The History of the Modern State of Israel

The History of the Modern State of Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: From Its Origins to the Present
Presented by Dr. David Mendelsson
Five Sunday mornings, 9:30-11:00 am (Zoom only)
January 12 & 26, February 9 & 23, March 2

This winter, Kol Ami will host an important lecture series on “The History of the Modern State of Israel and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: From Its Origins to the Present.” Our featured lecturer will be Dr. David Mendelsson, educator, historian, author, and senior lecturer in Israel Studies and Modern Jewish History at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Jerusalem and senior lecturer at Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School. Dr. Mendelsson has also served as Scholar-in-Residence at Universities throughout the United States.

January 12: Zionism: Ideology and Historical Context

This session will examine the emergence of Zionism in the 19th century amidst a historical context of antisemitism, the crisis of Judaism in the modern period, and the historic relationship of Jews to the Land of Israel. We will address the claims regarding Zionism as a form of colonialism.

January 26: From Zionist Idea to Jewish Statehood

This session will study the political developments concerning Palestine/Israel from the collapse of the Ottoman Empire at the end of the First World War until the United Nations General Assembly vote on the partition of Palestine in 1947. We will discuss the emergence of the Arab-Israel conflict and the relationship of the Holocaust to the creation of the state.

February 9: 1948-1973

In this session we will discuss Israel’s War of Independence and the emergence of the Palestinian refugee problem. We will examine the causes and outcomes of the 1967 war that led to Israel’s capture of East Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the Sinai desert. We shall also discuss the major issues surrounding the Yom Kippur War and its aftermath.

February 23: Peace and War

We will look at the Egypt-Israel peace treaty, discuss the first Lebanon War and explain the factors that led to further efforts at peace making, particularly the Oslo process. The ensuing Second Intifada will also be discussed.

March 2: The Tunnel Vision of Military Campaigns and War

The final session will look at Israel’s confrontations with Hizballah in the north and Hamas in the south. What is the wider context in which these confrontations take place? Is there any reason for optimism?

This series is offered at no cost for Kol Ami members and $50 for non-members.
Registration is required.