Syllabus and Process
DISCUSSION
Each participant should prepare a “best question” for each of our meetings. A “best question” is NOT a statement but an open question:
- without a clear yes or no answer;
- Is less than 50 words;
- that a simple wikipedia search doesn’t answer; and ideally,
- challenges each colloquy participant to reevaluate their initial views.
Each question should be based on the readings listed below or topics raised in an earlier discussion. Feel free to prepare more than one question. If possible, send me your questions by sunset on Monday and I will compile and send them to everyone at dawn on Tuesday. peter_sly@msn.com
READINGS
Session 1 (September 13): History, geography and the sacred sites of God/Allah/Yaweh.
Reading: KAREN ARMSTRONG, JERUSALEM: One City Three Faiths, (Ballantine, 2005).
Session 2 (September 20): Borders, settlements and infrastructure.
Map of Areas A, B and C under 1995 Oslo Agreements
Readings: July 1, 2016 report of the Middle East Quartet (U.S, Russia, European Union and United Nations).
Avishai, A Plan for Peace That Still Could Be, New York Times Magazine, February 7, 2011;
Maps of Regional Final Status Issues.
Vox video on Israeli settlements.
Session 3 (September 27): Jewish progressive and diaspora views.
YOSSI ALPHER, NO END OF CONFLICT: Rethinking Israel-Palestine, (Rowman, 2016), pages 89-149.
Ameinu, ameinu-progressive-answers-israel (~~ 2013) (Issue summaries by leading progressive zionist group.)
GUEST: former US diplomat Norman Olsen.
Session 4(October 4): And after the U.S. Election?
Readings: FISHER & URY, GETTING TO YES: NEGOTIATING AGREEMENT WITHOUT GIVING IN (PENGUIN 1991 edition), the ending — the “Analytical Table of Contents” pages 189-198 and also pages 1-14, “The Problem” and pages 40-55 “Focus on Interests, not Positions. .
Amazon description of Johnathan Haidt’s THE RIGHTEOUS MIND: WHY GOOD PEOPLE ARE DIVIDED BY POLITICS AND RELIGION (2012)
Wikipedia articles on UN Security Council Resolutions #242 and #338.