-
The Ancient World
- Building Societies – What Does it Take? – Lesson
- Building Societies – What Does it Take? – Quiz
- Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem: Where Western Civilization Began – Lesson
- Athens, Rome, and Jerusalem: Where Western Civilization Began – Quiz
- Persia: Where Fake News Began? – Lesson
- Persia: Where Fake News Began? – Quiz
- Tell Brak: The World’s Most Ancient City? – Lesson
- The Key to Ancient Egypt: Rosetta Stone 200 Years On – Lesson
- The Key to Ancient Egypt: Rosetta Stone 200 Years On – Quiz
-
World History
- Slavery: An Ancient Evil That Still Exists Today – Lesson
- A Tale Of Two Sacrifices – Part I – Lesson
- A Tale Of Two Sacrifices – Part II – Lesson
- The Story Behind the Israel-Palestine Conflict – Lesson
- Churchill Vs. Hitler: Standing Up for Europe – Lesson
- War, Peace, and School Bullies – Lesson
- Survey Says: Millennials and Gen Z Just Don’t Know the Holocaust – Lesson
- V-J Day: Celebrating 75 Years Since Japan’s Surrender – Lesson
- A History of Ukraine: Battleground for Empires – Part 1 – Lesson
- A History of Ukraine: Battleground for Empires – Part 1 – Quiz
- A History of Ukraine: Battleground for Empires – Part 2 – Lesson
- A History of Ukraine: Battleground for Empires – Part 2 – Quiz
- History of the Holy Land – Quiz
-
U.S. Allies and Rivals
-
Around the Globe Today
- Chinese Uighurs – What Is Going On? – Lesson
- A New Republic – Barbados Removes the Queen as the Head of State – Lesson
- A New Republic – Barbados Removes the Queen as the Head of State – Quiz
- Venice Makes a New Rule for Tourists – Will Other Cities Follow? – Lesson
- Venice Makes a New Rule for Tourists – Will Other Cities Follow? – Quiz
- Professor Lives Underwater for 100 Days – Lesson
- Professor Lives Underwater for 100 Days – Quiz
- Setenil de las Bodegas – The Spanish Town Built Under a Rock – Lesson
- Setenil de las Bodegas – The Spanish Town Built Under a Rock – Quiz
- Hat of Napoleon Bonaparte Sells for Over $2 Million at Auction – Lesson
- Hat of Napoleon Bonaparte Sells for Over $2 Million at Auction – Quiz
- The UK Plans to Measure Kids’ Bellies to Monitor Their Health – Lesson
- The UK Plans to Measure Kids’ Bellies to Monitor Their Health – Quiz
-
Politics and Economics Around the Globe
The Story Behind the Israel-Palestine Conflict – Lesson
There has been fighting in the Middle East since Israel declared its independence – but why?
President Donald Trump recently announced a peace agreement with Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The two nations will work together on many issues, and Israel won’t try to take over any more land from the Palestinians. Israel hasn’t had many positive relationships with the Arab nations until now, but why?
Israel and Palestine: Origin Story
The fighting between Israel and Palestine has been going on since World War II, though the origins can be traced a little farther back. In 1917, the British took Palestine from the Ottomans and declared a “national home for the Jewish people.”
After World War II, the United Nations wanted Palestine to be separated into Jewish and Arab states. But in 1948, Israel declared its independence.
The battle between both sides is based on who gets what land. The Palestinians, the Arab population in the area claimed by Israel, want to set up their own nation and refer to the land as Palestine. But Israeli Jews say the land is theirs.
When Israel declared its independence, the new nation took over more territory. Since then, the Israelis and the Palestinians have been engaged in a constant armed struggle over land.
Major Events Since 1956
Suez Crisis (1956 to 1957): Israel partnered with Britain and France to invade Egypt during the Suez Crisis to reopen the canal for Israeli shipping and dismantle armed infiltrations by Palestinians.
Six-Day War (1967): The Six-Day War was a bloody conflict that took place from June 5 to June 10, 1967, between Israel and the Arab states of Egypt, Syria, and Jordan.
Oslo Declaration (1993): Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signed the Oslo Declaration that officially established the Palestinian Authority. It resulted in Israel giving up most of Gaza and the West Bank in exchange for peace.
Gaza Conflict (2008 to 2014): Israeli forces launched a full-scale attack on Gaza to prevent Hamas and other terrorist groups from launching rockets into Israel. The fighting went on for several years.
Trump Era (2017 to 2020): President Donald Trump officially recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel and declared that the U.S. no longer believes Israeli settlements on the West Bank to be illegal. The White House brokered long-term peace treaties and ceasefires between Israel and other countries in the region to stop the violence and facilitate peace.
Progress in the Middle East?
A lot of President Trump’s critics thought that his administration would fail to make any progress in the Middle East, particularly after the U.S. relocated its embassy to Jerusalem. While the world is likely still far away from witnessing peace in the Middle East, the latest announcements of normalized relations between Israel and countries in the region have been incredible.