The 50 Years War: Israel and the Arabs (1998)
The conflict in the Middle East between Israel and its neighbors is given comprehensive treatment in six 50 min episodes produced by PBS. Using archival footage and extensive interviews with participants, the production begins by explaining conditions in Palestine at the end of World War II and the crisis created by the exodus of European Jews who went to the Middle East after the Holocaust. The withdrawal of the British, who had controlled Palestine for decades, is detailed, as is the creation of the state of Israel. Much of the region's history is complex, with the local struggles being conducted at times as a part of the cold war between the United States and the Soviet Union, but these videos do an admirable job of explaining the complexities of the situation. The segment on the Six Day War, for example, is masterful, with the scenes shifting from Israel to Egypt to Washington to Moscow.
Recent Episodes
| Episode | Name | Airdate |
|---|---|---|
| S01E06 | Land Divided 1992-98 | Apr 19, 1998 |
| S01E05 | Banging Heads 1987-91 | Apr 12, 1998 |
| S01E04 | Peacemaking 1970-79 | Apr 5, 1998 |
| S01E03 | Palestinian Exiles 1970-82 | Mar 29, 1998 |
| S01E02 | The Six Day War 1967 | Mar 22, 1998 |
