The central focus of the course will be the forces for continuity and change in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and the challenges facing efforts to sustain a viable and productive peace process. Initially the course will examine the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from four angles: the search for security and identity within national frameworks; the peace process; dealings between external factors, the broader Arab-Israeli conflict; and the political dynamics that brought about the demise of the Oslo process. The course will then examine final status issues that were supposed to be addressed through the Oslo process - especially refugees, Jerusalem, borders and sovereignty, resources and security. The course will conclude with a discussion of the micro and macro issues facing Palestinians and Israelis, and how they may impact on the prospects for peace.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. reach a better understanding of the key issues underlying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict;
2. gain a comprehensive picture of the interaction of domestic and external actors and factors shaping the conflict;
3. critically examine the positions of the parties and the ideas that have been advanced to deal with core unresolved issues;
4. examine critically how progress might be made towards resolving the conflict, against the background of contemporary political realities; and
5. participate in discussions about contested concepts with confidence and with tolerance for other points of view.

Research-Led Teaching

The lecture content will include scholarly research in the field of contemporary politics and economics of Palestine and Israel including the lecturer’s own research. In addition, other data, research and concepts will be presented during the lectures that are not covered in the weekly readings. This material will be sourced from scholarly journals and presses, research institutes, consultancies, and international agencies. During discussions, students will have the opportunity to analyse, apply, and present on contemporary and historical developments, relevant theoretical concepts, and issues related to the Palestinian Israeli conflict.

Field Trips

no

Additional Course Costs

none

Examination Material or equipment

no

Required Resources

no

Recommended Resources

Whether you are on campus or studying remotely, there are a variety of online platforms you will use to participate in your study program. These could include videos for lectures and other instruction, two-way video conferencing for interactive learning, email and other messaging tools for communication, interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities, print and/or photo/scan for handwritten work and drawings, and home-based assessment.

ANU outlines recommended student system requirements to ensure you are able to participate fully in your learning. Other information is also available about the various Learning Platforms you may use.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• written comments
• verbal comments
• feedback to whole class, groups, individuals, focus group etc

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). Feedback can also be provided to Course Conveners and teachers via the Student Experience of Learning & Teaching (SELT) feedback program. SELT surveys are confidential and also provide the Colleges and ANU Executive with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Introduction to Course
2	Historical Background
3	Israeli and Palestinian Political Culture: Searching Identity
4	Constructing the Israeli and Palestinian 'State'	Response Paper (10%)
5	Hamas and the Israeli Religious Right: Religious Alternative Views of the State?
6	The Lebanese Quagmire: Israel's Wars in Lebanon
7	The Rise and Fall of the Middle East Peace Process
8	Key Issues Post-Oslo: Palestinian Refugees, Israeli Settlements, and the Status of Jerusalem
9	Human Security Issues: Employment, Water, Food	Research Essay (50%)
10	The Wider Impact of the Conflict: Egypt, Jordan, Syria, and GCC
11	The Wider Impact of the Conflict: Turkey, Iran, and Great Powers
12	The War in Gaza and Future Directions	Take-home examination (40%)

Tutorial Registration

ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
Response Paper (10%)	10 %	18/03/2024	28/03/2024	1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Research Essay (50%)	40 %	29/04/2024	14/05/2024	1, 2, 3, 4
Final Examination (40%)	50 %	30/05/2024	*	1, 2, 3, 4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines , which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Integrity Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Guideline and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure
• Code of practice for teaching and learning

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the Academic Skills website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Assessment Task 1

Response Paper (10%)

Students are asked to submit a 1000 words response paper worth 10%. The response paper must provide an analytical reflection on one assigned reading from weeks 1 through 4.

Due date:

5:00 pm Monday 18 March

Marking criteria:

Further guidelines, including a marking rubric will be posted on Wattle at the start of semester (Week 1).

Return of assignments:

Assignments with grade and comments will be returned via Turnitin within 10 days of the submission date.

Assessment Task 2

Research Essay (50%)

The essay for this course tests students’ ability to research a topic and to present a quality, cogent argument in response to the question. Questions are based on the material covered throughout the course. Essays are marked against criteria that include answering the question, presenting an argument, demonstrating depth of research, and technical quality. The word limit is 4000 words.

Due date:

5:00 pm Monday 29 April

Marking criteria:

Further guidelines, including a marking rubric and list of essay questions will be posted on Wattle at the start of semester (Week 2).

Return of assignments:

Assignments with grade and comments will be returned via Turnitin within 14 days of the submission date.

Assessment Task 3

Final Examination (40%)

This is a take-home examination.

Exam will be available on Wattle from 12.00pm on Thursday 23 May, and due back by 5.00pm Thursday 30 May.

Will require 3 questions to be answered. Detailed instructions will be handed out towards the end of the semester.

NO other exam times will be available. Failure to sit this exam will result in a zero for this piece of assessment. Individual feedback/comments will not be provided on this assessment.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. The University’s students are an integral part of that community. The academic integrity principle commits all students to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support, academic integrity, and to uphold this commitment by behaving honestly, responsibly and ethically, and with respect and fairness, in scholarly practice.

The University expects all staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle, the Academic Integrity Rule 2021, the Policy: Student Academic Integrity and Procedure: Student Academic Integrity, and to uphold high standards of academic integrity to ensure the quality and value of our qualifications.

The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 is a legal document that the University uses to promote academic integrity, and manage breaches of the academic integrity principle. The Policy and Procedure support the Rule by outlining overarching principles, responsibilities and processes. The Academic Integrity Rule 2021 commences on 1 December 2021 and applies to courses commencing on or after that date, as well as to research conduct occurring on or after that date. Prior to this, the Academic Misconduct Rule 2015 applies.

 

The University commits to assisting all students to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. All coursework students must complete the online Academic Integrity Module (Epigeum), and Higher Degree Research (HDR) students are required to complete research integrity training. The Academic Integrity website provides information about services available to assist students with their assignments, examinations and other learning activities, as well as understanding and upholding academic integrity.

Online Submission

You will be required to electronically sign a declaration as part of the submission of your assignment. Please keep a copy of the assignment for your records. Unless an exemption has been approved by the Associate Dean (Education) submission must be through Turnitin.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Individual assessment tasks may or may not allow for late submission. Policy regarding late submission is detailed below:

• Late submission not permitted. If submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date is not permitted, a mark of 0 will be awarded.
• Late submission permitted. Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.
• Late submission not permitted for take-home examination.

Referencing Requirements

The Academic Skills website has information to assist you with your writing and assessments. The website includes information about Academic Integrity including referencing requirements for different disciplines. There is also information on Plagiarism and different ways to use source material.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Access and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students