The Conflict: Peace and Power.
There’s no doubt that conflict is a central aspect of the Israeli experience. Its ideological roots, historical contexts, current players and strategies, as well as the ethics of power are all key elements in understanding what lies behind the seemingly endless cycles of conflict.
Background - Onward Israel Recommends
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The Middle East Since 9/11
Written by Jacob L. Shapiro, Director of Analysis for Geopolitical Futures (GPF), this in-depth article analyses how the Middle East was transformed by the massive changes sparked by 9/11, including the West’s war against terror,
War & Ethics in the IDF Ethical Code
Adapted from a lecture by Moshe Halbertal, Israeli philosopher, professor and co-author of the Israeli Army Code of Ethics, this article from the Shalom Hartman Institute discusses the challenges the Israel Defense Forces faces
Causes & Consequences of the Six Day War
Compiled by the Britain Israel Communications and Research Center in 2017, this 10 page PDF document outlines the causes and consequences of the Six Day War, including the regional background and immediate catalysts, the
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Informative Articles & Videos.
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Israel: The Birth of a Nation (Documentary)
Produced by the History Channel, this comprehensive documentary (1.5 hours) chronicles the establishment of the State of Israel by British historian, Sir Martin Gilbert. Using archive film, photographs and interviews, the documentary tells
The Four Wars of Israel/Palestine
In this important article, Prof. Michael Walzer re-frames the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict into four simultaneous and continuous wars: the Palestinian war to destroy Israel, the Palestinian war for an independent state that will end
How the Six Day War Changed the Map of the Middle East
Produced by History, an American television network, this video (04:21) provides a brief introduction to the Six Day War, including basic historical context, the major events of the conflict, and the geographic and political
The Paratroopers who Founded Gush Emunim & Peace Now and Israel’s Wary Center
Written by Yossi Klein Halevi, author of “Like Dreamers: The Story of the Israeli Paratroopers Who Reunited Jerusalem and Divided a Nation,” this important article traces the story of two members of the
Intifada vs. Jihad: The Religious Roots of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
In this short video (03:58), Mordechai Kedar, an Israeli scholar of Arabic culture, suggests that the root of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is religious, as opposed to geopolitical or economic. He explains how the
Yitzhak Rabin’s “Iron Fist” Policy Splits Israelis
Published in the Chicago Tribune during the First Intifada, this article presents the mixed Israeli response to then-Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s orders to respond to the Palestinian uprising with an Iron Fist policy of
What Were the Intifadas?
Created by NowThis News, a liberal American media company, this informative video (05:11) presents an overview of the First and Second Palestinian Intifadas, including the political, economic and ideological causes, the violent and non-violent aspects of
King Abdullah I of Jordan: As the Arabs See the Jews (1947)
This link provides the full text of an article written by King Abdullah I of Jordan in The American Magazine in November, 1947, six months before the declaration of the State of Israel
Who Are the Palestinian Refugees?
Produced by the BBC, this news segment (06:14) explores the Palestinian refugee crisis, including the creation of Palestinian refugees in 1948, the poor conditions in refugee camps, the commitment of the refugees and their
The Truth About the Refugees: Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Featuring Danny Ayalon, former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Israeli Ambassador to the US, this animated video (05:30) suggests that the Palestinian refugee crisis is being perpetuated by Arab leaders and the United Nations for political purposes,
Interactive Crisis Guide to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Created by The Council on Foreign Relations, this thorough guide to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict allows users to learn about the history and complexity of the conflict through interactive maps, videos, and timelines accessible through intuitive
How the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Began
Created by the American TV Network, History, this educational video (06:28) presents a relatively balanced survey of the history of the land of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from biblical times until today.
Why Didn’t the 2-State Solution Ever Take Off?
This video (15:01) explores the contentious question: Why not just divide Israel into 2 separate states — one for Jews and the other for Palestinians? In fact, there have been at least 6 separate
4,000 Years of Jerusalem’s History in Under 2 Minutes
Hang on tight! Journey through 4,000 years of Jerusalem’s history in under 2 minutes with this animated clip from ‘Unpacked’. Get the timeline straight as you learn about the battles, people, and significant moments that
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Music.
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Miri Aloni & the IDF Nachal Band: A Song for Peace
Written by Yaakov Rotblit and composed by Yair Rosenblum, this controversial song was first performed by the IDF Nachal Infantry Ensemble in 1969, during the War of Attrition between Israel and Egypt. The
Shlomo Artzi: Murder Report
Written by iconic Israeli folk-rock singer-songwriter, Shlomo Artzi, this song reflects on the 1995 assassination of then-Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, comparing it to the assassination of American President John F. Kennedy in 1963.
Haim Hefer / Arik Lavi: Nasser is Waiting for Rabin
Written in the “waiting period” before the Six Day War, this upbeat song was written by Haim Hefer and performed by Arik Lavi to mock the Egyptian president and boost national morale at a
Chava Alberstein: My Daughter, Are you Cyring or Laughing?
Written after the Six Day War, this iconic Israeli song describes a young girl from Kibbutz Gadot not knowing how to react when she emerges from a bomb shelter in northern Israel to
Shlomo Artzi: New Land
Released during the First Intifada, this song is written as a continuous conversation between fathers and sons over the course of generations as they journey toward “a new land.” It subtly explores controversial
Nurit Galron: After We’re Gone, Let the Flood Come
Released by Israeli singer Nurit Galron during the First Intifada, this controversial song criticised the Israeli public (and those living in the bubble of Tel Aviv, specifically) for willfully ignoring the effects of the
Chava Alberstein: Had Gadya
Written by Chava Alberstein during the First Intifada, Had Gadya is based on an Aramaic song from the Passover Haggadah. While Alberstein’s lyrics mostly come from the traditional text, the original song ends
Si Himan: Shooting & Crying
Written by Si Himan during the First Intifada, this haunting song explores the effects of war and violence on Israeli society and psyche. Entitled “Shooting and Crying,” this popular phrase refers to the psychological
Natan Alterman / Yehoram Gaon: The Silver Platter
This haunting song conveys the great sacrifices upon which the State of Israel was establishment. Soon after the release of the UN Partition Plan of 1947, Chaim Weizmann, who would become the first
Meir Ariel: Jerusalem of Iron
“Jerusalem of Iron” was written by Israeli singer-songwriter Meir Ariel following the Six Day War to the melody of Naomi Shemer’s famous “Jerusalem of Gold.” After taking part in the costly battles for Jerusalem
Naomi Shemer: Yerushalayim Shel Zahav / Jerusalem of Gold
This popular Israeli song written by Naomi Shemer describes the Jewish people’s age-old yearning for and ultimate return to Jerusalem. Released just three weeks before the outbreak of the Six Day War in 1967, when the Old
What else?.
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A Timeline of the Six Day War
Created by the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America, a pro-Israel media-monitoring and research organization, this useful post presents a concise timeline of the major historical events leading up to, during and following the
Six Day War Maps
This post presents three important maps for understanding the impact of the Six Day War: Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs maps of Israel’s borders before and after the Six Day War and an
Hamas & Fatah: 25 Venomous Years
Produced by Euronews, this video (02:27) provides a basic introduction to Hamas, including the origins, strategy, ideology and leadership of the organization, recognized as a terrorist organization by many countries. The video provides
King Abdullah I of Jordan: As the Arabs See the Jews (1947)
This link provides the full text of an article written by King Abdullah I of Jordan in The American Magazine in November, 1947, six months before the declaration of the State of Israel
Statement by the Arab League upon the Declaration of the State of Israel (May 15, 1948)
This post presents the text of the cablegram sent from the Secretary General of the Arab League to the Secretary General of the United Nations following the Declaration of the State of Israel
A Detailed Timeline of the War of Independence
From the Zionism-Israel Center advocacy website, this link opens up a thorough chronology of events from November 1947 – September 1949. In addition to information about the many events noted throughout these years,
Maps: 1947-1967
From the website of the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, this post presents three useful maps in understanding the development of the State of Israel’s borders and the War of Independence: a map
History in Five: The War of Independence
From the History in Five YouTube Channel, this educational video (05:11) presents an overview of Israel’s War of Independence, including historical background, a timeline and maps explaining the development and major events of
Battles on the Road to Jerusalem During the War of Independence
Produced by i24News to mark 70 years since the establishment of the State of Israel, this video (05:26) looks back on some of the fiercest and most significant battles of the War of Independence, the
A Map of Each Day of the War of Independence
This short illustrative video (01:17) depicts the land lost and gained by each side on every day of the Arab-Israeli War of 1948 through a color coded map with changing borders. The video also