Israel and the Six-Day War 1967-2014 (3 cr)
Noam Zadoff
JSTU-J-304 Social & Historical Topics in Jewish Studies #20551 / HIST-C 305 #34039
TR 5:30-6:45
CASE S&H
The Six-Day War raged from June 5-10, 1967, resulting in a swift and surprising victory of Israel over its neighboring countries. As a result of this armed conflict, Israel gained control over relatively large territories in the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. But also in Israeli society, radical changes were taking place within this short period of time: an almost apocalyptic fear of extinction, which had been widespread before the war was replaced virtually overnight by a victor’s euphoria. The territories added to the small state rekindled the imagination of many Israelis, allowing them for the first time in 20 years access to places connected to the cradle of Jewish history and the ancient Land of Israel (Eretz Israel). In this course we will read and analyze various texts written around the War and in its aftermath. By that we will seek to understand better the impact of spring 1967 on Israeli society and politics down to today.
