The Gun and the Olive Branch: Times of War and Peace in Israel and Palestine
This course examines modern Israeli and Palestinian history in a calm and nuanced way. We will look at the key events defining Arab-Jewish harmony and conflict and Palestinian-Israeli relations from the late 19th century to the present. We will explore a variety of topics including the inception of Zionism, the rise of Palestinian nationalism, the establishment of the State of Israel, the 1948 and 1967 wars, the Palestinian refugee crisis, the first Intifada, the Madrid Peace Conference, the Oslo Accords and Oslo Peace Process, the second Intifada, and the current conflict in Israel and Palestine.
Faculty Bio
Marwan Hanania was born and raised in Amman, Jordan. He received his B.A. with Honors in Government from Cornell University, M.A. in Regional Studies: The Middle East from Harvard University, and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in History from Stanford University. Marwan currently teaches at Santa Clara University.
This is a Livestreamed + Recorded Course
- Classes will stream live on the scheduled day and time
- Classes will also be video recorded
- You must be a current OLLI @Berkeley member to register. Learn about membership, including our fee assistance program
Schedule Highlights
- Course starts on Tuesday, Sept. 17, and ends on Tuesday, Oct. 22
- Classes meet for 6 weeks, 1.5 hours per session (1:30–3 PM)
- Videos will post on Fridays in Member Dashboards
- All course materials, including videos, will remain available to view and enjoy through Dec. 31
Member Praise for Marwan Hanania
"He gives true meaning to the word 'judicious.' That is, he gives knowledgeable, well-reasoned, and fair treatment to every major factor. He provided a road map for how to learn about, think about, and talk about the complexities that are roiling the world today in a clear, intellectual, just, and empathetic manner. Highly recommend!"