This session is open to the public and will be recorded, but dissemination is TBD. Registration is required for this Zoom webinar.

Since Hamas’s horrific attack on Israel on October 7, shocking and large-scale acts of violence across the region—in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, and beyond—have terrorized local populations. Thousands of people, many of them children, have been displaced, killed, or held hostage. The war of 2023 is the latest eruption of a protracted conflict between Israelis and Palestinians that has sent shock waves around the world.

In our Weatherhead Forum series on "The War in Israel/Palestine," we bring together scholars across disciplines to better understand the dimensions of this conflict. Our series will provide a safe space to address current events, history, polarization, potential resolutions, the humanitarian response, implications for the region, the role of US foreign policy, and more—in an effort to provide thoughtful answers to complex questions.

Part 1: A Primer

How did tensions between Palestinians and Israelis reach the devastating breaking point of October 7? Our panelists will offer crucial background on recent history and events leading up to the attack on Israel and the war in Gaza. This forum will follow along the lines of a “teach-in” to educate and review what is known about the current situation—with the shared value of conveying compassion rather than blame. Scholars of Israel, Palestine, and the Middle East will share their insights on the forces that have shaped the war and how it is experienced on the ground.

Speakers

Derek Penslar, Faculty Associate. William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish History, Department of History; Director, Center for Jewish Studies, Harvard University.

Yael Berda, Former Academy Scholar, The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies. Fellow, Middle East Initiative, Harvard Kennedy School; Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Department of Sociology and Anthropology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Amahl Bishara, Associate Professor, Anthropology; Associate Professor, Studies in Race, Colonialism, and Diaspora, Department of Anthropology, Tufts University.

Chair

Melani Cammett, Weatherhead Center Director. Clarence Dillon Professor of International Affairs, Department of Government, Harvard University.

Contact
Michelle Nicholasen
Editor and Content Producer
michelle_nicholasen@wcfia.harvard.edu

Sponsored by the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard University.