Homeland to Hamas: A guide to a greater understanding of the Middle East conflict

We will explore the continuing conflict in the Middle East through a study of the relationship between Arabs and Jews in Palestine between 1917 and 2011. Our tutor, Dave Halliwell, is an expert on the subject and will bring the big picture of what is widely considered to be the world's most intractable and divisive conflict into sharper focus. He will tell the story of, and from, both sides, and of the fateful interactions between them. This course is for anyone who wants to increase their understanding of this complicated and controversial subject which continues to resonate in the 21st century world. The following themes will be covered:

- The Jewish and Arab claims to Palestine

- French and British involvement from the First World War onwards and how the Second World War influenced Zionism

- The creation of Israel and the 1948 war, the Arab-Israeli wars of 1956 to 1973 and the spread of terrorism

- The death of Nassar and the events leading to the Yom Kippur War of 1973

- The Camp David agreements of 1978, the wars in Lebanon 1978 and 1982 and the Palestinian Intifada of 1987-1993

- Israeli - Palestinian peace making in the 1900's and the rise of political Islam

- The second Intifada and after 2000-2011