The following resource listing offers links to Web sites providing historical, cultural and/or political background information about Israel-Palestine and the Middle East, as well as information about the plight of children and families in areas of conflict around the world. There are also suggested links to organizations promoting interfaith tolerance and understanding and conflict resolution skills among youth. Plus, download the program's companion Facilitator's Guide here.

Facilitator's Guide
History, Culture, Religion and Politics
Alternative Sources of Information
Interfaith Tolerance and Understanding
Online Dialogue
Conflict Resolution
Children and Families


FACILITATOR'S GUIDE:
The Facilitator's Guide provides background context and suggestions to help you lead local discussions using PROMISES to promote tolerance and understanding in your community. The guide includes: a list of potential partners; tips to help you prepare for the discussion; and sample discussion questions for use with adults or youth. Note, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to download and print this document. If you do not already have this tool, you may download it free of charge at the Adobe Web site.
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HISTORY, CULTURE, RELIGION, AND POLITICS:
These American-produced sites provide or link to more detailed information about both the Islamic and Jewish faiths, as well as historical, cultural and current analyses of the Israeli-Palestinian and Middle East conflicts and/or more information about the Middle East in general. Some of the sites below also provide readings, timelines, maps and/or companion lesson plans, too.

PBS Online: Global Connections
This site from WGBH is the online home to a family of sites created to help teachers, students, and the general public learn more about events around the world through readings, lesson plans, links, timelines, and maps.

Columbia University — Middle East Studies Internet Resources
Columbia University's collection of Middle East Studies Internet Resources is a comprehensive database of electronic bibliographic resources and research materials (from maps and flags to electronic journals, news reports and electronic Midddle Eastern art exhibits) on the Middle East and North Africa. Content is organized by region, country and subject, and all materials are arranged to encourage an awareness of authorship, type of information and subject.

HERITAGE CIVILIZATION AND THE JEWS
This PBS nine-part series presents the history of the Jews (from 3800 BCE to the present day) and offers viewers an opportunity to further expand their knowledge at the companion site. Check out the interactive components to each episode, which contain interactive atlases and historical documents, or peruse the historical timeline. In addition, teachers can download companion lesson plans for each of HERITAGE's nine video chapters, all of which contain a wide variety of learning activities, including discussion questions, puzzles, analyses of primary sources and research projects.

ISLAM EMPIRE OF FAITH
ISLAM: EMPIRE OF FAITH was presented as part of PBS's EMPIRES series. The companion Web site presents a broad portrait of Islamic art and culture to show the great diversity, as well as the fundamental unity of Islamic civilization in its long and varied history. Learn more about faith, culture and innovation of the Islamic people by reading about the Koran or download video clips of notable sites like The Great Mosque in Damascus and The Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem. Companion lesson plans are also provided.

The Online NewsHour
The Online NewsHour is the companion Web site to THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER. The site features a special subsection devoted to coverage of Israel-Palestine called "Days of Rage: The Renewed Israeli-Palestinian Conflict." The area offers current and archived information and analysis related to the conflict.

University of Texas — The Center for Middle Eastern Studies
The University of Texas-Middle East Network Information Center (UT-MENIC) is the online arm of the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, offering a virtual library of information on the Middle East. This site is especially useful because all links are cross-referenced by country and subject category, and include sub-level categories such as gender issues and sexuality. In addition, the News and Media section offers access to numerous daily Arabic, including The Palestinian Times and The Jerusalem Post, Israeli and worldwide newspapers for those interested in a Middle Eastern perspective on world events.

The United Nations
Fifty-one countries committed to preserving peace through international cooperation and collective security established the United Nations on October 2, 1945. This URL links to a subsection of the UN site entitled "The Question of Palestine." The area collects a wide variety of materials offering deeper insight on the subjects in question, including a historical overview of the region, an outline of the current obstacles to a resolution of the conflict between Israel-Palestine and a database of U.N. documents discussing aspects of the conflict.
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ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF INFORMATION:
There are a variety of mainstream sources for information about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, in particular, or the Middle East, in general. The following Web sites offer readings or links to a wide array of international and domestic news sources presenting perspectives on news events not often given coverage in the American mainstream media.

Middle East News Online
Middle East News Online (MENO) is the companion site to the Middle East News Service Inc., which syndicates news and information about the Middle East and North Africa regions. The site and service specializes in information related to the political, economic, social and cultural realities of the Middle East and North Africa, with particular emphasis on economic and financial coverage and policy analysis. MENO aggregates a massive amount of constantly updated information obtained from over 120 sources, and offers daily local and regional news content. The online news can be read in English, French or Arabic and is organized according to both country and topic.

Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP)
MERIP is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in Washington DC, which has no links to religious, educational or political organizations in the U.S. or elsewhere. The MERIP site provides news and perspectives about the Middle East, archived issues of the magazine, and analyses of current events and stories from a critical and progressive perspective.

The Jewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA)
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency is an international news service that provides up-to-the-minute reports, analysis and features on events and issues of concern to the Jewish people. The JTA correspondents in New York, Washington, Jerusalem, Moscow and 30 other cities around the globe provide coverage of political, economic and social developments affecting Jews in North and South America, Israel, Europe, Africa and Australia. View the JTA Web site for daily reports on news and politics in Israel.

The Palestinian Report
The Jerusalem Media and Communications Center was established in 1988 by a group of Palestinian journalists and researchers. The weekly online news digest covers events in the Gaza Strip and West Bank through feature stories, photo galleries and commentary.

War Reports
For daily updates on conflicts around the world — including the Middle East — this site features links to articles from sources primarily based in England or the U.S., such as BBC NEWS, The Guardian, Z Magazine and Newsday. Be sure to click on the "Israel" link further down the page to gain access to general information, daily news and events, and an extensive selection of links to various news sources, political and military sites, and humanitarian sites.
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INTERFAITH TOLERANCE AND UNDERSTANDING:
Learn what some organizations are doing to encourage greater interfaith and intercultural tolerance and understanding:

The Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding (TCIU)
Named for Rabbi Marc Tanenbaum, a world-renowned leader in interreligious relations, the Tannenbuam Foundation's mission is to combat the destructive effects of religious hatred. View the site to learn more about their public programs, educational initiatives and publications and articles on the subjects of interfaith tolerance and diversity worldwide. In addition, in response to the tragedy of September 11th they have provided some helpful links to promote understanding and tips for avoiding workplace bias based on religion, national origin or ethnicity.

The Interreligious Coordinating Council in Israel (ICCI)
Founded ten years ago, ICCI has become the national umbrella organization for over 65 Christian, Muslim, and Jewish institutions in Israel. Sign-on to their Web site to learn more about the intercultural and interreligious dialogues, public lecture series, and youth encounters that the ICCI coordinates to strengthen and broaden good relations among different faith communities in Israel.

The Interfaith Center of New York
Founded in 1997, The Interfaith Center of New York seeks to promote greater understanding and harmony among people of different faiths, ethnic and cultural traditions. Visit the site to view on-line art exhibitions including "Images of Faith" and learn more about different world religions by downloading recent articles or accessing archived information.
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ONLINE DIALOGUE:
The following sites support opportunities for visitors to explore issues, emotions and ideas related to the Middle East, culture, politics or religion through online forums and discussion groups.

America Online (AOL) Discussions
If you're an AOL member you can participate in member discussion groups related to peace in the Middle East or tolerance, in general. Use your AOL screen name to log-on and post messages.

Peace for Middle East
A prayer group that is praying for Peace in The Middle East.

Tolerance
A group for anyone who is frustrated with the lack of tolerance in the world today.

arabia.com
Are terrorism free societies possible in the Arab world? What do the Arabs and Muslims really think about Jews? These are a few of the discussion topics available at arabia.com. The portal combines communities, content and search services, and covers a broad range of topics with continuous news, sports and business coverage, as well as in-depth and entertaining lifestyle, books, music, and movies content. The site is available for viewing in Arabic and English.

Middle East Crisis Forum
What are your thoughts on the situation? What actions do you think Israel should take? Is the media doing a fair job? These are some of the questions posed on the discussion group for Aish HaTorah, an apolitical, international network of Jewish educational centers. Join the discussion or read the postings of discussion participants.

The MidEast Web
The MidEast Web was founded by people active in Middle East dialogue and peace education efforts. The site includes articles on the history of the Middle East, downloadable maps and an interactive "fun" section with trivia quizzes on the Middle East, as well as "The MidEast Web Dialog Resource." The founders' goal is to weave a worldwide web of Arabs, Jews and others who want to build a new Middle East based on coexistence and neighborly relations. They believe that dialogue is the beginning in recogizing that the other side is human. On this site, you will find a reference list of dialogue groups and dialogue topics, such as "What My Religion Tells Me About War and Peace" and "Changing Sides." Sign-on to the site to find out how to join, start your own dialogue or read about the experiences of others who have taken part in these discussion groups.
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CONFLICT RESOLUTION:
Teachers may be interested in using this documentary in the classroom to foster conflict resolution skills and/or promote tolerance and mutual understanding among their students. Link to the companion lesson plan especially created for PROMISES in "In the Classroom" or learn more about conflict resolution, in general, and as it relates to Israel-Palestine by perusing the following sites:

Conflict Resolution Education Network
The Conflict Resolution Education Network is the nation's largest membership organization dedicated to making conflict resolution education an integral part of the educational process in every school. The network is composed of teachers, administrators, guidance counselors, conflict resolution educators, professors, diversity educators, students, various organizations and many other individuals who work with, or want to support, youth-serving organizations. Teachers interested in using PROMISES in the classroom to discuss conflict resolution may want to peruse a selection of research reports and fact sheets on conflict resolution, a delineation of recommended standards for peer mediators, Conflict Resolution in Education Books and Resources and a history of conflict resolution education.

Conflict Research Consortium (CRC)
The Conflict Research Consortium is a multidisciplinary program of research, teaching, and application at the University of Colorado. The Web site contains a vast amount of full text materials, up-to-the-minute conflict resolution-related stories from major online newspapers and other publications, as well as links to a great many external resources. In addition, CRC provides several on-line training program options, including one about intractable conflict management.

Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI)
IPCRI, founded in Jerusalem in 1988, is the only joint Palestinian-Israeli public policy think-tank in the world. It is devoted to developing, what is described as, "practical solutions" to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. IPCRI is not committed to any specific outcome, rather, they prefer solutions entailing equality between parties, cooperation and reciprocity of obligations and benefits. The Web site includes articles and research findings such as "Israeli-Palestinian Youth Encounter Workshops in the Framework of IPCRI Educational Peace" and "A New American Peace Initiative: Can it Work?"
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CHILDREN AND FAMILIES:
The following organizations provide information and resources related to the situation of children and families in America and abroad:

Connect for Kids
Connect for Kids, an award-winning project of the Benton Foundation, offers a public space on the Internet for adults, parents, grandparents, educators, policymakers and others who want to make their communities work for kids. Connect for Kids covers more than 30 topics ranging from arts and youth development to welfare reform. Their comprehensive Web site annotates and links to over 1,000 other sites and to 1,500 service and advocacy organizations, in addition to providing original coverage on a wide array of issues.

The United Nation's Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Created at the end of World War II, UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. The organization's companion site offers information about the plight of children around the globe, including statistical data on the situation of women and children by country, as well as online discussion boards and interactive games. Read the "Highlights" section to learn more about the effects of war on children. There is also a powerful online virtual exhibit, "Taking Aim at Small Arms: Defending Children's Rights," about child soldiers and the arms trade.
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