The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

by Stewart Ross

Understand the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict is the essential guide to one of the world's most distressing confrontations. Putting the present situation into its broader context and examining all perspectives, it unravels the origins and development of issues which make the headlines daily. Each aspect of this complex conflict is explained with engaging objectivity which will ensure you can examine the issues from all perspectives and in a social, political, historical and international framework.





NOT GOT MUCH TIME?
One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.

AUTHOR INSIGHTS
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.

EXTEND YOUR KNOWLEDGE
Extra online articles at www.teachyourself.com to give you a richer understanding.

FIVE THINGS TO REMEMBER
Quick refreshers to help you remember the key facts.

TRY THIS
Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, Middle East, Israel, World History

304 pages, Paperback

First published August 31, 2007

About the author

Stewart Ross has written more than 300 titles, fiction and non-fiction, for children and adults. Many are about (or inspired by) history. He lives near Canterbury, England.

Reviews

[Joe Sabet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, strives for objectivity, and helpful. I appreciated the maps, lists at the end of chapters, and the glossary. It reads kind of like a wikipedia article at times, with little scholarly citations if at all. And some of the well-known hardliner accounts like Chomsky's, Finkelstein's, or Dershowitz's are missing. Good, decent overview though

[Nathan B. Tenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy to read and digest, but very detailed and in depth. Gives fair, unbiased view of the situation and sets the context for the whole story throughout the book. Really enhanced my knowledge, and a very reliable source.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have really enjoyed learning about the subject of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but I am saddened by the displacement of the Palestinian people and by the constant persecution of both people's.

[Roger DeBlanck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read and studied a lot on the matter, I commend Stewart for providing a good introductory overview that is mostly fair, objective, and informative in addressing the seemingly neverending conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

Looking back at the history of what transpired after World War II, it is hard not to imagine whether peace would have been possible if two scenarios had played out: 1) if Israel had offered to share jurisdiction with the Arabs in controlling the Old City (Jerusalem) after the 1948-1949 war; and 2) if Israel had followed UN mandates to return the occupied territories of Gaza, the West Bank, and the Golan Heights to Arab control after the Six-Day War in 1967.

As neither happened, both sides share blame for the continued unrest, and both have committed atrocities over the decades before and after the establishment of the state of Israel. Ending terrorism from Hamas and Hezbollah is necessary for any lasting peace. However, it is not antisemitic to condemn Israel’s extremist policies over the decades with their expansion of illegal settlements and their continued confiscation of Palestinian land and property, oftentimes using the Israeli courts and legal system to oppress the Palestinians under an apartheid system of exploitation.

As the current tragedy unfolds since October of 2023, it is also not antisemitic to look clearly at what’s happening: nothing justifies the policies of Netanyahu’s regime and their continued disproportionate ruthlessness that amounts to genocide against the Palestinians, many of whom are children.

Again, I want to reiterate: condemning the Israeli government’s actions of oppressing the Palestinians is not antisemitic. Instead, it is activism that seeks to end anti-exploitation and anti-genocide. The world is witnessing horrific crimes committed against the Palestinians, and sadly any criticism of the Israel’s policies is too often falsely projected by extremists as antisemitism.

The Jewish people have a right to live in their homeland in peace, but that will never happen until the Palestinians are given the same opportunity. Much work will be required to overcome the madness, and no easy solution will recompense all the bloodshed, past and present, but no future is possible until the bloodshed stops.

[Leanna Pohevitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very interesting to read about the situation in Palestine and Israel from a British authors perspective. I appreciate his writing style and the way he made information digestible.

[Samira · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was very insightful!! It situated the conflict historically and went through the years of struggle that provide the background for what is happening today. I am very glad I read this and would recommend it to people who would like to learn about the conflict deeper. I honestly believe much of what was written in this book are things everyone should know in today's political climate.

[Mel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have learned a great deal here. The book begins with 5 and 10 minute summaries of the time period. Reading these I decided to read the book. Each chapter covers specific time units. Those chapters begin with key points to be covered then ends with 10 things you should know after the reading. Very learner friendly. It is dated ending in 2010 but what is covered is informative, balanced, and make a reader think. Only the fact this is now 9 years from current keeps it from 5⭐️s.

[Benjamin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even handed.

"Some saw these developments as hopeful, others pointed out that Israelis and Palestinians had been there before, dozens of times. . . Meanwhile, in the streets and markets, in their apartments and huts, at work in their offices and in their fields, it was the ordinary people who continued to suffer. . ."

[Mabel · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is incredibly antisemitic. He says the jews killed Jesus, refers to Israel as "Palestine" the entire book, completely butchered his explanation of Judaism (by doing so through a Christian lens), and says that Theodore Herzl displayed "archetypal Jewishness" when he offered to buy Palestine. Every chapter there is a "10 Things to Remember" about what you read, which includes that zionism is "linked to imperialism and nationalism," that Jews who fled to Israel were "backed by wealthy families." This book claims that it is an unbiased account but that couldn't be further from the truth. He neglects to mention the holocaust as the reason why many Jews fled Europe and instead says that Jews wanted a state because they believe it is their divine right. There is zero nuance in this book. For example in the first chapter he does mention Palestinian terrorists killing civilians but says that Israel displayed "disproportionate force by assassinating militant leaders" in response. He also said the word "Hebrew" comes from another word for bandit and outsider.
This author has zero credentials to discuss this topic, and no relation to Israel or to Palestine. His "credentials" are listed on the back of the book in one sentence saying he gave a lecture at a "major middle eastern university." What?! You have a lecture at a middle eastern university and you think you now know enough to write a book about the israeli palestinian conflict?
I was looking for a better, non biased approach to form my own opinion and its unfortunate that whoever reads this is just taking in antisemitic propaganda.
Stick to writing children's books, you know nothing of what you're talking about. I wish I could give this 0 stars.

[LM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative, but needed to be proofread a bit better. Would recommend as introduction to anyone new to history of the Middle East.

[Charlotte · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very engaging and read like a thriller. It stops in 2006 though.

[Vic · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book pretends to be unbiased, and may be perceived to be unbiased but the underlying prose promotes a sympathy for the Palestinian position.

[Matthew Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Important part of my school development for sure

[Comrade Kvlt · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars, since goodreads doesnt allow you half stars.

[Adrianous Maximouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read presenting an unbiased view of the never ending conflict. I'd honestly forgotten half of the events as you just turn off the news. A good read if your keen.

[Victor · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pros:

+ suficiente detalii, explicate destul de simplu.

Cons:

- n/a

[Amalia Montoya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting material to learn about. It really gave me a deeper understanding of the conflict from the beginning to the present.

[Franky Lizardo]

Great read. Very informative. It is always hard to understand foreign cultures with western eyes, however, the author offers a reasonable presentation to a long standing issue, to readers who desire to know more about the subject. At times the author does interpret some of the actions and fails to maintain a completely bias stance. Yet, this does not disqualify the read. I recommend everyone reads this particular book or a similar book on the subject.

[Graham Cammock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a good book, although unmentioned in the book, it kind of led me to the conclusion that the root of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict unfortunately lies with Europe and the Holocaust?

[Rob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good basic primer on the one of the longest conflicts in world history.