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Students Workshop

International Students Conflict Resolution Workshop (ISCRW)

This is an 8-day workshop which introduces graduate students in the fields of Political Science, International History, or Diplomacy as well as other interested parties to the culture and issues of the Middle East. The course will provide participants with an in-depth understanding of the Israeli / Palestinian dispute and how can it be resolved, learn more about Israeli and Palestinian society, politics, economy, Middle East to cultural patterns and issues of contemporary Middle Eastern society.
The workshop is based on extensive personal experience, scholarly research, recent field work, and observations of some of the top Israeli experts in this field.

The Workshop will provide participants with the necessary skills, materials and hands-on experience to significantly enhance their knowledge of the region and help them better understand the situation in the region.
Graduates of the workshop will be made to feel more “at home” in Muslim/Arab environments. It will enable them to perform more efficiently in any activities requiring communication and interaction with the local population.

The workshop's program has 4 units:

• Unit # 1: Israeli and Palestinian Societies.
• Unit # 2: Economy, Politics and Security.
• Unit # 3: Moral Dilemmas within the Israeli/Palestinian Dispute.
• Unit # 4: Why did the Oslo Accord Fail?


WORKSHOP PROGRAM

Day 1: Thursday
Thursday evening: Leave from JFK or Newark (will permit arrivals from other parts of the US during the day).

Day 2: Friday
Friday afternoon:
• Arrive in Israel.
• Orientation, Presentation of detailed workshop program, welcome dinner, meet the instructors.
• Opening Presentation: "The Roots of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict".

Day 3: Saturday
Hebrew and Arabic: Sister Languages : Teaching basic Arabic & Hebrew Expressions.
Israel's Political Landscape: The Evolution of the Right and Left in Israeli society, from the formation of the state until today.
The Evolution of Palestinian Leadership
Terrorism: The World's Threat
International Terrorism
Financing Terrorism
(Visits to sites of interest)

Day 4: Sunday
Israeli-Palestinian Economic Relationship – what are both sides perceptions and expectations?
The Palestinian Refugees and the claim of the "Right of Return"
Overlooking the Jenin Palestinian Refugee Camp
Visits to sites of interest ( joint ventures)

Day 5: Monday
The Palestinian leadership: Past and Present
Meet Israeli & Palestinian Leaders and hear their concerns
Haifa: A possibility of Co-Existence (Israeli Jews and Arabs living side by side).
Visit to a Palestinian village in the West Bank.

Day 6: Tuesday
Islam: Between West and East
Financing Terrorism
Habits and Customs in Palestinian Society
Women in Arab-Palestinian society

Day 7: Wednesday
Moral dilemmas: "Collective Punishment" "Profiling" or "War on terrorism"?
Israel's Disengagement Plan: Why is it so important to Israelis and so bad to Palestinians?
Suicide bombers: what stands behind it?
Visit to a West Bank checkpoint; talk to Israelis and Palestinians.
Visit to "The Security fence".

Day 8: Thursday
The Implementation of the Oslo Accord: Why Did Oslo Fail?
Security Cooperation and Coordination –was it necessary?
Visit to a current Israeli-Palestinian District Coordination Office (DCO)

Thursday Night
Leave to Ben Gurion Airport
1 AM Leave Ben Gurion airport
Arrive at JFK Monday 6AM.

Free time will be given during the week in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa