Examine different nations' positions on the Middle East conflict

Overview: New attacks in the Middle East claimed at least 25 lives on Wednesday. The violence came just one week after Israeli and Palestinian leaders met and discussed implementing the road map to peace.

After students read "Mideast violence escalates as world leaders call for peace" present the following questions:

RESOURCES • Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Information on Palestine  • Holt, Rinehart and Winston: The Founding of Israel   • The Vatican  • The Arab League  • European Union: Euro-Mediterranean Partnership - Bilateral relations  • U.S. Embassy: The Search For Peace   • CNN.com: Special: Mideast Land of Conflict  • CNN.com: Suicide bomber kills 16 in Jerusalem

1. Describe the attacks that took place yesterday in Jerusalem and Gaza. How many people were killed and injured in these attacks? Which group has claimed responsibility for the bus bombing? Who was responsible for the attack in Gaza? How did Israeli and Palestinian leaders react to these attacks? How did President Bush respond to the escalating violence in the Middle East? What appeal did he make to the international community?

2. Have students evaluate the historical and current relationships between members of the international community and both Israel and the Palestinians. On the board, list the following members of the international community:

1. European Union
2. Arab League
3. United States
4. Vatican City
5. United Nations

Divide your class into five groups and assign each group a member of the international community from the list. Instruct each group to research its assigned organization's or country's relationship with both the Palestinians and Israel and its position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. After each group shares its findings, instruct group members to deliver a position statement on how they think the organization/country should respond to the current wave of violence in the Middle East. What, if anything, might it do to help preserve the current Middle East peace process? Discuss.

Teachers: For discussion questions and activities on Hamas and the Middle East peace process, go to the following CNNstudentnews.com site: http://fyi.cnn.com/2003/fyi/lesson.plans/06/10/mideast.attacks/.