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(This post was originally published during the 2008 Israeli invasion of the Gaza Strip, but it includes broader resources on the conflict and is regularly updated, including the 2021 conflict. Explainers about what’s happening in 2021 are located at the bottom of this post)
I’m emphasizing the quotation marks surrounding the word “Best” in the title of this post. In light of what is happening in Gaza and Israel right now, and its potential for even greater violence, I thought I would begin to put together some resources that would be handy when we go back to school in a week.
I’ll certainly be adding more to this list as time goes on, but at least it’s a start.
It’s not that easy finding good material out there that’s accessible to English Language Learners, which is a requirement for anything to be included in a “The Best…” list or, in fact, for pretty much anything that I post about here. I’m hopeful of finding better, and more up-to-date, resources as time goes on. It’s especially difficult to find accessible materials that provide some kind of historical context for the conflict. It’s complexity, and its potential for controversy, probably doesn’t make it that attractive a subject for many of the usual “current events” providers of content to younger readers.
You might also be interested in The Best Web Resources On The Iraq War.
Here are my picks for The “Best” Resources For Learning About the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (not in order of preference):
The CBBC Newsround has some materials very accessible to English Language Learners, though some are out-of-date. The resources are about what is happening now as well as what has happened in the past
The Peace Research Institute In The Middle East (PRIME) is an organization comprised of Israelis and Palestinians who have developed high school materials on the Middle East that are used in both communities. As a Newsweek article explains, each page is divided into three: the Palestinian and Israeli narratives and a third section left blank for the pupil to fill in. “The idea is not to legitimize or accept the other’s narrative but to recognize it..”
All the PRIME materials can be freely downloaded from their site. They are far too advanced for English Language Learners, but the idea can used with modified materials about the Middle East conflict. In fact, I think it would be fairly easy to do so with some of the resources already on this list.
Locked In Gaza is a New York Times slideshow and Growing Up In Gaza is a Times’ video.
The BBC has a good map of the Israeli and Palestinian “territory.”
Changing map of Israel and the Palestinian territories is from The Guardian.
Challenges in Defining an Israeli-Palestinian Border is an interactive from The New York Times.
Interactive: Gaza, life under siege is from Al Jazeera.
11 crucial facts to understand the Israel-Gaza crisis is from Vox.
The Crisis In Gaza is an interactive from The Washington Post.
2021 Conflict Resources:
Israel-Gaza violence: The conflict explained is from The BBC.
Explainer: How did the latest Israeli-Palestinian crisis emerge? is from NBC News.
Israel-Palestine crisis explained: why has the violence escalated again? – video is from The Guardian.
Teaching About the Current Conflict in Gaza and Israel is from The NY Times Learning Network.
I’m very interested in getting feedback and additional suggestions. Please leave them in the comments section of this post.
If you found this post useful, you might want to look at previous “The Best…” lists and also consider subscribing to this blog for free.
Hi Larry! First, I’d like to thank you for the wonderful blog you’ve put together. Awesome! 🙂
Regarding this particular post, however, I don’t think the sources you’ve mentioned are the “best” sources, even though I’m sure you sincerely thought they are.
Mainly your sources tell the American-government-approved version of the story, which I consider to be highly biased. Funny how those who have all the weapons and are armed to the teeth are always acting out of self-defense or to avoid further bloodshed (killing lots of people but “ultimately saving more lives than were taken”), and those who are actually being killed are always the terrorists and to blame.
Similar reasons were given for the American government’s bombings of Japan in the World War, and for the more recent killings in Afghanistan and Iraq. But, Larry, the truth is that hundreds of innocent civilians are being killed in Gaza, and the rest are being starved to death. I just don’t see how that can be justified by people who favor peace and understanding.
Hi Susan, I am in the process of blogging about Israel and Gaza, trying to get Americans to think and talk about what is happening, and take some personal responsibility in deciding what our government funds (eventually, I believe, the citizenry can affect what our government does, but we have to get mobilized on the issue) What resources would you suggest? Before the latest attacks, I was especially interested in the health and nutrition issues in Gaza and the West Bank (esp for women and children), more specific information than I’ve been able to find at the UN or WHO sites. Since the attacks, I’ve been concentrating on getting information out about that. I’m taking a humanitarian approach, because I believe that is what Americans will be most receptive to. Anyway, any help you could give me would be appreciated. Thanks! My email is: ellenpham@msn.com