Learning Activity

Aired, September 15, 2003

Ten years after the Oslo accords, there's still no deal for peace, and Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues. Over the decades, various U.S. presidents have played different roles in the Middle East peace process. Learn about the history of the Oslo accords and investigate the role and potential impact of various U.S. presidents on the Middle East peace process.

Have student groups conduct research using their texts and other resources to learn more about the Oslo accords and their place in the Middle East peace process. Generate a class discussion about the origin of the Oslo accords, the key players involved and the terms of the accords. After groups present their findings, ask: What were the purposes of these accords? Some people view the Oslo accords as a "breakthrough" in the Middle East peace process. Do you think this is an accurate assessment? Why do you think the Oslo accords are described in the story as a "failure"? Explain.

Extension: Point out to students that over the decades, U.S. presidents have played significant roles in the Middle East peace process. Form student groups and assign each group one of the following U.S. presidents: Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Herbert Walker Bush, Bill Clinton or George W. Bush. Have each group comb print and online resources to learn about the president's role in the Middle East peace process. Pose the following questions to guide each group's research:

• What years was the president in office?

• What were the key events in the Middle East during the president's administration and how did they affect the peace process?

• Where there any major agreements made in peace negotiations during this time? If so, what was the role of the president in the negotiations? Do you think the president's presence (or absence) had any affect on the negotiations? Explain.

After groups complete their research, have each group create a timeline of the key events that occurred in the Middle East peace process during the president's administration. Post the timelines around the classroom and have students review them.

Then, point out to students that some analysts say that the active involvement of the U.S., particularly the president, is key to the Middle East peace negotiations. Ask students: Why do you suppose some analysts feel that U.S. involvement is important? Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not? After the discussion, instruct students to assume the role of an advisor to President Bush. Direct each student to write a one-page memo to President Bush that outlines the role he/she thinks President Bush should play in the Middle East peace process at this point in time. Have students share their memos with the class and discuss.

Teachers: To assist students' understanding of the conflict in the Middle East, direct them to CNN Student News' "The Mideast Backgrounder" (http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/fyi/interactive/0108/mideast/index.html) for more information and a learning activity on the history of the conflict.

Correlated Standards

IX. Global Connections: Students will examine global connections and interdependence.

[Geography, Culture, Economics, Global Studies]

• Students will analyze the interactions among states and nations and their cultural complexities as they respond to global events and changes.

• Students will address personal, national and global decisions, interactions and consequences, including critical issues such as peace, human rights, trade and global ecology.

The Curriculum Standards for Social Studies (http://www.socialstudies.org/standards/) are published by the National Council for Social Studies (http://ncss.org/).

Related Links

CNN.com Special Report: Mideast - Land of Conflict (http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2003/mideast/)

CNNStudentNews.com: The Mideast Backgrounder (http://cnnstudentnews.cnn.com/fyi/interactive/0108/mideast/index.html)

CNN.com: The Palestinian government (http://www.cnn.com/2001/WORLD/meast/04/05/palestinian.explainer/index.html)

CNN.com:Ten years after Oslo, Arafat and Israel in standoff (http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/meast/09/13/mideast/index.html)

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: Palestine (http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/arbiter/pRedirect?project=hrwonline&siteId=353&pageId=2263)

Holt, Rinehart and Winston: The Founding of Israel (http://go.hrw.com/hrw.nd/arbiter/pRedirect?project=hrwonline&siteId=390&pageId=1924)

Foreign Affairs: The Middle East: A House of Containment Built on Shifting Sands (http://www.foreignaffairs.org/19820201faessay8243/john-c-campbell/the-middle-east-a-house-of-containment-built-on-shifting-sands.html)

Keywords

Middle East peace process, Oslo accords, Israeli-Palestinian conflict