Israel and the Palestinians: The Road to October 7th
For 16 years, Hamas has controlled the Gaza Strip. Successive Israeli, Palestinian, American and Arab leaders have struggled to work out how to contain them and prevent war with Israel. This is the definitive story of how the search for peace in the Middle East failed and empowered Hamas before they launched the deadliest assault in Israel’s history in October 2023 and the subsequent bloodshed.
Watch Israel and the Palestinians: The Road to October 7th and more acclaimed documentaries on BBC Select today. Restrictions apply*.
Israel and the Palestinians: The Road to October 7th on BBC Select
Episode 1: The Bush Years
George W Bush wanted peace between Israel and Palestine to be his presidential legacy.
President George W Bush was determined to bring about some sort of peace deal between Israel and Palestine. But he soon discovered that dealing with the Israeli government, Hamas and the rest of the Middle East was fraught with peril and duplicity. This documentary follows Bush’s attempts to kick-start the peace process, even negotiating as he prepared to leave the White House for the final time.
Episode 2: The Obama Years
President Obama’s hopes for establishing peace between Israel and Hamas are soon dashed.
President Obama comes into office determined to succeed where his predecessors had failed and bring peace to the Middle East. But his efforts are soon rebuffed. This in-depth documentary follows his attempts to negotiate with Israel and Palestine. He considers, then reconsiders, talking directly to Hamas. Then his first meeting with the new Israeli PM, Benjamin Netanyahu, ends in disaster.
Episode 3: The Trump & Biden Years
New American presidents take different approaches to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
When President Trump takes office, the conflict between Hamas and Israel takes an astonishing turn. Prime Minister Netanyahu persuades Trump to press ahead with securing Middle East peace by cutting out the Palestinians. President Biden sets out to secure a deal between Saudi Arabia and Israel and tells his team to keep the Israel-Palestine conflict off his desk. But soon he has to act.
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