forward to resolve the problem, the conduct of negotiations intended to achieve peaceful settlement, and the practical record of implementation of such measures as have been agreed.

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 1. Demonstrate an appreciation of the dynamics which have shaped one of the most critical problem-areas in the politics of the Middle East,
• 2. Demonstrate an appreciation of the interactions between regional politics and the attempts to achieve peaceful settlement.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 3. Apply theoretical concepts to empirical data
• 4. Understand the theoretical concepts drawn from conflict resolution theory;
• 5. Understand the applicability of these concepts to what has happened in Palestine/Israeli peaceful settlement attempts.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

• 6. Develop oral presentation and communication, time organisation, group interaction, and analytical writing skills.
• 7. Work independently, within a limited time frame, and without access to external sources, to complete a specified task.

Syllabus plan

Whilst the module’s precise content may vary from year to year, it is envisaged that the syllabus will cover some or all of the following topics:

Concepts of peaceful settlement and conflict resolution
Origins of the Palestine/Israel problem, to 1948
The wars of 1956 and 1967
Resolution 242 and peace proposals to 1972
The 1973 war and the comprehensive and step-by-step approaches to settlement, to 1976
Camp David and other frameworks for peaceful settlement, 1977-86
The intifada, the Gulf War and their relevance for peaceful settlement, 1987-90
The Madrid process, 1991-2
The Oslo agreements and their implementation, 1993-8
Final settlement proposals and negotiations, 1999-

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

Formative assessment

Summative assessment (% of credit)

Details of summative assessment

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Ilan Pappe, (2006). The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Oxford: One World.

Shlaim, Avi (2000). The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World, Penguin Books. P.1-27

David Hirst (2003). The Gun and the Olive Branch: The Roots of Violence in the Middle East. Faber and Farber.

Khalidi, R. (2006) The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle For Statehood, Boston: Beacon Press. P.1-30

Sayigh, R. (2007) “The Uprooting” in: The Palestinians: From Peasants to Revolutionaries, London: Zed Books.      

Shohat, E. (1988). Sephardim in Israel: Zionism from the standpoint of its Jewish victims. Social Text, (19/20), 1-35.

Naser-Najjab, N., & Khatib, G., 2019. The First Intifada, Settler Colonialism, and 21st Century Prospects for Collective Resistance. The Middle East Journal, 73(2), 187-206.

Savir, Uri, 1998. The process: 1,100 days that changed the Middle East. New York:  Random House.

Key words search

Conflict, Peacemaking, Palestine, Israel