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Toinen Israel
Brittiläinen Susan Nathan muutti viisikymppisenä varoituksista piittaamatta Tamran arabikylään Pohjois-Israelissa. Hänestä tuli kaupungin ainoa juutalainen asukas.
Nathanin telavivilaiset, vasemmistolaiset ystävät arvelivat hänen ymmärtäneen Lähi-idän poliittisen todellisuuden pahasti väärin: ”Sinut raiskataan ja tapetaan siellä. Arabit voivat olla alkuun ystävällisiä, mutta sitten ne käyvät sinua vastaan.”
Tamrassa Nathan sai omin silmin todeta kuilun, joka erottaa juutalaiset ja palestiinalaiset toisistaan. Kansanosien välinen eristäytyminen ja juutalaisten arabeja kohtaan harjoittama diskriminointi muistutti jopa apartheid-järjestelmää.
Nathan vie lukijan tutkimusmatkalle Lähi-idän pitkäikäisimmän kriisin lähteille ja tarjoaa näkymiä siihen, miksi konflikti tuntuu ratkaisemattomalta.
Samalla hän omalla esimerkillään osoittaa, että sovussa eläminen on mahdollista.
Nathanin telavivilaiset, vasemmistolaiset ystävät arvelivat hänen ymmärtäneen Lähi-idän poliittisen todellisuuden pahasti väärin: ”Sinut raiskataan ja tapetaan siellä. Arabit voivat olla alkuun ystävällisiä, mutta sitten ne käyvät sinua vastaan.”
Tamrassa Nathan sai omin silmin todeta kuilun, joka erottaa juutalaiset ja palestiinalaiset toisistaan. Kansanosien välinen eristäytyminen ja juutalaisten arabeja kohtaan harjoittama diskriminointi muistutti jopa apartheid-järjestelmää.
Nathan vie lukijan tutkimusmatkalle Lähi-idän pitkäikäisimmän kriisin lähteille ja tarjoaa näkymiä siihen, miksi konflikti tuntuu ratkaisemattomalta.
Samalla hän omalla esimerkillään osoittaa, että sovussa eläminen on mahdollista.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2005
20 people are currently reading
901 people want to read
About the author
Susan Nathan
4 books14 followersSusan Nathan is a British-born Israeli writer.
Susan Nathan was born in England to a Jewish family. Whilst young Nathan visited friends and family in the apartheid-era South Africa where her father was born. There she had several encounters with the social and political situation in that country.
When she returned to London she became an AIDS counselor.
She divorced and, in 1999, once her children had grown-up she immigrated to Israel under the Law of Return, and settled in Tel Aviv, finding work as an English teacher, working with various centre-left organizations.
Nathan formed the view that much of Israel's Arab population were neglected and oppressed. As a result, in 2003 she moved from her home in Tel Aviv to the Arab city of Tamra in northern Israel. There she wrote The Other Side of Israel. In that work Nathan examined the historical, political and cultural currents of the Middle Eastern conflict. She wrote of her Arab neighbors, their challenges and their hopes and the segregation and discrimination she felt they face in Israel. Currently, the book has been translated into nine languages, including 2008 Malayalam, the dialect of Kerala in southern India.
Susan Nathan was born in England to a Jewish family. Whilst young Nathan visited friends and family in the apartheid-era South Africa where her father was born. There she had several encounters with the social and political situation in that country.
When she returned to London she became an AIDS counselor.
She divorced and, in 1999, once her children had grown-up she immigrated to Israel under the Law of Return, and settled in Tel Aviv, finding work as an English teacher, working with various centre-left organizations.
Nathan formed the view that much of Israel's Arab population were neglected and oppressed. As a result, in 2003 she moved from her home in Tel Aviv to the Arab city of Tamra in northern Israel. There she wrote The Other Side of Israel. In that work Nathan examined the historical, political and cultural currents of the Middle Eastern conflict. She wrote of her Arab neighbors, their challenges and their hopes and the segregation and discrimination she felt they face in Israel. Currently, the book has been translated into nine languages, including 2008 Malayalam, the dialect of Kerala in southern India.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
June 13, 2009
I was always meaning to write a proper review for this brilliant book because it is one of those books that shape my viewpoint on Israel and the conflict. But I left for Australia shortly after I finished it so never got around to write a review until now. I’d not be writing if it wasn’t for the fact that recently I watched this documentary called Arna’s Children, which greatly upset me. It tells a story of a Jewish woman in Hebron opening a theatre and home for Palestinian children to teach them to express their anger through songs, plays and drawings. She devoted her life to supporting Palestinians’ struggle for the establishment of a Palestinian state through non-violent resistance and art. But she had cancer and left for Israel. When her son came back to Palestine ten years later, all the kids he used to teach to act in his plays have become militants and suicide bombers. It is often disturbing to think about how violence, humiliation and intimidation can dehumanize and brutalize such innocent children. But Israel is not just destroying itself from outside, it is really tearing down the very fabric of its own society from inside.
This is a great book, a must read for anyone who wishes to understand Israeli politics and its relations with its own Muslim population and the Palestinians. If you truly believe in what mainstream media try to sell: the image of Israel as the bulwark of democracy and the enlightenment, the beacon of hope for the unrenaissanced Middle East, the land of the free and brave, you will think very differently after reading this book.
Susan Nathan brings the story to you from a personal perspective with her witness of very human stories and abysmal sufferings that Israeli Muslims have to endure living in the land that once belonged to them. Susan Nathan is definitely my hero, really the kind of writer who goes out there to seek the truth rather than sit in ivory towers to second guess what it is like to suffer and preach victims to “tighten security and control terrorists”.
She is originally a British Jew who once lived in apartheid South Africa and came to Israel with all the noble ideals about her country. But gradually over time, she realized there was something very troubling about her country: it is basically an apartheid state with all kinds of state-sanctioned racism. And she has all the reasons in the world to believe so.
After the 1948 war, hundreds of villages were destroyed and the authorities registered all property in the new Jewish state. 750,000 people were displaced and lost their land, possessions and were scattered throughout the region until today. For those who stayed in Israel, they are squeezed into tiny pieces of land, and their houses constantly under threat of demolition. While Israel raves about expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank to support “natural growth” on occupied land, inside Israel, Jews are subsidized by the state to buy massive mansions with swimming pools while Muslims live in separate slums with no chance of expansion. They can’t really build houses or cultivate their land and can lose their homes at any time. Arab towns are not registered on the computer system and not provided with state services like Jewish neighbourhoods. They don’t get government investment and are overcrowded with terrible living condition.
In all aspects, Arabs are discriminated against: their schools are underfunded, their curriculum racist and degrading, their freedom of speech curtailed, their employment limited. What worries me is the fact that most extremist religious schools in Israel receive a lot more funding than secular schools, so increasing numbers of parents are sending their kids there. It scares me to think about what they’re brainwashed into thinking in such schools. Ariel Sharonism?
In employment, many areas of the economy are closed to Arabs, and it makes Arabs the most vulnerable to unemployment and poverty. And because the state has confiscated most of Arab lands and passed to Jewish farming communities, Arab Israelis are left with very few opportunities in life.
As for Jews, they are discouraged from providing services for Arabs and get into trouble if they help Muslims buy houses. Men are drafted into the army at the age of 17 to serve for 3 years mainly to patrol at checkpoints. Refuseniks will face a lot of difficulties later in their career, be shunned by society and are excluded from government benefits. So it isn't worth it to mess around to fight for others' rights.
While reading this book, I always wondered how can Israelis let this happen? How can they turn their eyes away from the sufferings of their fellow men in their first world country? But sadly, since Arabs and Jews live separately, they are probably not aware or apathetic. Susan Nathan points out even some of the most “liberal” Israelis she talked to turned out to be hypocrites, they hold great contempt (and possibly fear) for Arabs and have little concern for them. Peace movements inside Israel are often weak, unenthusiastic and initiated by Arabs. Which really disappoints me because I’d like to see more aggressive action from the enlightened Jewish population to solve such a dire problem. At the end of the day, they still live in a (arguably functioning) democracy and face much less danger than Arabs or Palestinians. And unless Israel improves its treatment of its own Arab population, how could I expect it to change its direction in Gaza and the West Bank? In fact, I’ve given up that hope after the Gaza massacre (with overwhelming popular support from the population) in January and the election of Netanyahu. It angers me that such a racist/violent state can get so much acquiescent support from America ($3 billion in military aid per year!) even if it has viciously corroded America’s image in the region for the past 4 decades. Is it worth the price?
I am often appalled by the idea that some people honestly believe with the fiercest conviction in their heart that this piece of land was given to them in a book written more than 2000 years ago and that it is a decent excuse to steal other people’s land, raze their homes and subject them to the worst kind of denigration. At the end of the book, Susan compared the sufferings of Palestinians to those of Jews in Europe. Of course, they are different: Israel has never built gas chambers or exterminated wholesale. But that doesn’t mean that the sufferings they’re inflicting on Arabs are justifiable or less cruel. It has derogated, dispossessed and dehumanized a whole population, in that process, dehumanizing itself. Israeli society is possibly permanently shackled to the traumatic past, like an abused child that grows up into an abusive husband and constantly seeks to oppress someone else to feel secure inside. It has this tremendous existential fear of being wiped off the map even if it is the only country in the region with nuclear power. I wish Israelis that freedom from fear, peace of mind and the real courage to break with the past to look at their own mistakes, to make peace with Palestinians to really make Israel the land of the free and brave.
This is a great book, a must read for anyone who wishes to understand Israeli politics and its relations with its own Muslim population and the Palestinians. If you truly believe in what mainstream media try to sell: the image of Israel as the bulwark of democracy and the enlightenment, the beacon of hope for the unrenaissanced Middle East, the land of the free and brave, you will think very differently after reading this book.
Susan Nathan brings the story to you from a personal perspective with her witness of very human stories and abysmal sufferings that Israeli Muslims have to endure living in the land that once belonged to them. Susan Nathan is definitely my hero, really the kind of writer who goes out there to seek the truth rather than sit in ivory towers to second guess what it is like to suffer and preach victims to “tighten security and control terrorists”.
She is originally a British Jew who once lived in apartheid South Africa and came to Israel with all the noble ideals about her country. But gradually over time, she realized there was something very troubling about her country: it is basically an apartheid state with all kinds of state-sanctioned racism. And she has all the reasons in the world to believe so.
After the 1948 war, hundreds of villages were destroyed and the authorities registered all property in the new Jewish state. 750,000 people were displaced and lost their land, possessions and were scattered throughout the region until today. For those who stayed in Israel, they are squeezed into tiny pieces of land, and their houses constantly under threat of demolition. While Israel raves about expanding Jewish settlements in the West Bank to support “natural growth” on occupied land, inside Israel, Jews are subsidized by the state to buy massive mansions with swimming pools while Muslims live in separate slums with no chance of expansion. They can’t really build houses or cultivate their land and can lose their homes at any time. Arab towns are not registered on the computer system and not provided with state services like Jewish neighbourhoods. They don’t get government investment and are overcrowded with terrible living condition.
In all aspects, Arabs are discriminated against: their schools are underfunded, their curriculum racist and degrading, their freedom of speech curtailed, their employment limited. What worries me is the fact that most extremist religious schools in Israel receive a lot more funding than secular schools, so increasing numbers of parents are sending their kids there. It scares me to think about what they’re brainwashed into thinking in such schools. Ariel Sharonism?
In employment, many areas of the economy are closed to Arabs, and it makes Arabs the most vulnerable to unemployment and poverty. And because the state has confiscated most of Arab lands and passed to Jewish farming communities, Arab Israelis are left with very few opportunities in life.
As for Jews, they are discouraged from providing services for Arabs and get into trouble if they help Muslims buy houses. Men are drafted into the army at the age of 17 to serve for 3 years mainly to patrol at checkpoints. Refuseniks will face a lot of difficulties later in their career, be shunned by society and are excluded from government benefits. So it isn't worth it to mess around to fight for others' rights.
While reading this book, I always wondered how can Israelis let this happen? How can they turn their eyes away from the sufferings of their fellow men in their first world country? But sadly, since Arabs and Jews live separately, they are probably not aware or apathetic. Susan Nathan points out even some of the most “liberal” Israelis she talked to turned out to be hypocrites, they hold great contempt (and possibly fear) for Arabs and have little concern for them. Peace movements inside Israel are often weak, unenthusiastic and initiated by Arabs. Which really disappoints me because I’d like to see more aggressive action from the enlightened Jewish population to solve such a dire problem. At the end of the day, they still live in a (arguably functioning) democracy and face much less danger than Arabs or Palestinians. And unless Israel improves its treatment of its own Arab population, how could I expect it to change its direction in Gaza and the West Bank? In fact, I’ve given up that hope after the Gaza massacre (with overwhelming popular support from the population) in January and the election of Netanyahu. It angers me that such a racist/violent state can get so much acquiescent support from America ($3 billion in military aid per year!) even if it has viciously corroded America’s image in the region for the past 4 decades. Is it worth the price?
I am often appalled by the idea that some people honestly believe with the fiercest conviction in their heart that this piece of land was given to them in a book written more than 2000 years ago and that it is a decent excuse to steal other people’s land, raze their homes and subject them to the worst kind of denigration. At the end of the book, Susan compared the sufferings of Palestinians to those of Jews in Europe. Of course, they are different: Israel has never built gas chambers or exterminated wholesale. But that doesn’t mean that the sufferings they’re inflicting on Arabs are justifiable or less cruel. It has derogated, dispossessed and dehumanized a whole population, in that process, dehumanizing itself. Israeli society is possibly permanently shackled to the traumatic past, like an abused child that grows up into an abusive husband and constantly seeks to oppress someone else to feel secure inside. It has this tremendous existential fear of being wiped off the map even if it is the only country in the region with nuclear power. I wish Israelis that freedom from fear, peace of mind and the real courage to break with the past to look at their own mistakes, to make peace with Palestinians to really make Israel the land of the free and brave.
August 2, 2007
Do not be deceived by the kumbaya introduction to this book -- her goal is not really to show that Jews and Arabs can be friends, but in fact to disprove the simplistic notion that the only problem in Jewish-Arab relations is as superficial and hippie-dippie as misunderstanding. And co-existence supporters and those in favor of dialogue groups had better listen up; so long as there are vast resource inequalities and racist laws, holding hands will get us nowhere.
Susan Nathan's book is an excellent list of the reasons why I am an anti-Zionist, instead of simply a Jew who opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It is a readable combination of personal accounts as well as official records and statistics, which combine to give the clear picture that Israel was built on a racist framework that privileged immigrants at all costs against the indigenous people, and that to remain a "Jewish" state it retains these policies both subtly and overtly. Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up 20% of the population, are routinely referred to in polite, educated company as a "demographic threat," and Israel's policies reflect a hysterical reaction to this threat.
I would recommend this book in conjunction with Jimmy Carter's book, Palestine: Peace not Apartheid, for new-comers to the issue. The failing with Jimmy Carter's stance -- that everything within Israel is peachy-keen -- is harshly exposed by Nathan's description of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians who remained within the state of Israel. I only wish a book written by a Palestinian citizen of Israel could receive as much press, and it didn't take a Jew to make this uncomfortable news palatable.
And tell all your friends NOT to "plant a tree for Israel"-- Nathan gives one of the best exposes of the Jewish National Fund's practices that I have ever read. I am sorry, Grandma Marion, that your commemoration tree marks a destroyed Palestinian village.
Susan Nathan's book is an excellent list of the reasons why I am an anti-Zionist, instead of simply a Jew who opposes the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. It is a readable combination of personal accounts as well as official records and statistics, which combine to give the clear picture that Israel was built on a racist framework that privileged immigrants at all costs against the indigenous people, and that to remain a "Jewish" state it retains these policies both subtly and overtly. Palestinian citizens of Israel, who make up 20% of the population, are routinely referred to in polite, educated company as a "demographic threat," and Israel's policies reflect a hysterical reaction to this threat.
I would recommend this book in conjunction with Jimmy Carter's book, Palestine: Peace not Apartheid, for new-comers to the issue. The failing with Jimmy Carter's stance -- that everything within Israel is peachy-keen -- is harshly exposed by Nathan's description of Israel's treatment of the Palestinians who remained within the state of Israel. I only wish a book written by a Palestinian citizen of Israel could receive as much press, and it didn't take a Jew to make this uncomfortable news palatable.
And tell all your friends NOT to "plant a tree for Israel"-- Nathan gives one of the best exposes of the Jewish National Fund's practices that I have ever read. I am sorry, Grandma Marion, that your commemoration tree marks a destroyed Palestinian village.
June 24, 2012
Like Susan Nathan, I am also a Jewish woman raised in the Diaspora to believe that Israel could do no wrong. Unlike the author I do not have immediate family members who escaped or were murdered during the Holocaust.
My parents' generation lives with the guilt that they should have done more to help their European brethren, and our post war clergy reinforced this collective guilt by encouraging my parents' generation to have large families (replacing murdered souls) and contribute heavily to Isaeli fund raisers. We planted the trees that, thanks to Ms. Nathan, I now know cover the lands illegally confiscated from the Palestinian owners. We donated generously to the JNF, bought ambulances and irrigation systems.
The phrase, "never again", is indoctrinated into every Jewish student in Sunday school and Hebrew school classes. This mantra has been used over and over again to explain away the actions of the Israeli government and military in regards to Palestinian issues. However, even as a young child, I had trouble understanding how Israel could create a similar situation with the Palestinians as what those very Holocaust survivors had experienced during Nazi times. The founders of modern Israel experienced government mandated, sanctioned and encouraged job discrimination, evictions from property, crowding into ghettos, denial of critical services before emigrating. To turn around and do the same thing to the Palestinian population makes them not much better than their former tormentors. Jewish resistance to Nazism arose, just as Palestinian resistance to Israeli brutality has arisen. Who should know better than Holocaust survivors as to what happens when a group is continually beaten down? And, who should know better how kindness towards others is appreciated?
That being said, while I found Nathan's experiences illuminating, I felt her presentation was often a bit one sided, perhaps overly accusatory toward Jewish Israelis and defensive when others criticized her positions. Such defensiveness is not going to move her argument forward.
Currently, Israeli government is more of an Orthodox theocracy and this is something that even many Jewish Israelis, especially of the unaffiliated younger generation, may see as too restrictive. In the Western world, we are brought up in the firm belief of separation between church and state. Contrary to what we may have believed, this has probably never been the case in Israel; I'm not sure it was ever intended to be a Western type democracy.
Whereas Israel has a long way to go to becoming a democracy for all, I hope and pray that this is the direction modern Israelis will head, and may someday be the case for not just Israel, but all of the Middle East.
My parents' generation lives with the guilt that they should have done more to help their European brethren, and our post war clergy reinforced this collective guilt by encouraging my parents' generation to have large families (replacing murdered souls) and contribute heavily to Isaeli fund raisers. We planted the trees that, thanks to Ms. Nathan, I now know cover the lands illegally confiscated from the Palestinian owners. We donated generously to the JNF, bought ambulances and irrigation systems.
The phrase, "never again", is indoctrinated into every Jewish student in Sunday school and Hebrew school classes. This mantra has been used over and over again to explain away the actions of the Israeli government and military in regards to Palestinian issues. However, even as a young child, I had trouble understanding how Israel could create a similar situation with the Palestinians as what those very Holocaust survivors had experienced during Nazi times. The founders of modern Israel experienced government mandated, sanctioned and encouraged job discrimination, evictions from property, crowding into ghettos, denial of critical services before emigrating. To turn around and do the same thing to the Palestinian population makes them not much better than their former tormentors. Jewish resistance to Nazism arose, just as Palestinian resistance to Israeli brutality has arisen. Who should know better than Holocaust survivors as to what happens when a group is continually beaten down? And, who should know better how kindness towards others is appreciated?
That being said, while I found Nathan's experiences illuminating, I felt her presentation was often a bit one sided, perhaps overly accusatory toward Jewish Israelis and defensive when others criticized her positions. Such defensiveness is not going to move her argument forward.
Currently, Israeli government is more of an Orthodox theocracy and this is something that even many Jewish Israelis, especially of the unaffiliated younger generation, may see as too restrictive. In the Western world, we are brought up in the firm belief of separation between church and state. Contrary to what we may have believed, this has probably never been the case in Israel; I'm not sure it was ever intended to be a Western type democracy.
Whereas Israel has a long way to go to becoming a democracy for all, I hope and pray that this is the direction modern Israelis will head, and may someday be the case for not just Israel, but all of the Middle East.
July 25, 2011
I had a friend one time refer to a “pluralistic multi-cultural” level of development that only 10% of the world population achieves. I thought about this ability to look to something greater than ourselves as I was reading Susan Nathan’s “The Other Side of Israel”.
Nathan is a Jew who used her “Right of Return” under Israeli law to move to Israel and become an Israeli citizen. Having been born in England, she was a part of the Diaspora that felt out of place. From an early age she had been indoctrinated with Zionist ideology, telling her that the only true home she had was in Israel. So, she left her family behind and traveled to the “Holy Land” and established a good income for herself teaching English in Tel Aviv.
Through a series of events, Nathan was asked to write a funding application for disadvantaged communities in Israel read: ARAB Israeli communities. After visiting one of these communities, and through Nathan’s obvious “pluralistic multi-cultural” level of development, she had the mental capacity to step back and realize that something was not right. So, she chose to live amongst the Arab Israelis and witness first-hand their day to day lives and try to understand the intense discrimination they faced. We must stop for a moment here and realize that this would be equivalent to a middle-class white American choosing to live with the outcasts in the ghettoes of our nation. An even greater example would be a white South African choosing to live among the blacks during the apartheid era. In other words, it was unheard of.
Relationships were developed and deep friendships were made. Susan Nathan was shocked. These Arabs were nothing like she had been taught from her Zionist childhood…they were not savages. They were oppressed people…equal human beings…looking for their place and a homeland to call their own much like the Jews who were oppressing them. In fact the greatest irony to the entire situation is that the Palestinian Arabs are the new Jews. They have taken the place of the Jews who were in the past the people without a homeland.
The parallels between the Israeli “left” and the American “left” were what struck me most about this book. There are certain debates…even among so-called liberals…that are not allowed in either country. For example, those Israelis who claim to be leftists will fight for Palestinian rights to an extent, saying that the occupation shouldn’t continue, etc…but will stop at declaring that the Palestinians should have equal rights. Only those who can objectively step outside of themselves, look at the bigger picture of “pluralistic multi-cultural” levels of development will be able to see the injustices. Jews in Israel and the Diaspora are so indoctrinated that the idea of equality has been erased from the collective consciousness. Until we as citizens of the world, and especially those of us activists (myself included) can battle this line of thinking, there is little hope for reconciliation. It will be a slow process, but if you value human rights it is a situation that can not be ignored, especially in the West which often sides unconditionally with Israel. I’m not talking about rhetoric; I’m talking about the stronger language of continued military aid. The opportunity to defuse a situation that could plunge the entire world into war is there…will we take it before it’s too late?
Nathan is a Jew who used her “Right of Return” under Israeli law to move to Israel and become an Israeli citizen. Having been born in England, she was a part of the Diaspora that felt out of place. From an early age she had been indoctrinated with Zionist ideology, telling her that the only true home she had was in Israel. So, she left her family behind and traveled to the “Holy Land” and established a good income for herself teaching English in Tel Aviv.
Through a series of events, Nathan was asked to write a funding application for disadvantaged communities in Israel read: ARAB Israeli communities. After visiting one of these communities, and through Nathan’s obvious “pluralistic multi-cultural” level of development, she had the mental capacity to step back and realize that something was not right. So, she chose to live amongst the Arab Israelis and witness first-hand their day to day lives and try to understand the intense discrimination they faced. We must stop for a moment here and realize that this would be equivalent to a middle-class white American choosing to live with the outcasts in the ghettoes of our nation. An even greater example would be a white South African choosing to live among the blacks during the apartheid era. In other words, it was unheard of.
Relationships were developed and deep friendships were made. Susan Nathan was shocked. These Arabs were nothing like she had been taught from her Zionist childhood…they were not savages. They were oppressed people…equal human beings…looking for their place and a homeland to call their own much like the Jews who were oppressing them. In fact the greatest irony to the entire situation is that the Palestinian Arabs are the new Jews. They have taken the place of the Jews who were in the past the people without a homeland.
The parallels between the Israeli “left” and the American “left” were what struck me most about this book. There are certain debates…even among so-called liberals…that are not allowed in either country. For example, those Israelis who claim to be leftists will fight for Palestinian rights to an extent, saying that the occupation shouldn’t continue, etc…but will stop at declaring that the Palestinians should have equal rights. Only those who can objectively step outside of themselves, look at the bigger picture of “pluralistic multi-cultural” levels of development will be able to see the injustices. Jews in Israel and the Diaspora are so indoctrinated that the idea of equality has been erased from the collective consciousness. Until we as citizens of the world, and especially those of us activists (myself included) can battle this line of thinking, there is little hope for reconciliation. It will be a slow process, but if you value human rights it is a situation that can not be ignored, especially in the West which often sides unconditionally with Israel. I’m not talking about rhetoric; I’m talking about the stronger language of continued military aid. The opportunity to defuse a situation that could plunge the entire world into war is there…will we take it before it’s too late?
February 13, 2024
This is a must read for anyone interested in the real story of Israel and what actually happens there. Written in 2004 it provides so much background and insight into life for Palestinians in Israel - not the occupied territories- and explains so much. Written by an ex Zionist who is so disgusted with the discrimination in Israel that she moves to an Arab town. It explains how any Zionist who actually pays any attention to what Israel does to its non Jewish population cannot support Zionism anymore. I read this on my kindle but have ordered the hard copy as a reference and to prepare my talking points backed up with facts and figures.
May 30, 2025
A must read for those interested in the current conflict in Gaza.
The book pre-dates the 2024 attack and subsequent offensive by Israel but provides excellent context on how they got there.
Sadly the book fails to articulate the many terrorist attacks by the Arabs over decades against Israelis which have caused great antipathy.
The book pre-dates the 2024 attack and subsequent offensive by Israel but provides excellent context on how they got there.
Sadly the book fails to articulate the many terrorist attacks by the Arabs over decades against Israelis which have caused great antipathy.
September 9, 2024
Everyone should read this!
March 30, 2024
The next time you hear someone talk about the terrible events of October 7th 2023 ( and they were terrible) and that Hamas 'started' the war by killing and kidnapping Jews, ask them to read this book. A factual account of a Jewish woman's journey from Zionism to a realisation that within Israel there is a conscious and very real division on religious grounds. There is in fact a system of apartheid based on colonialism. In 1948 750,000 Palestinians were forced out of Israel, their land stolen and destined to become 'permanent' refugees. Those that remained in Israel are treated at best as 2nd class citizens and at worst as less than human. Nathan's message is that until Jews understand that what they have done is wrong and is abhorrent and unacceptable, there can be no peace and no way forward. Unfortunately since the book was written the fanatics have got stronger and the voices of peace, love, harmony and tolerance have diminished. The regime in Israel acts brutally against non Jews and brutalises it's own people by promoting hatred, fear and a sense of superiority. History will judge the state of Israeli as it judges the white supremacists in South Africa, the colonialists in Africa and the Japanese in Manchuria. Religion is just an excuse, what religion promotes treating people the way the Israeli state treats non Jews? What religion condones the killing of thousands of children as has happened since October 7th? Events don't happen in isolation - this book contributes to our understanding of what is happening now in Gaza.
April 18, 2013
Wooooooooooooooooooo. A must read.
Now that I have some time to write my impression on the book, I have to say that it is a really strong book. It talks about something that only minority of people dare to talk about. Actually, I believe that one of the benefits of occupation to Israel is to keep peoples attention away from the raciest Israeli practices against its Palestinian minority.
I know that for outsiders the amount of stories and facts may seem over-exaggerated, but as most of my husbands extended family has the Israeli citizenship I know that she is not. I have heard similar stories. One of them once told me that we here is Palestine are lucky because at least the world is talking about our suffering not like them. Noe one knows or care to know what they face every day.
The book actually talked about some of the issues that always bothered me about the Israeli-left and most peace activists. One question I would really like to hear an answer for, what if we got our state and there is peace, but after 20 or 30 years, Palestinian Israelis outnumbered Jews?????????????????????????????? If they want us to have our state to keep the demography of Israel in favor of the Jews, how would they react when this changes due to natural reasons?
Now that I have some time to write my impression on the book, I have to say that it is a really strong book. It talks about something that only minority of people dare to talk about. Actually, I believe that one of the benefits of occupation to Israel is to keep peoples attention away from the raciest Israeli practices against its Palestinian minority.
I know that for outsiders the amount of stories and facts may seem over-exaggerated, but as most of my husbands extended family has the Israeli citizenship I know that she is not. I have heard similar stories. One of them once told me that we here is Palestine are lucky because at least the world is talking about our suffering not like them. Noe one knows or care to know what they face every day.
The book actually talked about some of the issues that always bothered me about the Israeli-left and most peace activists. One question I would really like to hear an answer for, what if we got our state and there is peace, but after 20 or 30 years, Palestinian Israelis outnumbered Jews?????????????????????????????? If they want us to have our state to keep the demography of Israel in favor of the Jews, how would they react when this changes due to natural reasons?
November 22, 2012
Essential reading for anyone wanting to scratch the surface of the Israel Palestine conflict. Nathan, a reformed Zionist, tracks her formative years growing up under the spell of the Zionist ideology up until the time she undertook the 'Aliye' (the law of return).
She exposes the theocratic way that the state of Israel is run, and racist bureaucracy & repressive domestic policy all designed to disconnect Palestinians living within Israel both from the state and from their cultural identity as Palestinians.
Nathan avoids being blindly committed to one cause by basing her arguments on her actual experiences in Israel.
An eye-opening read for anyone with an interest on the conflict.
She exposes the theocratic way that the state of Israel is run, and racist bureaucracy & repressive domestic policy all designed to disconnect Palestinians living within Israel both from the state and from their cultural identity as Palestinians.
Nathan avoids being blindly committed to one cause by basing her arguments on her actual experiences in Israel.
An eye-opening read for anyone with an interest on the conflict.
March 10, 2016
Fantastic. Everyone should read this book. EVERYONE.
November 12, 2020
Eye opening.
Israel and palestine are a polarizing topic. Chances are, if you're not ignorant of the subject and have a little understanding of the complexities with politics and history surrounding Palestine, you will be influenced one way or another by the stories and facts you hear from both sides. I have known both Jews and Palestinians (Christians) who hold to their, either, biblical or family traditional beliefs. For outsiders (myself included) it is probably naivety and bias to support one way or the other. But everyone is free to make up their minds.
Ancient property owners such as indigenous Australians and Americans have been recognised as such, though their rights is still an ongoing fight under new political rule. Jews would have the same rights to a different degree based on biblical account and archeological findings. But so is the same for the Arabs. So who do we believe? What is right? And who can change the climate for a fair one?
Susan Nathan provides a poignant story of her experiences as a Jew, once zionist, who made Aliya to Israel at age 50. She becomes disappointed with her own people and the handling of the Palestinians. Even her left-winger Jewish friends turned out to not be so left-wing after all and bore xenophobic traits. She became disillusioned and made the choice to live with the Palestinians, and there she gained another perspective, which is recorded in this book.
It is a book, I believe, to provide critical insight for better handling of Palestinians (by Jews and government) and fairness and equality, even if at the risk of an Arab take over. This would be the answer to a better and more humane Israel to give the same rights to the Palestinians as the Jews have.
There is definitely room for pause. Is the book one-sided? Well, I think so. But then again, you can't deny someone's experience and testimony. And the injustices on the Palestinians is a terrible state. Maybe Nathan has something here that Israel should wake up to.
Israel and palestine are a polarizing topic. Chances are, if you're not ignorant of the subject and have a little understanding of the complexities with politics and history surrounding Palestine, you will be influenced one way or another by the stories and facts you hear from both sides. I have known both Jews and Palestinians (Christians) who hold to their, either, biblical or family traditional beliefs. For outsiders (myself included) it is probably naivety and bias to support one way or the other. But everyone is free to make up their minds.
Ancient property owners such as indigenous Australians and Americans have been recognised as such, though their rights is still an ongoing fight under new political rule. Jews would have the same rights to a different degree based on biblical account and archeological findings. But so is the same for the Arabs. So who do we believe? What is right? And who can change the climate for a fair one?
Susan Nathan provides a poignant story of her experiences as a Jew, once zionist, who made Aliya to Israel at age 50. She becomes disappointed with her own people and the handling of the Palestinians. Even her left-winger Jewish friends turned out to not be so left-wing after all and bore xenophobic traits. She became disillusioned and made the choice to live with the Palestinians, and there she gained another perspective, which is recorded in this book.
It is a book, I believe, to provide critical insight for better handling of Palestinians (by Jews and government) and fairness and equality, even if at the risk of an Arab take over. This would be the answer to a better and more humane Israel to give the same rights to the Palestinians as the Jews have.
There is definitely room for pause. Is the book one-sided? Well, I think so. But then again, you can't deny someone's experience and testimony. And the injustices on the Palestinians is a terrible state. Maybe Nathan has something here that Israel should wake up to.
January 2, 2019
I desperately wanted to love this book but it was such a snooze fest. The Other Side Of Israel is written by Susan Nathan, a British-born Jewish writer who decided to move base to Israel in 1999, on account of the Law Of Return. Once there, she realises the obvious divide between Jews and Arabs living in Israel and in an attempt to understand the differences, she decides to stay in a predominantly Arab town, Tamra.
The whole book shows us a (supposedly) ground reality of how Israeli Arabs are treated. While I obviously can't comment on the facts and figures since I don't know much myself, I can say this- the writer is heavily biased in her approach. When you decide to write a book on a real-life scenario, you should present stories from both the sides. This book was one-sided to say the least. Another think that bothered me was the heavily dreamy tone of the writer, which ordinarily I wouldn't mind, but it failed to keep me motivated to read.
I'm sure there are much better and well-written books on the Israel-Palestine conflict and so on, but this one was a dud. Don't bother reading and don't be fooled by the Khaled Hosseini-esque synopsis.
The whole book shows us a (supposedly) ground reality of how Israeli Arabs are treated. While I obviously can't comment on the facts and figures since I don't know much myself, I can say this- the writer is heavily biased in her approach. When you decide to write a book on a real-life scenario, you should present stories from both the sides. This book was one-sided to say the least. Another think that bothered me was the heavily dreamy tone of the writer, which ordinarily I wouldn't mind, but it failed to keep me motivated to read.
I'm sure there are much better and well-written books on the Israel-Palestine conflict and so on, but this one was a dud. Don't bother reading and don't be fooled by the Khaled Hosseini-esque synopsis.
July 30, 2019
Susan Nathan has written from her own experience of being British and Jewish, taking Aliya to return to Israel as a Jewish citizen and then discovering the nature of the relationship with the Palestinians by living with them in the town of Tamra. She reports the life experience, as a writer can, when living among people; the true life revealed about how the Jewish state has convinced Jews that Palestinians were not dipossessed or that the land was empty when the state of Israel occupied it. She grapples with the problems of the learnt helplessness of both Palestinians and Israelis who see no way around the current position. The apartheid-like life offered to Palestinians, designed to extinguish hope of a better life, is well drawn but she does give examples of.people trying to change the situation from within, suggesting that there may be a way forward that offers a place for Palestinians in the life of Israel so that the people who have Israel life can be part of its future.
June 9, 2017
Mietin tähditystä neljän ja viiden välillä, päädyin viiteen.
Ajatuksia herättävä, tunteita nostattava kirja. Ehdottoman tärkeä, ei-niin-tavallinen näkökulma Isarelin ja Palestiinan kysymyksiin. Ehdottomasti sellainen näkökulma, johon kaikkien pitäisi tutustua. Kenellä on oikeus maahan, kenellä on oikeus kansalaisuuteen, entäpä ihmisoikeudet? Voiko kokonainen valtio olla sokea omille kipupisteilleen ja/tai voiko kokonaisella valtiolla olla kipupisteitä? Mitä tehdä, jotta kansakunta heräisi näkemään ihmisen myös siinä toisessa kansakunnassa? Mitä tehdä, jotta kansakunta tajuaisi sen, että tuo toinenkin kansakunta koostuu yksittäisistä ihmisistä, joilla on unelmia, pelkoja, historiansa, ihmisoikeudet?
Kirja saa minulta viisi tähteä yheiskunnallisen merkityksenstä tähden. Kirjallisilta ansioiltaan se on minusta neljän tähden arvoinen.
Ajatuksia herättävä, tunteita nostattava kirja. Ehdottoman tärkeä, ei-niin-tavallinen näkökulma Isarelin ja Palestiinan kysymyksiin. Ehdottomasti sellainen näkökulma, johon kaikkien pitäisi tutustua. Kenellä on oikeus maahan, kenellä on oikeus kansalaisuuteen, entäpä ihmisoikeudet? Voiko kokonainen valtio olla sokea omille kipupisteilleen ja/tai voiko kokonaisella valtiolla olla kipupisteitä? Mitä tehdä, jotta kansakunta heräisi näkemään ihmisen myös siinä toisessa kansakunnassa? Mitä tehdä, jotta kansakunta tajuaisi sen, että tuo toinenkin kansakunta koostuu yksittäisistä ihmisistä, joilla on unelmia, pelkoja, historiansa, ihmisoikeudet?
Kirja saa minulta viisi tähteä yheiskunnallisen merkityksenstä tähden. Kirjallisilta ansioiltaan se on minusta neljän tähden arvoinen.
February 16, 2018
An important and rarely heard perspective
Raised an ardent Zionist in the UK, Susan Nathan made Aliyah and settled in Israel in her early 50’s. But meeting Palestinian citizens of Israel changed her thinking on Aaeverything. Nathan’s perspective and analysis are true and deserve a wide audience. Although ten years have passed since she wrote it, the history is spot on, and the situations she describes are only more dire. My only regret is that her fascinating interviews with Jews and Muslims are not enriched by similar ones with Palestinian Christians. Their story is equally deserving of attention and would make the overall picture more complete.
Raised an ardent Zionist in the UK, Susan Nathan made Aliyah and settled in Israel in her early 50’s. But meeting Palestinian citizens of Israel changed her thinking on Aaeverything. Nathan’s perspective and analysis are true and deserve a wide audience. Although ten years have passed since she wrote it, the history is spot on, and the situations she describes are only more dire. My only regret is that her fascinating interviews with Jews and Muslims are not enriched by similar ones with Palestinian Christians. Their story is equally deserving of attention and would make the overall picture more complete.
September 29, 2025
As someone who barely know anything about the history of the conflict in Israel, this was a good book to start on. I couldn't imagine the feeling of being lost, of not belonging anywhere, not even to your own country. Although I might say, as the reading progresses, I felt like Susan was being a little one sided at times. I find some accounts and stories she mentioned appalling but also unsubstantiated. Needless to say, I would be interested to learn more and read more about the issues in Israel.
May 26, 2017
Really strong piece of work on the facts of Palestinian existence within the Israeli state (I've tried to put that as neutrally as possible..). Nathan also offers some valuable analysis of the psychology of Zionism in Israel. A small gripe that the structure, and in some cases the tone- which could be patronising- of the book could have been improved with some smarter editing.
A really brave book (and even braver life led to be able to write it).
A really brave book (and even braver life led to be able to write it).
March 13, 2020
Juutalaisnainen irtautuu sionismi-ideologiasta, muuttaa Israelissa sijaitsevaan arabikaupunkiin ja kirjoittaa siellä havainnoimastaan arjen apartheidista. Tärkeä kuvaus siitä, miten myös Israelin kansalaisuuden omaavia palestiinalaisia ajetaan ahtaalle. 15 vuotta sitten käytettyjä argumentteja hoetaan valitettavasti tänäkin päivänä.
October 20, 2023
I began reading on October 5. Two days later, Hamas terrorists invaded Israel, killed thousands of Israelis and took hundreds hostage.
I couldn’t read this book after that. It’s sat unopened next to my bed for 12 days. I will return it to the library soon, having read only the first 100 pages or so.
I couldn’t read this book after that. It’s sat unopened next to my bed for 12 days. I will return it to the library soon, having read only the first 100 pages or so.
November 17, 2020
The author sounded like what one would call a “white savior,” or I suppose in this case a “Jewish savior.” It also doesn’t feel like the book has any clear storyline. That being said, do I think of my own Judaism differently? Yes.
February 1, 2025
The book makes my heart ache. I knew about the facts and stories, but hearing them vividly being told by an Israeli Jew is something else. I will share this book to my family and friends. More people from the west need to learn about the truth, about the resilient and fearless Palestinians.
October 22, 2019
Interesting, but lacking in background history or balance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 19, 2014
Well, this was a remarkable book. Before I write about it, let me make a few disclaimers and comments. First, I am not Jewish although the family I married into has a Holocaust history and some connections with Israel, albeit dissipated over the years. Second, I am a Christian, but I am an Episcopalian and not of the fundamentalist persuasion that believes that the Bible requires support of Israel. Third, I do not believe that it is rational or justifiable to claim historical land now as the heirs of a nation that ceased to exist arguably when the Romans conquered Palestine and certainly by 70 C.E. when the Romans destroyed the Second Temple and Jerusalem. Fourth, all we have to work with in this area are the facts on the ground, namely, that Israel exists as an entity with a large Jewish population and that Palestinians also exist within that nation (and outside it). Fifth, I believe that all people, Israelis and Palestinians included, generally have the same goals and aspirations, namely, the best for their families, economic security, and a sense that there are opportunities for equal participation in the wider society.
Having said all that, I must ask the basic question whether this book is truthful or not. The question arises because of the obscurity of the subject matter. That is, the issue of Israeli Arabs has never seen much light of day in the press or elsewhere -- certainly not in my consciousness. To be compared is the great light shed on the Israeli occupation and slow annexation of the so-called West Bank.
Nonetheless, because the West Bank population and the Israeli Arab population have the same roots in the same land and were the indigenous inhabitants of that land, it seems that the populations would share similar attitudes and be subject to similar Israeli attitudes. Additionally, one must give due regard to the self-identification of Israel as a Jewish democracy which, by definition, appears, at least in words, to exclude from the democracy persons who are not Jewish. In sum, then, even though the author, Ms. Nathan, seems at times strident or, better, angry, this layperson and non-scholar cannot see any reason to distrust her narrative and descriptions. I admit that I have read no other books on the topic although I now intend to do so.
I cannot go into all of the details of this book. I can say that it should be read. And I will say that, throughout, I was reminded of the American past in which native Americans were dispossessed and resettled in poor circumstances. I can vaguely grasp a past attitude by which some inhabitants of the American continent were regarded as savage or inhuman or of lesser humanity or of no consequence or even as not existing simply because of the nature of press coverage and propaganda. There seems to have been a similar lapse in the case of the Palestinian native inhabitants, a similar ignorance, a similar one-sidedness.
I am not going to condemn one-sidedness when it is the necessary result of ignorance. And I do not think that eruptions of a sense of grievance on either side should be tolerated forever because anger is like pissing: once it starts, you can't really stop it. All one can do is work with the present, the facts on the ground, and realize that a great amount of reconciliation needs to begin so that the people of this part of the world -- and we -- are not enslaved by the emotions and attitudes of the past. If we are a world with values of justice and equality, this task must start. Despair is always around the corner, but our own humanity requires our human regard for others. The end result will be a better world because I believe that peace-making is what builds up, not injustice or separation. Hitherto, the latter have not done us much good.
I think this book should be read.
Having said all that, I must ask the basic question whether this book is truthful or not. The question arises because of the obscurity of the subject matter. That is, the issue of Israeli Arabs has never seen much light of day in the press or elsewhere -- certainly not in my consciousness. To be compared is the great light shed on the Israeli occupation and slow annexation of the so-called West Bank.
Nonetheless, because the West Bank population and the Israeli Arab population have the same roots in the same land and were the indigenous inhabitants of that land, it seems that the populations would share similar attitudes and be subject to similar Israeli attitudes. Additionally, one must give due regard to the self-identification of Israel as a Jewish democracy which, by definition, appears, at least in words, to exclude from the democracy persons who are not Jewish. In sum, then, even though the author, Ms. Nathan, seems at times strident or, better, angry, this layperson and non-scholar cannot see any reason to distrust her narrative and descriptions. I admit that I have read no other books on the topic although I now intend to do so.
I cannot go into all of the details of this book. I can say that it should be read. And I will say that, throughout, I was reminded of the American past in which native Americans were dispossessed and resettled in poor circumstances. I can vaguely grasp a past attitude by which some inhabitants of the American continent were regarded as savage or inhuman or of lesser humanity or of no consequence or even as not existing simply because of the nature of press coverage and propaganda. There seems to have been a similar lapse in the case of the Palestinian native inhabitants, a similar ignorance, a similar one-sidedness.
I am not going to condemn one-sidedness when it is the necessary result of ignorance. And I do not think that eruptions of a sense of grievance on either side should be tolerated forever because anger is like pissing: once it starts, you can't really stop it. All one can do is work with the present, the facts on the ground, and realize that a great amount of reconciliation needs to begin so that the people of this part of the world -- and we -- are not enslaved by the emotions and attitudes of the past. If we are a world with values of justice and equality, this task must start. Despair is always around the corner, but our own humanity requires our human regard for others. The end result will be a better world because I believe that peace-making is what builds up, not injustice or separation. Hitherto, the latter have not done us much good.
I think this book should be read.
Read
August 19, 2015തലക്കെട്ട് സൂചിപ്പിക്കും പ്രകാരം എങ്ങും അടയാളപ്പെടുത്തപ്പെട്ടിട്ടില്ലാത്ത ഇസ്രയേല് രാജ്യത്തിന്റെ മറുവശങ്ങള് തേടുന്ന പുസ്തകമാണ് സൂസന് നഥാന്റേത്. The Other Side of Israel. വിവര്ത്തകനായ അബ്ദുല്ല മണിമയുടെ കൈകളിലൂടെ പുസ്തകം നമുക്കു കിട്ടുമ്പോള് അത് ആത്മവഞ്ചനകളുടെ പുരാവൃത്തമായിത്തീര്ന്നു. ഇസ്രാഈല് എന്നത് സ്വന്തത്തെ തന്നെ വഞ്ചിച്ചും ഒറ്റിയും ഒരു ജനത നേടിയ അധിനിവേശ ദേശവും അതു കാരണം മറ്റൊരു ജനത ഭയന്നും വേരറുക്കപ്പെട്ടും നഷ്ടപ്പെടുത്തിയ ആവാസ വ്യവസ്ഥയുമാണെന്ന് തീര്ത്തു പറയുന്ന ഈ പുസ്തകം, പതിറ്റാണ്ടുകളായിത്തുടരുന്ന ഇസ്രാഈല് - ഫലസ്തീന് പ്രശ്നത്തെയല്ല, ഇസ്രാഈല് എന്ന വാഗ്ദത്ത വഞ്ചനയെ ആണ് തുറന്നു സമീപിക്കുന്നത്.
വീട്ടിലേക്ക് തിരിച്ചുചെല്ലുന്ന ഒരു ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ ആഹ്ലാദങ്ങളോടെയായിരുന്നോ താങ്കളും ഇസ്രാഈലിലേക്ക് ചെന്നു ചേര്ന്നതെന്ന ഒരു ചോദ്യത്തിനുത്തരമായി സൂസന് നഥാന് പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു: എന്റെ പുസ്തകം ഒന്നു വായിക്കൂ. ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ രണ്ടാം പകുതിയില്, രണ്ട് പെട്ടികളില് നിറക്കാവുന്ന സാധനങ്ങളുമായി ഈ എഴുത്തുകാരിയെ ഇസ്രാഈലിലെത്തിച്ചതും അതേ മോഹമാണ്. ഇസ്രാഈലിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങുന്ന ജൂതന് തന്റെ ജീവിത ദൗത്യം പൂര്ത്തികരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന മോഹം. ഇസ്രാഈലിലെത്തി, ഈ മോഹം എത്ര നിരര്ത്ഥകമെന്നും നീതിരഹിതമെന്നുമുള്ള തിരിച്ചറിവിലാണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം എഴുതപ്പെടുന്നത്. അതു കൊണ്ടിതവര്ക്ക് ഒരു മോഹഭംഗത്തിന്റെ കഥയും ബാക്കി ലോകത്തിന് ഇസ്രാഈല് എന്ന വാഗ്ദത്ത ഭൂമിയുടെ പൊള്ളുന്ന യാഥാര്ത്ഥ്യവുമാണ്. മരുഭൂമിയെ പൂവാടിയാക്കി മാറ്റിയ നാമറിയുന്ന ഇസ്രാഈലല്ല, മനുഷ്യ ജീവിതത്തെ നരകതുല്യമാക്കുന്ന ദുഷ്ടതകളുടെ പകര്ത്തിയെഴുത്തുകളാണിതില് നിറയെ. പ്രത്യക്ഷത്തില് ഫലസ്തീനിലെ മനുഷ്യര്ക്കെതിരെ കുരുതി തുടരുന്ന ഇസ്രാഈലിനെക്കുറിച്ച് ലോകത്തിന് ഒരു മതിപ്പുണ്ട്. അതു വികസനത്തിന്റെയും അഭിവൃദ്ധികളുടെയും പറുദീസയാണെന്ന്. അതങ്ങനെയല്ല എന്ന സാക്ഷ്യപ്പെടുത്തലാണ് ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ വിശേഷം.
ഇസ്രാഈലിന്റെ നിലപാടുകളെ നിരന്തരം വിമര്ശിക്കുകയും മധ്യപൗരസ്ത്യ ദേശത്തെ അതിന്റെ അസ്തിത്വത്തെ നിരാകരിക്കുകയും അതു ശുദ്ധ ഭീകരതക്കു മീതെ പടുക്കപ്പെട്ടു എന്നു വിശദീകരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന അനേകം കൃതികളുണ്ട്. ഇപ്പുസ്തകം പക്ഷേ നമ്മെ ബോധ്യപ്പെടുത്തുന്നത് ദൈവത്താല് തെരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപ്പെട്ടവരായി നടിക്കുന്ന, സയണിസത്തിന്റെ സൃഷ്ടി അതിന്റെ ജനതയെ എങ്ങനെ വഞ്ചിച്ചു എന്നാണ്. സയണിസത്തിനു വേണ്ടിയുള്ള ഗര്ഭപാത്രങ്ങളായി സ്വയം കരുതുന്ന ഇസ്രാഈലി സ്ത്രീകളില് നിന്നൊരാള് സ്വയം തുനിഞ്ഞിറങ്ങിയതിന്റെ സത്യസാക്ഷ്യം കൂടിയാണീ കൃതി. സ്വന്തം വാസസ്ഥലത്തിനു ചുറ്റും സത്യസന്ധമായി നോക്കാന് പഠിക്കുന്നതിനെ കുറിച്ച്, സമൂഹങ്ങളെ നെടുകെ പിളര്ന്നുയരുന്ന മതിലുകളെക്കുറിച്ച്, സത്യത്തിന്റെ മധ്യസ്ഥതയില് സ്വന്തം ചരിത്രത്തെയും ജീവിതത്തെയും പരാധകങ്ങളെയും അഭിമുഖീകരിക്കാന് സ്വയം സന്നദ്ധമാകുന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ചൊക്കെ എഴുതപ്പെട്ട പുസ്തകമാണിത്. സത്യത്തില് നിന്ന് മറഞ്ഞിരിക്കാനും മറച്ചിരുത്താനും ഇസ്രാഈല് പണിയുന്ന മതിലിനേക്കാള് വലിയ മതിലുകള് ആ രാജ്യം മുമ്പേ പണിതുവെച��ചിരുന്നു എന്ന അറിവ് നമ്മെ നടുക്കേണ്ടതാണ്. പടിഞ്ഞാറേ കരയിലെ വഴികാണിക്കുന്ന ഒരു നായയും അവിടത്തെ ഒരറബിയും തമ്മില് ഇല്ലാതായിപ്പോകുന്ന അന്തരം വീണ്ടെടുക്കാനുള്ള ഒരു മാതൃ ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ നിലവിളികൂടി ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ താളുകളില് നിന്നു കേള്ക്കാം.
ഇസ്രയേല് ആത്മവഞ്ചനകളുടെ പുരാവൃത്തം
സൂസന് നഥാന്
മൊഴിമാറ്റം Dr.അബ്ദുല്ല മണിമ
പ്രസാധനം അദര് ബുക്സ്
റയില്വേ ലിങ്ക് റോഡ്, കോഴിക്കോട്
വീട്ടിലേക്ക് തിരിച്ചുചെല്ലുന്ന ഒരു ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ ആഹ്ലാദങ്ങളോടെയായിരുന്നോ താങ്കളും ഇസ്രാഈലിലേക്ക് ചെന്നു ചേര്ന്നതെന്ന ഒരു ചോദ്യത്തിനുത്തരമായി സൂസന് നഥാന് പറഞ്ഞിരുന്നു: എന്റെ പുസ്തകം ഒന്നു വായിക്കൂ. ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ രണ്ടാം പകുതിയില്, രണ്ട് പെട്ടികളില് നിറക്കാവുന്ന സാധനങ്ങളുമായി ഈ എഴുത്തുകാരിയെ ഇസ്രാഈലിലെത്തിച്ചതും അതേ മോഹമാണ്. ഇസ്രാഈലിലേക്ക് മടങ്ങുന്ന ജൂതന് തന്റെ ജീവിത ദൗത്യം പൂര്ത്തികരിക്കുന്നു എന്ന മോഹം. ഇസ്രാഈലിലെത്തി, ഈ മോഹം എത്ര നിരര്ത്ഥകമെന്നും നീതിരഹിതമെന്നുമുള്ള തിരിച്ചറിവിലാണ് ഈ പുസ്തകം എഴുതപ്പെടുന്നത്. അതു കൊണ്ടിതവര്ക്ക് ഒരു മോഹഭംഗത്തിന്റെ കഥയും ബാക്കി ലോകത്തിന് ഇസ്രാഈല് എന്ന വാഗ്ദത്ത ഭൂമിയുടെ പൊള്ളുന്ന യാഥാര്ത്ഥ്യവുമാണ്. മരുഭൂമിയെ പൂവാടിയാക്കി മാറ്റിയ നാമറിയുന്ന ഇസ്രാഈലല്ല, മനുഷ്യ ജീവിതത്തെ നരകതുല്യമാക്കുന്ന ദുഷ്ടതകളുടെ പകര്ത്തിയെഴുത്തുകളാണിതില് നിറയെ. പ്രത്യക്ഷത്തില് ഫലസ്തീനിലെ മനുഷ്യര്ക്കെതിരെ കുരുതി തുടരുന്ന ഇസ്രാഈലിനെക്കുറിച്ച് ലോകത്തിന് ഒരു മതിപ്പുണ്ട്. അതു വികസനത്തിന്റെയും അഭിവൃദ്ധികളുടെയും പറുദീസയാണെന്ന്. അതങ്ങനെയല്ല എന്ന സാക്ഷ്യപ്പെടുത്തലാണ് ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ വിശേഷം.
ഇസ്രാഈലിന്റെ നിലപാടുകളെ നിരന്തരം വിമര്ശിക്കുകയും മധ്യപൗരസ്ത്യ ദേശത്തെ അതിന്റെ അസ്തിത്വത്തെ നിരാകരിക്കുകയും അതു ശുദ്ധ ഭീകരതക്കു മീതെ പടുക്കപ്പെട്ടു എന്നു വിശദീകരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്ന അനേകം കൃതികളുണ്ട്. ഇപ്പുസ്തകം പക്ഷേ നമ്മെ ബോധ്യപ്പെടുത്തുന്നത് ദൈവത്താല് തെരഞ്ഞെടുക്കപ്പെട്ടവരായി നടിക്കുന്ന, സയണിസത്തിന്റെ സൃഷ്ടി അതിന്റെ ജനതയെ എങ്ങനെ വഞ്ചിച്ചു എന്നാണ്. സയണിസത്തിനു വേണ്ടിയുള്ള ഗര്ഭപാത്രങ്ങളായി സ്വയം കരുതുന്ന ഇസ്രാഈലി സ്ത്രീകളില് നിന്നൊരാള് സ്വയം തുനിഞ്ഞിറങ്ങിയതിന്റെ സത്യസാക്ഷ്യം കൂടിയാണീ കൃതി. സ്വന്തം വാസസ്ഥലത്തിനു ചുറ്റും സത്യസന്ധമായി നോക്കാന് പഠിക്കുന്നതിനെ കുറിച്ച്, സമൂഹങ്ങളെ നെടുകെ പിളര്ന്നുയരുന്ന മതിലുകളെക്കുറിച്ച്, സത്യത്തിന്റെ മധ്യസ്ഥതയില് സ്വന്തം ചരിത്രത്തെയും ജീവിതത്തെയും പരാധകങ്ങളെയും അഭിമുഖീകരിക്കാന് സ്വയം സന്നദ്ധമാകുന്നതിനെക്കുറിച്ചൊക്കെ എഴുതപ്പെട്ട പുസ്തകമാണിത്. സത്യത്തില് നിന്ന് മറഞ്ഞിരിക്കാനും മറച്ചിരുത്താനും ഇസ്രാഈല് പണിയുന്ന മതിലിനേക്കാള് വലിയ മതിലുകള് ആ രാജ്യം മുമ്പേ പണിതുവെച��ചിരുന്നു എന്ന അറിവ് നമ്മെ നടുക്കേണ്ടതാണ്. പടിഞ്ഞാറേ കരയിലെ വഴികാണിക്കുന്ന ഒരു നായയും അവിടത്തെ ഒരറബിയും തമ്മില് ഇല്ലാതായിപ്പോകുന്ന അന്തരം വീണ്ടെടുക്കാനുള്ള ഒരു മാതൃ ഹൃദയത്തിന്റെ നിലവിളികൂടി ഈ പുസ്തകത്തിന്റെ താളുകളില് നിന്നു കേള്ക്കാം.
ഇസ്രയേല് ആത്മവഞ്ചനകളുടെ പുരാവൃത്തം
സൂസന് നഥാന്
മൊഴിമാറ്റം Dr.അബ്ദുല്ല മണിമ
പ്രസാധനം അദര് ബുക്സ്
റയില്വേ ലിങ്ക് റോഡ്, കോഴിക്കോട്
January 25, 2009
I picked up this book as it looked like it would be very interesting to read. Insider-stories such as this one usually give an account of life-on-the-ground that is not always portrayed in the mainstream media, and I was interested in this new viewpoint.
My fascination with the Middle-East has a lot to do with its religious history, and a lot to do with its people. This means *all* people, which is why this book appealed to me.
The writer, Susan Nathan is a Jew and a former ardent Zionist who moved to Israel in 1999.
She writes (p.39), "The object of my desire was to make aliya, the Hebrew word for 'ascent', an idea that in returning to Israel a Jew is fulfilling a divinely ordained mission."
She then realised that there was a large non-Jewish population living inside Israel - mostly Palestinian Arabs who had lost their homes and lands yet gained citizenship as Israel became a nation in 1948.
Reading this book highlighted a lot of issues that I was vaguely aware of, but did not know much about. I feel that after reading, I have a better understanding of the lives of the Israeli Arabs and some of the challenges they face.
I didn't agree with everything Nathan said in this book, but did find that it gave me a lot of food for thought. All in all I found this a very interesting book, and definitely one I'd recommend to others interested in the other side of Israel.
My fascination with the Middle-East has a lot to do with its religious history, and a lot to do with its people. This means *all* people, which is why this book appealed to me.
The writer, Susan Nathan is a Jew and a former ardent Zionist who moved to Israel in 1999.
She writes (p.39), "The object of my desire was to make aliya, the Hebrew word for 'ascent', an idea that in returning to Israel a Jew is fulfilling a divinely ordained mission."
She then realised that there was a large non-Jewish population living inside Israel - mostly Palestinian Arabs who had lost their homes and lands yet gained citizenship as Israel became a nation in 1948.
Reading this book highlighted a lot of issues that I was vaguely aware of, but did not know much about. I feel that after reading, I have a better understanding of the lives of the Israeli Arabs and some of the challenges they face.
I didn't agree with everything Nathan said in this book, but did find that it gave me a lot of food for thought. All in all I found this a very interesting book, and definitely one I'd recommend to others interested in the other side of Israel.
March 20, 2008
Jewish author Susan Nathan, a born-and-bred Zionist, moved from London to Tel Aviv in her 50s when she took up the Law of Return – a policy enabling Jews from around the world to relocate to, and make Israel their home. Soon after arriving, she discovered things were not the way she thought (or was taught) they’d be – there was more to Israel’s wealth and power than meets the eye. Her subsequent decision to abandon the comforts of Tel Aviv to live with her new family in Tamra, an Arab town within Israel, allowed her to experience first-hand the reality of living life as an Arab in Israel and paved the way to the writing of this book.
The Other is an account of Nathan’s experiences, meetings and interviews with both Jews and Arabs. She asks her own people disturbing questions, challenges Jewish mindsets and breaks what is easily the ultimate taboo for a Jew by supporting the right of return for Palestinians. Her belief is that political ideologies should always come second to common humanity.
Nathan’s book excels in the insight it provides on the politics of life in Israel and the occupied territories; for many of us, it is also a window into the Jewish mindset. A good read if you are interested in events in that part of the world; a must-read if you ever have to travel to Israel.
The Other is an account of Nathan’s experiences, meetings and interviews with both Jews and Arabs. She asks her own people disturbing questions, challenges Jewish mindsets and breaks what is easily the ultimate taboo for a Jew by supporting the right of return for Palestinians. Her belief is that political ideologies should always come second to common humanity.
Nathan’s book excels in the insight it provides on the politics of life in Israel and the occupied territories; for many of us, it is also a window into the Jewish mindset. A good read if you are interested in events in that part of the world; a must-read if you ever have to travel to Israel.
June 29, 2017
THis one started off slow, but ultimately was engrossing. I have been seeking to understand that Arab/Israeli conflict, and she provides an excellent summary of the history and context that guides life there. Ultimately it's a really sad story...heartbreaking that one group who has suffered so much will turn around and inflict oppressive laws on another group. Not to be flip, but it reminds me of the theme of Orwell's Animal Farm.
I've read reviews where people accuse Susan Nathan of leaving out stories of Arab suicide bombers and the havoc and destruction that they cause in Israel. I, for one, didn't think it was necessary for her to cover that. Those reports are widely known, but the information she wrote about, the life for average Arabs living in Israel, the way their history has just been erased and rewritten, their rights trampled. That's the untold story that needed to be shared here.
I've read reviews where people accuse Susan Nathan of leaving out stories of Arab suicide bombers and the havoc and destruction that they cause in Israel. I, for one, didn't think it was necessary for her to cover that. Those reports are widely known, but the information she wrote about, the life for average Arabs living in Israel, the way their history has just been erased and rewritten, their rights trampled. That's the untold story that needed to be shared here.
February 22, 2010
This book is a must read!
While the author's writing is at times difficult to digest, there are a lot of facts presented that are very important in beginning to understand Israel's history and politics.
It can also be annoying to read how accusatory the author can be. You must read the book with an open mind, as she generally says things in a way that are not empathetic (and she demonstrates how time and time again people respond to her with defense).
That said, she really breaks down things in a way that is easy to understand through real-life experience with issues. The reality is that, as she says, the truth is not easy to accept.
this book is really really powerful and it has definitely made me think, and makes me want to learn more about Israel.
READ READ READ this book!
While the author's writing is at times difficult to digest, there are a lot of facts presented that are very important in beginning to understand Israel's history and politics.
It can also be annoying to read how accusatory the author can be. You must read the book with an open mind, as she generally says things in a way that are not empathetic (and she demonstrates how time and time again people respond to her with defense).
That said, she really breaks down things in a way that is easy to understand through real-life experience with issues. The reality is that, as she says, the truth is not easy to accept.
this book is really really powerful and it has definitely made me think, and makes me want to learn more about Israel.
READ READ READ this book!
May 19, 2016
One of my first purchases in US ....Ordered on Amazon. I had always wanted to read on Israel-Palestine conflict , but the huge academic nature of books kept me away.
This was definitely different.
The author - a Jew raised In UK -- goes to Israel to 'settle down' and is shocked and disappointed at the way Israel functions and discriminates against non-Jews.
The author's first hand experience does help and I am definitely a fan of easy reading.
I personally never understood and appreciated the idea of a state for a religion ....and this book does reinforce my belief.
A MUST read .
There are many new books and publications on the same topic , and I intend catch up on them !!
Not sure if US and other countries will take a stand -- But Obama did propose a return to 1968 (?) - pre-occupation borders recently.
This was definitely different.
The author - a Jew raised In UK -- goes to Israel to 'settle down' and is shocked and disappointed at the way Israel functions and discriminates against non-Jews.
The author's first hand experience does help and I am definitely a fan of easy reading.
I personally never understood and appreciated the idea of a state for a religion ....and this book does reinforce my belief.
A MUST read .
There are many new books and publications on the same topic , and I intend catch up on them !!
Not sure if US and other countries will take a stand -- But Obama did propose a return to 1968 (?) - pre-occupation borders recently.
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