The Palestinian question can be summarised as the problem of two peoples sharing one homeland. We will examine how conflicting promises made under pressure in 1917 created this situation and why, despite wars and Nobel Peace Prizes, it remains essentially unresolved. The initial errors were not made without the potential pitfalls being raised, rather they were accepted by the British Government as a distant risk worth taking. The short-term gains were modest, the long-term implications significant and still shape the world we live in a century later.
Course aim
This course will examine the origins, course and continuing implications of the conflicting promises made to Jews and Arabs by Britain in the midst of the Great War.
Do I need any particular skills or experience?
- This course is for beginners and improvers
By the end of the course I should be able to:
- Explain why Britain made its conflicting promises regarding Palestine in 1917.
- Describe how subsequent actions by Britain and France left both Jews and Arabs dissatisfied in the following decades.
- Outline the course of the conflict over Palestine up to and beyond the declaration of the State of Israel.
- Explain how the legacy of the question continues to shape our world today.
What else do I need to know?
No prior knowledge is required. Suggestions for further reading will be found on Canvas.
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