Who are the Palestinians… and what do they want, anyway?

71 Pages·2017·8.86 MB·English

Carleton University
Learning in Retirement Program
(Oct/Dec 2017)
Israel/Palestine: Will it ever be
solved?
Welcome
(back)!!
Peter Larson
Carleton University Learning in Retirement Program
(Oct-Dec 2017)
Israel/Palestine: Can it ever be solved?
Outline
Monday, Oct 30 - Introduction and basic elements
Monday, Nov 6 - Who are the Palestinians, why are they unhappy and
what do they want?
Monday, Nov 13 – The history of anti-Semitism in Western Europe,
Zionism and the creation of the State of Israel
Monday, Nov 20 - Israel today: What does it mean to be a “Jewish
State”?
Monday, Nov. 27 - The issue of the Palestinian refugees
Monday, Dec 4 – Canadian policy and conclusion
Review of day 1
Geography
Topography
Review of day 1
Terminology
• Palestinian
• Palestine
• Israel
• Arab
• Israeli
• Arab Israeli
• Palestinian citizens of Israel
• West Jerusalem
• East Jerusalem
Review of day 1
Terminology
• Jew
• Jewish
• “Two State Solution”
• Zionism/Zionist
• West Bank
• Judea and Samaria
• Refugees
• Occupation
• Disputed territory
• Annexation
Review of day 1
The two “narratives”
Review of day 1
Jewish (Israeli, Zionist) Narrative
• We have always been a tiny, persecuted people.
• We have learned through experience that we can’t depend on
others to protect us.
• We have now returned to our ancestral lands, and we plan to stay.
• All we want is for our neighbours to accept our right to exist as a
Jewish state.
Palestinian narrative
• We have lived in an area called “Palestine” for thousands of years.
• We were of mixed racial origin, and mixed religions (Christian, Muslim
and Jewish)
• Western countries oppressed Jews and helped them establish in
Palestine.
• Those Jews expelled us and confiscated our property.
• We can accept Jews, but can’t accept Israel as a “Jewish State” – its
our homeland.
• We want an admission that what was done to us was wrong and that
those wrongs have to be righted.
Who are the Palestinians?
Why are they frustrated?
And what do they want, anyway?
Peter Larson
Chair
Canada Talks Israel Palestine
Who are the Palestinians?
Why are they frustrated?
And what do they want, anyway?
Peter Larson
Chair
Canada Talks Israel Palestine
Outline
 History – what was Palestine?
 Demography – who were the Palestinians?
How many are there today?
 Geography - Where do they live today?
 Issues - What are their problems?
 Politics – What do they want?
 Conclusions