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Contested Land, Contested Memory: Israel's Jews and Arabs and the Ghosts of Catastrophe
Nominated for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize 2014
1948: As Jewish refugees, survivors of the Holocaust, struggle toward the new State of Israel, Arab refugees are fleeing, many under duress. Sixty years later, the memory of trauma has shaped both peoples' collective understanding of who they are.
After a war, the victors write history. How was the story of the exiled Palestinians erased – from textbooks, maps, even the land? How do Jewish and Palestinian Israelis now engage with the histories of the Palestinian Nakba ("Catastrophe") and the Holocaust, and how do these echo through the political and physical landscapes of their country?
Vividly narrated, with extensive original interview material, Contested Land, Contested Memory examines how these tangled histories of suffering inform Jewish and Palestinian-Israeli lives today, and frame Israel's possibilities for peace.
1948: As Jewish refugees, survivors of the Holocaust, struggle toward the new State of Israel, Arab refugees are fleeing, many under duress. Sixty years later, the memory of trauma has shaped both peoples' collective understanding of who they are.
After a war, the victors write history. How was the story of the exiled Palestinians erased – from textbooks, maps, even the land? How do Jewish and Palestinian Israelis now engage with the histories of the Palestinian Nakba ("Catastrophe") and the Holocaust, and how do these echo through the political and physical landscapes of their country?
Vividly narrated, with extensive original interview material, Contested Land, Contested Memory examines how these tangled histories of suffering inform Jewish and Palestinian-Israeli lives today, and frame Israel's possibilities for peace.
- GenresHistoryMiddle EastIsrael
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2013
27 people are currently reading
203 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
August 29, 2013
This book does something all too rarely done in the polarized debate on Israel and Palestine: it seeks to deepen understanding, rather than attack and defend entrenched positions.
The author looks at the experiences of both Jewish and Palestinian Israelis through the lens of traumatic collective memory. That may sound academic, but this is not an academic book – its analysis is intelligent and well-researched, but it’s very readable, jargon-free, and chock full of fascinating interviews with both Jewish and Palestinian Israelis speaking from their own experience.
It’s too nuanced a book to sum up easily, but basically the author is looking at the enormous ripple effect of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the 1948 war. She examines the collective trauma that resulted, how Jewish Israelis’ own collective trauma made it very hard for them to acknowledge the Palestinians’ experience, and the challenges facing Israelis who seek to bring that experience into the public debate.
The book is deeply compassionate without being wishy-washy; it’s very clear about the dramatic power imbalance that currently exists, but is also very aware of the history of suffering on both sides (including, for Jewish Israelis, not just the Holocaust but the centuries of European anti-Semitism that led up to it, which are less often recognized).
This book should be a very insightful, thought-provoking read for those already knowledgeable about Israel and Palestine. It’s also accessible for readers seeking an “entry point” to learn about the region. Very highly recommended.
The author looks at the experiences of both Jewish and Palestinian Israelis through the lens of traumatic collective memory. That may sound academic, but this is not an academic book – its analysis is intelligent and well-researched, but it’s very readable, jargon-free, and chock full of fascinating interviews with both Jewish and Palestinian Israelis speaking from their own experience.
It’s too nuanced a book to sum up easily, but basically the author is looking at the enormous ripple effect of the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians during the 1948 war. She examines the collective trauma that resulted, how Jewish Israelis’ own collective trauma made it very hard for them to acknowledge the Palestinians’ experience, and the challenges facing Israelis who seek to bring that experience into the public debate.
The book is deeply compassionate without being wishy-washy; it’s very clear about the dramatic power imbalance that currently exists, but is also very aware of the history of suffering on both sides (including, for Jewish Israelis, not just the Holocaust but the centuries of European anti-Semitism that led up to it, which are less often recognized).
This book should be a very insightful, thought-provoking read for those already knowledgeable about Israel and Palestine. It’s also accessible for readers seeking an “entry point” to learn about the region. Very highly recommended.
July 12, 2017
This is an outstanding book on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. By examining events from the vantage point of both groups' collective memories of historical trauma, Roberts provides an analysis of unusual depth.
August 29, 2013
This beautifully written book has deepened my understanding of the deep sources of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and without offering trite answers, offers the possibility of reconciliation through truth telling and mutual acknowledgement. Jo Roberts brings the 'long view' including much that I didn't know about the founding of the state of Israel, the shifting people's and dynamics in 1930's Palestine and of course the millennial discriminations suffered by European Jewry. She weaves together beautifully on the ground interviews and contemporary understandings of collective memory and how it affects our understanding of who and what we are. She does not fall prey to a good guy- bad guy polemic, either from the political left or right. While acknowledging where the power currently lies, she points out the deep role of trauma and its continuing impact on everyone involved. A learned book that is an easy read, with something new to say that offers insight and a potential tool for healing. What's not to like?
October 21, 2024
Contested Land, Contested Memory offers a profound exploration of the intertwined narratives of trauma and memory that shape the identities and experiences of both Jewish and Arab communities in Israel. Through a combination of personal interviews, historical analysis, and theoretical frameworks, Roberts delves into the complexities of collective memory and its implications for social suffering.
Roberts meticulously examines two significant historical traumas: the Holocaust for Jewish Israelis and the Nakba for Palestinian citizens. By juxtaposing these events, she highlights how both communities have developed distinct yet overlapping narratives of suffering. This duality is crucial for understanding the ongoing conflict, as each group's historical experiences inform their present-day identities and political stances.
The concept of memory serves as a central theme in Roberts' analysis. She argues that memory is not merely a personal or collective recollection but a contested space where different narratives vie for recognition and legitimacy. This struggle shapes public discourse and influences policy decisions in Israel, often leading to further entrenchment of divisions between Jews and Arabs.
Roberts employs theories of social suffering to explore how collective memories affect individual and communal identities. She posits that unresolved traumas can perpetuate cycles of violence and conflict, as groups may cling to their narratives as a means of asserting identity in the face of perceived existential threats. This perspective encourages readers to consider how acknowledgment and reconciliation might pave the way for healing.
Roberts utilizes extensive original interview material, providing firsthand accounts that enrich her narrative. This qualitative approach allows her to capture the emotional weight behind historical events, offering insights into how individuals navigate their identities amidst collective memories. The vivid storytelling not only engages readers but also humanizes complex political issues68.
In Contested Land, Contested Memory, Jo Roberts presents a compelling analysis of how history, memory, and identity intersect in the Israeli-Palestinian context. By illuminating the struggles over memory and trauma, she invites readers to reflect on the broader implications for peace and coexistence in a region marked by deep-seated divisions. Her work serves as both a scholarly resource and a poignant reminder of the need for empathy in understanding diverse narratives within contested spaces.
Roberts meticulously examines two significant historical traumas: the Holocaust for Jewish Israelis and the Nakba for Palestinian citizens. By juxtaposing these events, she highlights how both communities have developed distinct yet overlapping narratives of suffering. This duality is crucial for understanding the ongoing conflict, as each group's historical experiences inform their present-day identities and political stances.
The concept of memory serves as a central theme in Roberts' analysis. She argues that memory is not merely a personal or collective recollection but a contested space where different narratives vie for recognition and legitimacy. This struggle shapes public discourse and influences policy decisions in Israel, often leading to further entrenchment of divisions between Jews and Arabs.
Roberts employs theories of social suffering to explore how collective memories affect individual and communal identities. She posits that unresolved traumas can perpetuate cycles of violence and conflict, as groups may cling to their narratives as a means of asserting identity in the face of perceived existential threats. This perspective encourages readers to consider how acknowledgment and reconciliation might pave the way for healing.
Roberts utilizes extensive original interview material, providing firsthand accounts that enrich her narrative. This qualitative approach allows her to capture the emotional weight behind historical events, offering insights into how individuals navigate their identities amidst collective memories. The vivid storytelling not only engages readers but also humanizes complex political issues68.
In Contested Land, Contested Memory, Jo Roberts presents a compelling analysis of how history, memory, and identity intersect in the Israeli-Palestinian context. By illuminating the struggles over memory and trauma, she invites readers to reflect on the broader implications for peace and coexistence in a region marked by deep-seated divisions. Her work serves as both a scholarly resource and a poignant reminder of the need for empathy in understanding diverse narratives within contested spaces.
March 9, 2022
This is definitely one of the best books on Israel & Palestine I’ve read in a while. It dives deeply into the traumas that both peoples have gone through, how they shape historical memory and respective narratives, inform nationalisms, and shape the current trajectory of the conflict. The author manages to balance the two without equating the Holocaust as an equal tragedy to the Nakba, but rather by discussing how the existence of a national trauma affects both Israelis and Palestinians.
My main criticisms would be:
(1) The author attempts to restrict their conversation of Palestinians to just Palestinian citizens of Israel, although they frequently stray into the issues of Gazans and WB Palestinians. Although their national identities have differences, I don’t think the theme of this book as it applies to Palestinians can be succinctly divided. And if the point of the book is Israelis and Palestinians recognising each others history and national trauma so they can better forge a future together, then surely this also applies to Palestinians outside of Israel’s 1948 borders.
(2) The author devotes roughly equal space to Israeli and Palestinian identities, but the emphasis on the book is on Israelis changing their perspective and not Palestinians. It reads very much like a book written for and to Israelis, except it’s in English. If the book is instead directed to the outside observer, I think this is an unfair emphasis.
(3) The Israeli interviews are almost exclusively with far-left Israelis. Zochrot, for example, is not a liberal, mainstream organisation. I think this book would have been much more nuanced if it applied its discussion to a more diverse range of perspectives.
Overall, however, this book is excellent. It really gave me a lot to think about and is the first time I’ve ever read something so emotionally heavy but been able to take a step back from that emotion, thanks to the way in which this discussion is framed. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in this topic
My main criticisms would be:
(1) The author attempts to restrict their conversation of Palestinians to just Palestinian citizens of Israel, although they frequently stray into the issues of Gazans and WB Palestinians. Although their national identities have differences, I don’t think the theme of this book as it applies to Palestinians can be succinctly divided. And if the point of the book is Israelis and Palestinians recognising each others history and national trauma so they can better forge a future together, then surely this also applies to Palestinians outside of Israel’s 1948 borders.
(2) The author devotes roughly equal space to Israeli and Palestinian identities, but the emphasis on the book is on Israelis changing their perspective and not Palestinians. It reads very much like a book written for and to Israelis, except it’s in English. If the book is instead directed to the outside observer, I think this is an unfair emphasis.
(3) The Israeli interviews are almost exclusively with far-left Israelis. Zochrot, for example, is not a liberal, mainstream organisation. I think this book would have been much more nuanced if it applied its discussion to a more diverse range of perspectives.
Overall, however, this book is excellent. It really gave me a lot to think about and is the first time I’ve ever read something so emotionally heavy but been able to take a step back from that emotion, thanks to the way in which this discussion is framed. I would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in this topic
October 9, 2017
Contested Land is about more than the Nakba; it's about the sociology of Israelis, Palestinians and of the long, horrible reach of the Holocaust and of other genocides and human tragedies. I read this book just after I returned from Bosnia, where I traversed a fractured landscape riven with competing narratives and mass graves. Two completely different scenarios and yet the commonality of just what collective and individual memories are passed on and why was striking to me. Truth. Reconciliation. Justice. Three very difficult goals to achieve when the core story - the truth - cannot be agreed upon. Roberts paints with a delicate brush; no broad strokes for her; she emphasizes collective tragedy and its impact. As an Israeli-American, I was deeply appreciative of the compassionate manner in which Roberts seeks to uncover multiple truths and experiences through interviews and research. I would put this book on a short list of books to read about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the others being From Beirut to Jerusalem (Thomas Friedman) and A Tale of Love and Darkness (Amos Oz). There are many others to read (The Lemon Tree, Tolan) - the list is long - but I found the Roberts book to be a particularly human, accessible read on a very loaded topic.
October 8, 2023
A balanced, thoughtful and intelligent account of the Naqba of 1948 and its consequences. As I write this having just finished the book (8th October 2023) the legacy of that heart-breaking event lives on only too terribly, with the destruction and loss of life escalating by the hour. This is an important and all too relevant book which offers a clear, accessible and in-depth exploration of what happened and its legacy.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews