The objective of this course is to introduce students to a wide 
variety of literature dealing with the Arab-Israeli conflict in 
general and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular, with 
emphasis on the Hebrew and Palestinian fiction, drama, poetry, 
and film. Special emphasis will be placed on the relevance of 
these texts to contemporary society. Students will gain a 
scholarly familiarity with some of the central issues of the 
Arab-Israeli conflict and the literature that responds to it. 
Through careful analysis of such works as Emil Habibi's The 
Secret Life of Saeed and Hanoch Levin's Murder, students will 
acquire a better knowledge of the social, historical, political, 
and cultural contexts within which such texts were created, from 
the early Zionist movement and settlement in Palestine down to 
the presentday. In addition, through oral presentations and 
expository assignments, the course will help students develop 
their critical thinking and communication skills.

The course is organized around readings from works of fiction,
poetry, drama, and film that deal with the Arab-Israeli 
conflict. Special emphasis will be placed on the relevance of 
these texts to contemporary society around the world. Specific 
works under analysis will vary with the individual instructor. 

Topics covered include:
The Zionist movement; 
Relations between Jewish colonies and the indigenous population 
during the British Mandate; 
The War of Independence and the Nakba; 
Language and colonization; 
Nationalism, race, and gender; war, trauma, and political 
resistance. 

The following is a sample syllabus of readings for a single 
semester:

Yizhar. Khirbet Khizeh
Habibi. The Secret Life of Saeed: The Pessoptimist
A.B. Yehoshua. The Lover
Levin. Murder
Gorssman. The Yellow Wind
Adjusting Sights
Kashua. Second Person Singular; Dancing Arabs
Leshem. Beaufort
Sacco. Palestine
Folman. Waltz with Bashir
Maoz. Lebanon
Darwish. Memory for Forgetfulness; The Butterfly's Burden