This burning land : lessons from the front lines of the transformed Israeli-Palestinian conflict

by Greg Myre

A profoundly different way of looking the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Reporting from Jerusalem for The New York Times and Fox News respectively, Greg Myre and Jennifer Griffin, witnessed a decades-old conflict transformed into a completely new war. The West has learned a lot about asymmetrical war in the past decade. At the same time, many strategists have missed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has become one of them. This book shows the importance of applying these hard-won lessons to the longest running, most closely watched occupation and uprising in the world. The entire conflict can seem irrational -- and many commentators see it that way. While raising their own family in Jerusalem at the height of the violence, Myre and Griffin look at the lives of individuals caught up in the struggles to reveal how these actions make perfect sense to the participants. Extremism can become a virtue; moderation a vice. Factions develop within factions. Propaganda becomes an important weapon, and perseverance an essential defense. While the Israelis and the Palestinians have failed to achieve their goals after years of fighting, people on both sides are prepared to make continued sacrifices in the belief that they will eventually emerge triumphant.

Genres: Politics, History, Nonfiction, War, Journalism, Memoir

430 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 8, 2011

About the author

Greg Myre, formerly a correspondent for the New York Times, is the Senior Editor at National Public Radio's Morning Edition. Jennifer Griffin is the national security correspondent for Fox News. They have reported from wars across the world and spent nearly a decade covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

Reviews

[Trish · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not sure why this book did not get more attention when it came out in 2010, but I might have an idea. I tried to read it several times after seeing Greg Myre on a news program in which the book was mentioned. I could not get far before the details of atrocity overwhelmed me time and again. The subtitle of this book is “Lessons from the Front Lines of the Transformed Israeli-Palestinian Conflict” and was billed as a considered look at how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has worsened over the years since 2000.

I could see no analysis in the first one hundred pages, just very detailed stories of people viewing or being caught in the conflict. If one were planning to move to Israel or the West Bank one might be interested in how the two reporters adjusted their language, their housing, their lives to accommodate the sickening and cultured hatred between the two sides, but it is difficult to stomach as an outsider.

I must admit I prefer sanitized news copy with someone trying to explain how this will change rather than focusing on the exchange of bullets and insult between the two camps. If the two sides only knew how the rest of the world lives, and how we perceive their bloody interchange, they might take a step back. This book makes them seem quite delusional for their constancy. I don’t like leaving a scene of conflict without any lessons having been learned by myself or others, but I will have to in this case.

[Virginia Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written and painfully thorough glimpse into life in Israel. I could hardly put the book down, reading pages out loud to my husband. I was left discouraged about the future of the middle East. The book was written in 2010 and things are the same if not worse today in 2023. The conflict largely seems to stem from learned hatred and resentment after retaliations that get labeled as aggression. The hatred has solidified. This book is well balanced, showing the frustrations of both sides.

[Joe Chernicoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

The proverbial "fair and balanced' reporting of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Greg Myre and Jennifer Griffin are a heck of a husband-wife team of reporters and writers who provide a straight forward reportage - which, in effect - is an analysis of the six decades old idealogical , political, and economic problem facing both factions. Will it ever be solvable? Read the book and make your own decision.

[Tristan Boomer]

This was a great book in my opinion. I have a personal connection to the authors because they are my aunt and uncle. In the book they go into extreme detail and describe everything so you feel as if you are in the Middle East yourself. This book had me on the edge of my seat for 90% of it. If you are an adult or machine teenager then you will love this book. You will not only be entertained but also lean much about the Middle East.

[Elise Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I have read on the Israeli/Palestinian situation, if not THE best book. It was as unbiased as you could get and they presented an abundance of examples supporting and/or refuting each side's position. If you have ever had a desire to learn more about that wonderful but conflicted part of the world, I would highly recommend this book.

[Yvonne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book about the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, especially in the time since the Second Intifada. I must admit, I had my doubts when I noticed that the wife of the husband/wife author team is a Fox News reporter but, happily, I found the book highly informative and free of partisan spin. Insightful and interesting to read.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book and takes you right into the conflict and dismisses any notion of a simplistic answer to the age old conflict.

[Eitan. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Source stories told in a riveting style with careful guarding of the truth and political balance.

[Ayelet · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was fun to read about Israel but sad that things haven't gotten better.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and background on the conflict.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned alot but was very slow reading most of the time