When I think of Professor Gelvin's Palestinian Israeli conflict course, one word comes to mind...NATIONALISM. Professor Gelvin takes a really unique approach to the conflict by knocking out the typical "religious struggle" explanation and instead focusing on the conflict as a clash of nationalisms. He is a great lecturer who will offer you amazing insight to one of the most politically and emotionally charged conflicts of our time. So, if you take this class, take it to learn not to get an easy A. I was able to pull off a solid A and I think I can attribute it to 1) already having a general background of the conflict 2) doing most of the reading 3) starting my papers early!! He assigns two papers that are only 5-6 pages but very information intensive. Do not leave the paper for the night before because they take careful consideration and planning to make sure you get all the information he is asking for without going over the page limit. Take organized notes, they will save your life. I would bring a laptop because he is nonstop when he lectures and it is difficult to keep up. The final, was one of the most intense I've ever taken. He gives you 5 essay questions you must prepare for and in the end he only chooses two for you to write on the final. His questions are structured in such a way that you might have to cover 60- 100 years of history in one. It took me all 3 hours and two blue books to complete the final. Moral of the story: take the class and come out informed but along the way stay on top of the material and do NOT leave anything in this class for the night before. It is 100% worth it