The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: What Everyone Needs to Know?

by Dov Waxman

No conflict in the world has lasted as long, generated as many news headlines, or incited as much controversy as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet, despite, or perhaps because of, the degree of international attention it receives, the conflict is still widely misunderstood. While Israelis and Palestinians and their respective supporters trade accusations, many outside observers remain confused by the conflict's complexity and perplexed by the passion it arouses.The Israeli-Palestinian What Everyone Needs to Know? offers an even-handed and judicious guide to the world's most intractable dispute. Writing in an engaging, jargon-free Q&A format, Dov Waxman provides clear and concise answers to common questions, from the most basic to the most contentious. Covering the conflict from its nineteenth-century origins to the latest developments of the twenty-first century, this book explains the key events, examines the core issues, and presents the competing claims and narratives of both sides. Readers will learn what the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is all about, how it has evolved over time, and why it continues to defy diplomatic efforts at a resolution.

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

236 pages, Paperback

Published May 1, 2019

Reviews

[Rachel Oates]

Honestly, I have more questions now than when I started reading this. Despite what people are telling me (‘you just need to read the top paragraph of the wikipedia article’), this IS a complex situation with a long history. I don’t think this is a good vs evil thing. I think this is 2 groups (with many smaller sub-groups and outside influences) who each believe they are doing the right thing but who are doing the wrong thing by hurting people to try and get it. Ultimately, I cannot take one side over the other or say what I think should happen or how to fix any of this (but I mean come on, I’m just on person who’s read one and a half books on a topic I have previously never covered before, an area of study I have never even come close to before, of course I don’t have answers), but instead, just as I did before I read this book, fall firmly on the side of life. I don’t want people to die anymore, I don’t agree with war or murder or genocide, I don’t support that from any one regardless of their reasons. My only complete thought is that conflict should stop but how or what comes next is beyond me.

I feel this quote from just the introduction sums up where things are today, despite it being written in 2019:
'Instead of trying to understand the conflict in all its complexity, there is a common tendency to take sides. Thus many people adopt a one-sided, simplified view of the conflict, sometimes seeing it as a kind of morality play between good and evil. Such a view obscures the nuances of the conflict and detracts from understanding the perspectives, narratives, and experiences of both sides in the conflict.'

I've picked out more points in this document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1u...

Or at least I think they're useful... I'm still finding myself with a million questions.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This an outstanding book. It's author, Dov Waxman is a Professor of Political Science at Northeastern University. Over the years, he collected the questions his students posed about the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The book, written in Q & A format, is his honest attempt to answer those questions in full.

The questions range from the very basic... (What is the difference between an Israeli and a Jew? A Palestinian and an Arab?)to the complex (What are the main issues that need to be resolved in an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement? Is a two-state solution still possible?) Waxman's greatest strength as a political analyst is his attempt at objectivity and fairness. He refrains from polemics and tries to examine events from both sides in historical context. This includes both sides' often conflicting versions and interpretations of events.

The book is well-written, clear and very accessible. It is a good starting place for someone who knows a little about the conflict and wants to learn more or for someone who knows a great deal but wants to fill in gaps. I highly recommend it.

[Joy D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict provides the background and history of one of the most long-lasting geopolitical struggles. It is written in a “Question and Answer” format. The book analyzes the complex roots of the conflict, traces its evolution, and describes the decades of tension, wars, and attempted peace processes.

Waxman is careful to include both Israeli and Palestinian perspectives. He explores how national identities, religious claims, security concerns, and traumatic historical experiences have shaped their viewpoints. Throughout, he maintains a commitment to fact-based analysis. It can be a bit dry in places, but it is broad in scope, and I certainly learned a lot.

The author discusses methods toward reconciliation but is not optimistic. Recommended to anyone seeking to understand this multifaceted conflict beyond media headlines and political rhetoric. It provided me with a better foundation for informed engagement with one of our world’s most persistent and challenging situations.

[Jak · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book serves as a great introduction to the history of Israel/Palestine, offering concise answers to key questions posed throughout the book. It's easy to read and appears unbiased, from my perspective. It provides a solid overview, encouraging you to branch out and learn more as you read.

[Alis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book. For anyone who wants to better understand the context behind the news. Very well and clearly written.

[Denny Dimitrova · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good introductory read to a complex issue. The author just presents the facts and their consequences without taking a side. The latter I found to be difficult if not impossible.
The book certainly facilitates a better understanding of the region.

[Caleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an excellent primer on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It is fair, clear, and comprehensive. Everyone should read it before spouting off.

[Rachel Burnett · Rating 5 out of 5]

My #1 recommendation for anyone who knows relatively little about the conflict looking for a balanced (as much as is possible, anyway) account to understand the history. If you're already fairly well-versed in the conflict, it won't provide anything new, but if you're completely unfamiliar with this issue in my opinion there's no better place to start than here.

[Margaret Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for understanding a century worth of history, conflict, and peacebuilding/making efforts. I found it to be accessible with my existing knowledge and clarifying in some of the early history aspects, like the transition from the Ottoman Empire to British control. I would dare say, anybody would be able to access this book as it does cover each issue in a Q&A fashion and each section logically follows the next. Though readers might find themselves unexpectedly reading about the Arabi-Israeli conflict for half the book before getting to the meat and bones of the conflict with the Palestinians. Not that they weren't present in the first half of the book, just that they seemed to be pulled this way and that by larger powers for the first half and only in the second do we see some insight into their beliefs, goals, and ambitions. I gratefully found this book to be balanced if not slightly leaning towards my own beliefs but it did add some moderating context for me. All in all, I think it's a good place to begin for somebody looking to understand the conflict while being fair to both sides but still keeps the power imbalances clear throughout the narrative.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recommend that everyone read this before having, and especially expressing, an opinion on the Israel-Palestine conflict. Its lucid and concise, thorough and unbiased approach allows you to really understand what's going on, grasp the understandable fears and desires of each side, the culpability of both sides in the escalation of the conflict at different periods, and the possible solutions/outcomes of the conflict.

Most of the time, you're getting an oversimplified picture of what's happening and this conflict is anything but simple. There are so many events in cultural memory, so many moving parts and players, and it's such an emotional issue for so many. But reading this will help you to comprehend what's going on, why, and help you to make up your mind.

[Cat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great, comprehensive read which tries to take a factual approach. I wonder, sadly, if it's all moot?

[Julien Haynes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative. Seemingly bias at the beginning (although Dov does give warning to this) but by the end gives an impressively clear image of the outcomes & struggles from both sides of this conflict. I’d be curious to read his thoughts on the current situation.

[Giovanni · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️ very helpful summary

[Hugo Dahl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very thoroughly researched and detailed summary of the historical sources, events, causes and players in the conflict between Israel and Palestine.

The author does a great job of describing and holding accountable players on all sides (not solely the Israeli or Palestinian, but also international and historical forces) and detailing their roles and impact to the current geopolitical situation.

This is a heavy, heavy read, but will enlighten anyone interested in objective facts, rather than personally or politically biased and incomplete "facts" from numerous common sources.

[Rose Bonar · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author helps explain the very complicated situation between Israel and the Palestinians in a fairly unbiased way. I can't claim to understand everything even after reading the book but I do feel that I understand it better.

[Peter Eckstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good introduction to the topic. It's a primer for folks who know very little about the topic. When it comes to the conflict this book is the most even handed approach I've seen. What that means it'll piss off partisans from both sides. Like I said: even handed.

[Tom Fletcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Essential reading” gets thrown around a lot, but this certainly qualifies. A very informative and balanced history of a conflict that is as complex as it is distressing.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: What Everyone Needs to Know by Dov Waxman aims to educate readers on one of the longest ongoing wars ever. Rather than retelling stories and interviews from both sides of the war, the book is rather much more simple in nature: answering some of the most asked questions about the war without any bias. Certainly a tall order, but as someone who is mainly clueless as to how this war started and as to why exactly it is still ongoing today, I think this format worked really well. After having finished the book, I can now more confidently dive into more advanced and specific topics related to the war, as well as into the politicians and related groups. If you’re basically like myself, looking to get a good and solid base understanding of this conflict, this book is definitely the one to read first.

Perhaps the most common misconception about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is that it is a religious conflict. - Author

I learned so much about the conflict from just this one book. I also believe the author did it in a way that left out a lot of bias out. We live in a society today where people can just about turn any issue into a political one, regardless of how it started or what the actual facts are. To be able to present just the information and facts without any political agenda, especially on such a politically charged topic, can seem neigh impossible. But as the author warned, readers can still find ways to interpret things however they want to regardless of how impartial one presents the information.

All too often, they think the main issue is simply Israeli settlements, Palestinian terrorism or whatever else is in the news. - Author

As someone who only got information about this war from news channels on television, it can be frightening to learn that so much more goes on underneath than what is shown on air. Having a better understanding of the conflict also allows me to interpret the news a lot better than before. Sadly, the day prior to finishing this book, it was reported that a rocket fired by the group militant group Hezbollah struck a soccer field in the Golan Heights killed 12 people, most of them children and teenagers. Having just read the book, I understood a little more of who Hezbollah is, where they operate out of, along with many of the territories that Israel controls.

Without antisemitism, nationalism, and secularism in the nineteenth century Europe, there would probably be no Zionism. - Author

With the initial conflict entering almost the century mark, it’s really hard to see how peace can be established when parties on both side not being able to agree on anything. It feels like it’s a battle of opinions, with each side not relenting the least. Each side have their cases to present, and each side believe their side to be just. The UN seems to be incapable of doing anything other than issuing condemnations while the United States, the really only country and superpower that have tried for decades and are still trying to broker a peace agreement between the two, are seen as biased. Go ahead and read this book if you want to catch up with just how and why this war is still going today, as well as one of the hardest one to solve, if that’s even possible at all.

[Will Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

À compelling, competent and authoritative analysis on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. While it is was published in 2019, many of the questions answered slowly build up towards why the current Second Gaza War is happening, who is accountable, why is the international community reluctant to intervene and so forth.

The writing is simple and easy to understand. It lacks the ugliness of jargon, and offers nothing but facts rather than opinions, especially important when talking about à subject matter as controversial as this. It goes into great depths into the historical belligerency between the two states, the 1967 war, the refugee problem, the failures of the peace agreements (most notably the Oslo Accords), the corrupt, autocratic nature of both the Palestinian Authority and Fatah (and the subsequent rise of Hamas in Gaza) as well as the known brutality of the IDF. In addition, the book attempts to dismantle the prevailing, popular assumptions about the current situation which has shaped both the Western and Israeli narrative. Such assumptions have done injustices to the Palestinian community and has led to a grave misunderstanding of the conflict overall. Finally, it wants to emphasise that it is not just a religious issue: rather, there are other factors that are interplaying, such as the controversial semantical nature of ‘occupation’ and the like. But most importantly, the easy tendency to take sides and to see it as, what the author says, as a morality play between the good and evil. Such misunderstandings already lead to a reductionist view, therefore reduce its nuanced approach of understanding the conflict in full. Just to be clear, there is no such idea of morality; everyone bears some level of responsibility for the actions and sufferings that this war has inflicted.

This is a book that everyone who is concerned, interested or otherwise requires a detailed overview of why the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a massive geopolitical issue. Crucially, it is both a book for experts and for beginners; for academics and for the general public. Seriously cannot recommend it enough.

[Ernie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this in preparation for a trip to Israel and Jordan this Spring. The author describes the history of the region beginning with partitioning of the Arab lands after WWI and the creation of a Jewish homeland. He points out that while the Western world regarded the Arabs as a monolithic cultural and political entity, the truth is they are much more complex. This led to failures, both by the Western approach to Arabs and to the failed efforts by some Arabs to try and behave in a monolithic fashion. The Consequences were that in the early stages, Western politicians expected the Palestinians to become Jordanians and for Jordan to assume responsibility for the problem. This is a simplistic explanation .... there were many people with many views... but this seems at the heart of it; failure to recognize the autonomy of the Palestinian people.

The author goes through the history of the many wars, the ebb and flow of politics by the US, Britain, France, Egypt, etc. He describes the different agreements and documents that have been used and misused to advance the causes of one party or another. At the end of the book the author expresses opinions about one-state or two-state solutions. Neither will work according to him. The One-State solution with Arabs and Israelis sharing government equally would be predicted to end the existence of a Jewish State as the Arab population grows. (By the way the author points out that the original Balfour Agreement used the words Jewish Homeland, rather than Jewish State. But the Zionist movement was for creation of a state. ) The two state solution would fail for several reasons.
First, the Israelis have carved up the region to the point where a contiguous Palestinian state could not exist.
Second, the politics of the Palestinians are diverse, ranging from Hamas which seeks to eliminate the Jewish State to other Arabs who are participating in Israeli democracy. Its hard to see how two such a states could co-exist peacefully.
Third, as long as Israel could be threatened by other countries, such as Iran, it would seem incompatible to have an autonomous country on the Israeli border that might invite troops to mass on the border in prepartion for invasion.

So what is left? The author discusses the possibility of a shared government that would recognize partnership of Israelis and Palestinians. But its pretty vague.

In reading it I was struck by the tragedy in which radical elements dictate the relationships. Hamas and Right Wing Zionists seem to define the terms of discussion. And there cannot be a solution forthcoming. But strange things can happen. Consider Ireland, South Africa and the freeing of Eastern Europe. Those were unsolvable problems when I was a boy. Hopefully the right leaders will come along and make this right.

[Howard Lazar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was prepared not to like this book (or at least be challenged by it) given the circumstances it was recommended to me. In fact, I found this book immensely readable and an evenhanded diagnosis of the century long conflict. Each section is headed by a question which is then analyzed from both Israeli and Palestinian points of view. The final chapter discusses the possibility of both two state and one state solutions, and why neither of them is likely to happen. The author goes on to discuss a hybrid 'confederation' solution, which sounds good in principal, but given the distrust of the two parties for each other, is unlikely to be implemented in the near future - which he readily admits. Of course any book on this subject written after Oct 7, 2023 is now missing this critical and yet unfolding piece of the story - which will likely make peace even harder to achieve. Like most analysts on the subject, nothing in Waxman's book envisions the brutal Hamas massacre or the Israeli response to it which will be the subject of countless books in the future. Still, this is an important contribution to understanding the history of the conflict as viewed by Israelis and Palestinians. Highly recommended.

[Steve Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent, informative and even-handed account of this complex and seemingly intractable conflict. The author humbly recognises that his own views and values are shaped by his own education and experiences, but strives to be impartial by recognising that events can be perceived differently by different people. In my view, Dov Waxman succeeds admirably in trying to present and understand different viewpoints without judgement or prejudice. Of course, recent events from October 7th onwards are not referred to in the book (any publication attempting to cover the Israel-Palestine conflict is almost certain to be out of date pretty quickly), but it remains one of the best books that I have read on the subject. And I have read a lot! Highly recommended for anyone interested in the conflict and hoping that an equitable resolution can somehow be found.

[Liza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was very informative and for a person with little to no knowledge of the conflict was illuminating in outlining the history and the ins and outs of recent developments. Of course, having been published in 2019 it's now devastatingly outdated, and it was quite depressing reading about prospects for peace or about "the worst conflicts in Gaza" that now are far out of reach, but of course that's not on the author. The Q&A format was really nice and helped divide the information into more easily digestible bites and also makes it easy to go back and reference a specific piece of information. It's dense, but there's a ton of information to cover, but it's a good and well-written primer if you'd like to learn about the conflict.

[Bryony Crain · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was really helpful for me to get a basic understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Because this was really my first time learning about this topic, I can’t comment on how factual/neutral the book was, but I did feel that the author did a good job of explaining various perspectives on the topic and giving insight into the context and history behind these perspectives. It started to get a little confusing during the chapters where he explained all of the Arab-Israeli wars that have occurred and the multiple attempts at peace. It is a short but dense book that required a lot of attention and focus. I recommend Chapters 1, 5 and the Conclusion for a high level overview.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most commentary on the Israel-Palestine conflict generates more heat than light. Waxman's lucid book outlines the roots of and the major events in the conflict, and most importantly explores the positions and experiences of both sides. What's more, he evades making judgements as to which side is right and wrong at any particular point, leaving the reader to weigh up the evidence. He's a genuine historian, not a prosecutor or a propagandist. The best book I know about the conflict, and a balance against simple blame games and simple solutions. Yet despite this latter, Waxman does end on a note of very shaky home, offering a constructive way forwards for the two sides.

[Anna Cass · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a lot more helpful than the recent one I read, primarily for being so accessible to beginners. The whole thing is set up as a series of Q&A, so it doesn't even have to be read straight through, though that's always my own preference. I feel like I could go back and reread the whole thing right now and get a lot more out of it than I did on a single read, but I don't see myself doing that.
It was written in 2018, but still felt very relevant. In fact, it definitely helped me better understand the current situation in Gaza.

[Biggus · Rating 1 out of 5]

It might be what a few people need to know, but all it did was confirm what I already knew, in a very clinical, and exceedingly boring way. I gave up half way through, there are only so many acts of lunacy that I can take. From both sides.

The narrator using a voice, tone and cadence that would suit a primary school class didn't help. Honestly, does ANYONE vet or cast these narrators? Anyone with a brain that is?

[Erin Austin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I HIGHLY recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn about this conflict.

The author expertly lays out the long history of the conflict by first stating facts and then describing how each side interpreted those facts, as well as what the possible implications were/are/will be. It's truly an excellent resource for anyone seeking to understand a part of the world so many U.S. History classes don't touch or, at least, don't go into depth with.

[Gordon Ironside · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not sure the question and answer style would work, but it does. I have read this to better understand the sources of the current dangerous situation in Gaza. My interest was held throughout by clear explanations, in what looked to me a fairly balanced account of the conflict viewed from both sides.

[Grace Quinn-Foster · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book, a good intro to the subject. However I find it very difficult to read how the author describes Israel’s actions towards Palestinian civilians neutrally. Very hard not to feel futile about the subject. The political science angle of the book dehumanises the civilian deaths mentioned in the book.