What do you think?
Rate this book
Inside the Middle East: Making Sense of the Most Dangerous and Complicated Region on Earth
Acclaimed Israeli intelligence analyst Avi Melamed has spent more than thirty years interpreting Middle East affairs. His long-awaited Inside the Middle East challenges widely-accepted perceptions and provides a gripping and uniquely enlightening guide to make sense of the events unfolding in the region—to answer how the Arab world got to this point, what is currently happening, what the ramifications will be, how they will affect Israel, and what actions must immediately be undertaken, including how Western leaders need to respond.
Melamed considers all the major power players in the Middle East, explains the underlying issues, and creates a three-dimensional picture, an illustration that connects the dots and provides a fascinating roadmap. He elucidates developments such as the Arab Spring, the downfall of the Muslim Brotherhood, the rise of ISIS, the epic Sunni-Shiite animosity, the essence of the war in Syria, the role of the Caliphate and Jihad, and the looming nuclear arms race. He also provides a rare opportunity to journey into the psyche of Arab society. Look through the lens of its leaders and its most ruthless terrorists. See what makes them tick and what they want. Discover how they can be overtaken.
This unparalleled volume is a milestone in our understanding of the Middle East. It is the untold story of the struggles that will shape the region, and the world, for decades to come, and a groundbreaking guide that will shake you to the core, force you to reevalute your outlook, and give you tips to navigate the future.
From author Avi
The conflicts in the Middle East grow more confusing and dangerous every day.
In my encounters with thousands of people from across the world - from global leaders to high school students - I know there is deep and intense thirst for knowledge because today understanding the Middle East is not optional – it’s mandatory.
My new book, Inside the Middle Making Sense of the Most Dangerous and Complicated Region on Earth is based on my decades of advisory, counterterrorism, education, and intelligence – positions - as well as my intimate connections throughout the Arab world .
The book also provides the building blocks and database to understand the contemporary Middle East, offers a unique insight into the Arab world, and is “ a GPS to help you navigate the dramatically changing Middle East .”
In the book, I also offer an out of the box idea that could lead to a positive breakthrough in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict .
Melamed considers all the major power players in the Middle East, explains the underlying issues, and creates a three-dimensional picture, an illustration that connects the dots and provides a fascinating roadmap. He elucidates developments such as the Arab Spring, the downfall of the Muslim Brotherhood, the rise of ISIS, the epic Sunni-Shiite animosity, the essence of the war in Syria, the role of the Caliphate and Jihad, and the looming nuclear arms race. He also provides a rare opportunity to journey into the psyche of Arab society. Look through the lens of its leaders and its most ruthless terrorists. See what makes them tick and what they want. Discover how they can be overtaken.
This unparalleled volume is a milestone in our understanding of the Middle East. It is the untold story of the struggles that will shape the region, and the world, for decades to come, and a groundbreaking guide that will shake you to the core, force you to reevalute your outlook, and give you tips to navigate the future.
From author Avi
The conflicts in the Middle East grow more confusing and dangerous every day.
In my encounters with thousands of people from across the world - from global leaders to high school students - I know there is deep and intense thirst for knowledge because today understanding the Middle East is not optional – it’s mandatory.
My new book, Inside the Middle Making Sense of the Most Dangerous and Complicated Region on Earth is based on my decades of advisory, counterterrorism, education, and intelligence – positions - as well as my intimate connections throughout the Arab world .
The book also provides the building blocks and database to understand the contemporary Middle East, offers a unique insight into the Arab world, and is “ a GPS to help you navigate the dramatically changing Middle East .”
In the book, I also offer an out of the box idea that could lead to a positive breakthrough in the Israeli- Palestinian conflict .
392 pages, Hardcover
First published October 6, 2015
363 people are currently reading
881 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
March 29, 2017
Avi Melamed provides a critical look at the Arab world in his book "Inside the Middle East", as told by an Israeli intellectual. I imagine it would be difficult for any Israeli Zionist to be 100% impartial when examining the Arab world, and vice versa. Accordingly, as impartial as the author may hope to be, I can't imagine many in the Arab world will find this book much to their liking.
Avi Melamed provides a review of most of the Muslim majority nations in the Middle East, pointing out their many problems. I found some of these sections somewhat repetitive, since some of the regional issues can be considered applicable to several Countries in the Middle East, and as a result, some of the same topics are covered more than once. One of the more significant problems which the author finds to be common in the Arab countries is related to poor educational systems. He also points out that unemployment numbers in many of those countries are staggering, and as a result, any little crisis can cause profound impacts on the people in the region. He points out that, by most measures, be it housing, employment, education, freedom, personal safety, solutions to problems, civil rights, development, literacy, poverty, scientific research, public services, etc., the Arab world is suffering. He notes that according to Freedom House, which measures political freedom and human rights, the countries in the Middle East and North Africa are among the worst in the world. Egypt & Turkey on on that list as low ranking Countries, as are other Muslim majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Somalia, Uzbekistan, and of course Syria, the worst of the worst.
Melamed downplays the theory that environmental, climate, and other issues contributed to unrest in Syria and to the Arab Spring. He also dismisses the claims of some who may attribute the rise of ISIS in Syria & Iraq as being due to a lack of democracy in the Middle East and North African arab countries, or that ISIS was able to take hold and spread as a result of the policies of the U.S. and / or Israel. Rather, he implies that many of these problems are due in part to a culture of hatred, and a dismissal of others, implanted in Islam from its very beginnings.
He does allow that Israeli policies may not have been perfect, but generally does not identify specific policies by the Israeli government as contributors to the Israeli - Palestinian issues. Restrictions imposed on Gaza, expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, impacts on Palestinians caused by the security wall and border crossing points, are not given significant discussion. Rather, Melamed indicates that the lives of all in the Arab regions may be improved in the future with improvements in freedom, education, and critical thinking in all the countries in the Middle East.
In the discussion of the problems in the region, I kept thinking of the old Hatfield and McCoy's feud from American folklore in the late 20th century, when both sides seemed only to remember the most recent insult or injury suffered by their family, and were unable to recognize the prior injury their family caused to the other. And thus, the feud continued, generation after generation. Clearly, each side will continue to criticize and find faults with the other, but it's also helpful if each side looks internally to identify how their policies impact peace and prosperity for all.
Avi Melamed provides a review of most of the Muslim majority nations in the Middle East, pointing out their many problems. I found some of these sections somewhat repetitive, since some of the regional issues can be considered applicable to several Countries in the Middle East, and as a result, some of the same topics are covered more than once. One of the more significant problems which the author finds to be common in the Arab countries is related to poor educational systems. He also points out that unemployment numbers in many of those countries are staggering, and as a result, any little crisis can cause profound impacts on the people in the region. He points out that, by most measures, be it housing, employment, education, freedom, personal safety, solutions to problems, civil rights, development, literacy, poverty, scientific research, public services, etc., the Arab world is suffering. He notes that according to Freedom House, which measures political freedom and human rights, the countries in the Middle East and North Africa are among the worst in the world. Egypt & Turkey on on that list as low ranking Countries, as are other Muslim majority countries such as Saudi Arabia, Syria, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Somalia, Uzbekistan, and of course Syria, the worst of the worst.
Melamed downplays the theory that environmental, climate, and other issues contributed to unrest in Syria and to the Arab Spring. He also dismisses the claims of some who may attribute the rise of ISIS in Syria & Iraq as being due to a lack of democracy in the Middle East and North African arab countries, or that ISIS was able to take hold and spread as a result of the policies of the U.S. and / or Israel. Rather, he implies that many of these problems are due in part to a culture of hatred, and a dismissal of others, implanted in Islam from its very beginnings.
He does allow that Israeli policies may not have been perfect, but generally does not identify specific policies by the Israeli government as contributors to the Israeli - Palestinian issues. Restrictions imposed on Gaza, expansion of settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, impacts on Palestinians caused by the security wall and border crossing points, are not given significant discussion. Rather, Melamed indicates that the lives of all in the Arab regions may be improved in the future with improvements in freedom, education, and critical thinking in all the countries in the Middle East.
In the discussion of the problems in the region, I kept thinking of the old Hatfield and McCoy's feud from American folklore in the late 20th century, when both sides seemed only to remember the most recent insult or injury suffered by their family, and were unable to recognize the prior injury their family caused to the other. And thus, the feud continued, generation after generation. Clearly, each side will continue to criticize and find faults with the other, but it's also helpful if each side looks internally to identify how their policies impact peace and prosperity for all.
June 29, 2018
3 stars, because it doesn't seem fully objective.
January 10, 2020
This was written by a self-identified Israeli Jewish zionist. It showed. Likewise, it was written by a self-identified "objective" and "critical" author. However, while it certainly was not objective, it was in fact critical ... of every Arabic country except Israel. Melamed actually describes people who are critical of Israel as 'understandably upset' and 'emotionally impacted' but also claims that they simply have become 'overwhelmed by narratives' pushed by Hamas. Apparently, we simply do not understand that Israel is only exercising their right to self-defence. Meanwhile, Melamed does not once mention, for example, that Israel sprays Palestinian crops so they cannot export. Or that they cut off access to clean water in the Gaza strip, causing, often fatal, health issues. Or simply that they have, at several occasions, shot into masses of protestors who constituted no real threat. Or that Israel's occupasionist strategies are understood by a majority of legal scholars as a violation of international law. In fact, Melamed does not mention one. single. thing. that Israel has done which could, at the very least, be considered immoral. I believe that it would, ironically, have given him more credibility, had he actually mentioned some things so that he didn't sound like a lawyer claiming self-defence for a mass shooter. Because I don't accept his narrative uncritically, he considers me a "fanatical western knight resolutely protecting the 'weak' Palestinian from the 'Israeli dragon'" and compares me to a communist.
Also, Melamed needs to understand that you can support the Palestinian people and be critical of Hamas. It is not impossible. Likewise, you can support Israel's right to exist and not support the current government's actions.
Either Melamed is in denial, or he is actively writing propaganda to find support among Western readers.
Alternate title suggestion: Why Israel is superior to the rest of the Arabic world
Also, Melamed needs to understand that you can support the Palestinian people and be critical of Hamas. It is not impossible. Likewise, you can support Israel's right to exist and not support the current government's actions.
Either Melamed is in denial, or he is actively writing propaganda to find support among Western readers.
Alternate title suggestion: Why Israel is superior to the rest of the Arabic world
June 5, 2020
I enjoyed this one. Inside the Middle East is written in a no-frills, matter-of-fact format.
Author Avi Measef is a self-professed Zionist Jew from Israel, so that's bound to trigger many people right out of the gate (and it did, just take a look at some of these reviews lol).
Melamed is (according to his Wikipedia page): "...a former senior official on Arab affairs and an Israeli intelligence official. He is an expert on current affairs in the Muslim and Arab society and their effect on the Middle East and Israel. "
Author Avi Melamed:
Melamed makes a few references during the book to his attempts to create an impartial telling and account of the region, and I think he largely succeeded in this. That is - untill the later portion of the book, where he interjects his personal opinion on the situation, and offers some possible "solutions".
This book covers most the bases, and gives the reader both a broad-based overview and a regional context. It covers most of the MENA countries and focuses a lot on the "Arab Spring" uprising of 2010, and its aftershocks.
Melamed also talks at great length about the various Islamic factions jockeying for power; both regionally, and globally. Good stuff.
The writing is decent here, and the book makes an excellent reference guide.
I would definitely recommend this one to anyone interested in a big-picture account of contemporary Middle Eastern politics.
4 stars
Author Avi Measef is a self-professed Zionist Jew from Israel, so that's bound to trigger many people right out of the gate (and it did, just take a look at some of these reviews lol).
Melamed is (according to his Wikipedia page): "...a former senior official on Arab affairs and an Israeli intelligence official. He is an expert on current affairs in the Muslim and Arab society and their effect on the Middle East and Israel. "
Author Avi Melamed:
Melamed makes a few references during the book to his attempts to create an impartial telling and account of the region, and I think he largely succeeded in this. That is - untill the later portion of the book, where he interjects his personal opinion on the situation, and offers some possible "solutions".
This book covers most the bases, and gives the reader both a broad-based overview and a regional context. It covers most of the MENA countries and focuses a lot on the "Arab Spring" uprising of 2010, and its aftershocks.
Melamed also talks at great length about the various Islamic factions jockeying for power; both regionally, and globally. Good stuff.
The writing is decent here, and the book makes an excellent reference guide.
I would definitely recommend this one to anyone interested in a big-picture account of contemporary Middle Eastern politics.
4 stars
September 7, 2017
I thoroughly enjoyed the first 230pages of this book. The author gave well researched responses, tons of valuable information, and really made this book feel like a primer for someone new to studying the Middle East.
Then the Israel chapter begun. The author turned a well researched piece of work, into a bias, Zionist, propaganda piece. The author spent pages giving his opinion with a very pretentious tone, essentially saying all western journalist, researchers, and college students are just misinformed and that Israel had not committed the war crimes it is accused of. Even if that is true, attempting to silence the discourse does more to harm Israel than helps. All the author had to do was provide real and well backed data on what Israel has done to improve the lives of average Palestinians. Instead the author blamed Hamas and Palestine for almost every conflict that has happened. The author also seems to have a real issue with college groups like Justice for Palestine, which I really didn't get.
If you want a well written general overview of the Middle East, read up to page 230. The last 46 pages are bias rants that hurt the overall quality of the book.
Then the Israel chapter begun. The author turned a well researched piece of work, into a bias, Zionist, propaganda piece. The author spent pages giving his opinion with a very pretentious tone, essentially saying all western journalist, researchers, and college students are just misinformed and that Israel had not committed the war crimes it is accused of. Even if that is true, attempting to silence the discourse does more to harm Israel than helps. All the author had to do was provide real and well backed data on what Israel has done to improve the lives of average Palestinians. Instead the author blamed Hamas and Palestine for almost every conflict that has happened. The author also seems to have a real issue with college groups like Justice for Palestine, which I really didn't get.
If you want a well written general overview of the Middle East, read up to page 230. The last 46 pages are bias rants that hurt the overall quality of the book.
September 2, 2018
The book was published in 2016 and hence presents a recent picture. It is more about analysis than historical events. It is neatly divided into major themes - Islamism and Salafism, Jihadism, Role of the West, Syria, Iran, Arab Spring, Israel, Internet etc
The author is an Israeli Jew and a Zionist and he says so at the very outset. However, this book is not a polemic, far from it - it tries to understand and explain the motivations of each of the stakeholders in the Middle East. A good read both for those seeking an introduction and those who have read a bit on it.
The author is an Israeli Jew and a Zionist and he says so at the very outset. However, this book is not a polemic, far from it - it tries to understand and explain the motivations of each of the stakeholders in the Middle East. A good read both for those seeking an introduction and those who have read a bit on it.
January 5, 2019
Melamed provides an excellent summary and chronology of the Middle East. The glossary alone distinguishing between the different tribes, creeds, actors and followers is worth the price of the book. The Mideast is a complicated maze of warring factions where yesterday's enemies become today's allies. Melamed discloses his orientation and bias (pro-Israeli) at the outset but remains fairly objective and focused in tracing the history and evolution of the Mideast conflict.
The mildest criticism is for something that is unavoidable and embedded in the mayhem of the Mideast. Only a couple of years old, this book is slightly outdated. There is no mention of Mohamed bin Sultan or Jamal Khashoggi; however, as a general introduction, overview and resource on the Mideast, I have yet to find a better book.
The mildest criticism is for something that is unavoidable and embedded in the mayhem of the Mideast. Only a couple of years old, this book is slightly outdated. There is no mention of Mohamed bin Sultan or Jamal Khashoggi; however, as a general introduction, overview and resource on the Mideast, I have yet to find a better book.
April 7, 2017
The book makes a well researched impression. I don't think the author is as objective as he thinks he is. Eventually only a 2 star review from me, because it read more like a political science text book. I read a lot of non-fiction, but this was too dry for me.
August 12, 2018
The thesis of the book is basically: Arabs/Muslims are animals and this justifies all Israel's crimes.
I wanted to read this book to get a feeling of how normal Israelis understand their neighbors, however this book merely aims to justify the unjust status quo.
I wanted to read this book to get a feeling of how normal Israelis understand their neighbors, however this book merely aims to justify the unjust status quo.
October 28, 2025
Avi is clearly clouded by his own bias, rather bizarrely so for someone who writes so clearly about the middle east generally. For example he cites American Gov to proclaim Israel to be acting in a humanitarian manner, interesting lol.
The text itself is very informative and I have learned much about the internal politic of Middle Eastern nations. He makes a particularly important point about the lack of Arabic comprehension in western journalism and how it affects accurate reporting.
The text itself is very informative and I have learned much about the internal politic of Middle Eastern nations. He makes a particularly important point about the lack of Arabic comprehension in western journalism and how it affects accurate reporting.
January 20, 2018
If one is not totally literate on Middle East affairs, Melamed opens the reader's mind to many unknown facts affecting this ancient region, and then draws conclusions to highlight how tensions in the region have been simmering for centuries. I read about things I was not completely sure about and was informed of events that have closed many loops of knowledge for me. One such facet is the war in Syria. I knew the civil war was complex, but I just didn't know how complex until I read of all the vested interests, such as Iran's mullah regime piling huge funds propping up the Assad regime. Then there is Russia, the US, Saudi Arabia, Turkey - all vying for political pole position based upon religious and ethnic biases at the expense of many affected by the war. I'm so glad I read this book, and ironically it ended right at the point where we are now - awaiting the end of the wars in both Syria and Yemen. So, another book need to be written soon to further explain this ongoing saga which never seems to end. I highly recommend it.
April 12, 2019
A treasure of insights from life experience & honest analysis
Highly recommended , Americans, like it or not, are plonked right into a region of endemic deeply rooted conflict. our hubris filled political leaders, without our consent, assume we should & could impose our worldview upon other peoples. Then continue to bumble about. Let’s educate ourselves, and do what is necessary, for after 18 years, it is our political elite surely will not.
Highly recommended , Americans, like it or not, are plonked right into a region of endemic deeply rooted conflict. our hubris filled political leaders, without our consent, assume we should & could impose our worldview upon other peoples. Then continue to bumble about. Let’s educate ourselves, and do what is necessary, for after 18 years, it is our political elite surely will not.
July 9, 2018
This is a very difficult book to explain. Melamed is an Israeli writing about Arab problems in the Middle East. Though this presents a possibility of making a very questionable result, I found the book to basically fair. It is not information that is totally new to me but seeing the mosaic it creates provided me with a lot to think about and examine. The conflicting forces in the Middle East include the strife between Sunnis and Shiites, between Persians and Arabs, Iran’s push to be the Middle East’s super power, differing governments (monarchies, republics, theologies), the fundamentalists who want to gradually build a global caliphate and those who want to create extreme violence to get it done now, external goals of the West and the United States vs goals of Russia. Many of these different goals are represented by strong, active advocate organizations such as Hezbollah, Hamas, Islamic Brotherhood, etc. In this conflagration, there are numerous examples where two groups are allies in one location and bitter enemies in another. With all this chaos, the simple revolution in Syria that began in 2011 opened many doors. As a revolution, it would have ended in less than a year and the old government would have been tossed out. However, it quickly turned into a proxy battleground for so many of these concerns that a resolution in Syria appears to be impossible, short of peace agreements throughout the Middle East.
In the existing mess, the battle between Israel and the Palestinians is far from the center of Middle Eastern problems as many “experts” contend. Melamed gives a detailed account of the recent events in Gaza and how Hamas has initiated attacks on Israel in “wag-the-dog” adventures to take political pressure from them for domestic failures they caused and to attract foreign money to bail them out.
This book provided about as clear a picture as one can get of the extremely complicated and nuanced situation throughout the Middle East and to some extent, globally, as these problems spread outside the Middle East.
Started 2018.06.17 - finished 2018.07.02
In the existing mess, the battle between Israel and the Palestinians is far from the center of Middle Eastern problems as many “experts” contend. Melamed gives a detailed account of the recent events in Gaza and how Hamas has initiated attacks on Israel in “wag-the-dog” adventures to take political pressure from them for domestic failures they caused and to attract foreign money to bail them out.
This book provided about as clear a picture as one can get of the extremely complicated and nuanced situation throughout the Middle East and to some extent, globally, as these problems spread outside the Middle East.
Started 2018.06.17 - finished 2018.07.02
April 21, 2017
Very dense at times with many figures and names of groups I've never heard of before. Repeats much of the information over and over. That being said, the book offers a deep insight into the current situation in the Middle East. Worth the effort.
September 17, 2017
This is an important and useful book for anyone who is interested in the tensions and wars in the Middle East. Written by a former Israeli intelligence officer it provides insights into the current struggle within Islam.
He sees the war going on in Syria as a fight to the death between Shiites and Sunnis. Iran (supported by Russia), a predominately Shiite nation is striving to develop a Shiite arc all the way to the Mediterranean. This involves linking through Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. Against this movement are Sunni Muslims, principally Saudi Arabia. Viewed in this way, the Syrian situation (and the consequences, such as mass killings, and migration and its secondary effects in Europe) is one that will not be resolved soon.
There are many more insights to be had from the book, but I found it frustrating that there was so much repetition and no overall framework. It would be much better if it had had a lot more editing.
He sees the war going on in Syria as a fight to the death between Shiites and Sunnis. Iran (supported by Russia), a predominately Shiite nation is striving to develop a Shiite arc all the way to the Mediterranean. This involves linking through Syria, Lebanon and Palestine. Against this movement are Sunni Muslims, principally Saudi Arabia. Viewed in this way, the Syrian situation (and the consequences, such as mass killings, and migration and its secondary effects in Europe) is one that will not be resolved soon.
There are many more insights to be had from the book, but I found it frustrating that there was so much repetition and no overall framework. It would be much better if it had had a lot more editing.
December 6, 2023
On one hand I learned a lot of new history in the region, on the other the author says only one chapter will be opinion - but it felt like most chapters were biased. The opinion chapter was the most heartfelt and advisory.
“The reality they present at best reflects a small part of the picture yet it creates a looping echo chamber that percolates into public discourse. The concepts they communicate become the facts. The narratives they convey become the reality, and the theories they create become the truth.”
“The overwhelming majority of victims of militant Islamic terrorism are Muslims.”
“Money that is now becoming a double edged sword. At the core of their policies in the Arab gulf states is the perception that in exchange for obedience to the ruler and minimal political involvement citizens are entitled to that ruler’s care for their welfare, particularly their economic wellbeing. The moment the ruler cannot take core of the economic needs of the citizens this historical covenant will become invalid and an opening will be created for citizens to demand their rights by force.”
Egypt made a buffer zone with Gaza - removing tunnels and replacing with a swamp.
“Western mediators of knowledge are also guided by a western mindset and western codes of thinking. They’ve been shaped by concepts regarding the Middle East that have been suffocated with western terms like colonialism, democracy, freedom, human rights, freedom fighters, and pluralism, combined with a healthy dose of political correctness and relativism. These concepts, though resonating well with the like-minded hearts and heads of the western audience, often do not dialogue with the Middle East reality.”
“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of many conflicts in the region whose outcome, in terms of fatalities, human suffering, and destruction as tragic as they are, are very small in comparison to the results of other conflicts in the Middle East. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict contributes to the instability in the Middle East but solving it will not stabilize the region. The forces and undercurrents causing instability are far bigger and deeper and most have nothing to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not end the war in Syria, thwart the chaos in Iraq, Libya, and Yemen, calm the turbulence in Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon, make militant Islamic groups disappear, end the Iran-Arab power struggle or address the underlying issues challenging Arab societies. The centrality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the public discourse and political arena in the west may appear in western circles to be a reflection of the centrality of the conflict in the Arab discourse and media, but a review of the Arab media platforms, aside from Palestinian ones, shows that on a daily basis the Israeli-Palestinian conflict does not capture the headlines of Arab media.”
“Practical conversations about events likely to happen are a better use of westerners' time than ones that consider unlikely steps like Israel agreeing to [evacuate neighborhoods].”
Middle East is more used to fighting together then against then together again. Iran-Iraq war >> Iran sending soldiers to help Iraq against ISIS.
“As Tunisia struggles with its violent transition they have fallen prey to violent networks offering not only economic opportunity and social inclusion but also a confident worldview.”
“It was then that the wheels of my understanding really began to turn. A lot of young people from the west have an international, multi-cultural value system. They are environmentally aware and are drawn to social activism. Their worldview is a universe that is an integrated human ecological system, a world in which romantic idealism in the form of missions to protect animals, save the environment, help the underprivileged, and volunteer for organizations engaged in humanitarian assistance make an important personal statement and provide a mission that offers self-fulfillment. Their world is one of relativism in which it isn't always clear who is right and who is wrong because there are many sides and narratives to every issue and these are steeped in cultural, economic, historical, political, normative, and social backgrounds. And the goal is to accept and understand the other. These young people have learned to agree to disagree respectfully. Yet curiously in this world of colors, there is one place where the rainbow becomes black and white, where their world becomes a dual narrative, a two-colored world… Western culture is suffocated with the concept of the night who saves the day… but the knight cannot only function in the rainbow of relativism, multiculturalism, and a sea of narratives. A knight from the essence of his being also needs the ideal of a world of black and white, good and evil.”
“The Oslo accords… were guided by the concept that the two-state solution was the preferable and achievable solution to the conflict. At the time of the signings it seemed as though the conflict could be solved through negotiations, compromises, and concessions. But a generation later the reality is gloomy. The expectations and hopes crashed violently and both sides are rightfully blaming each other for the bleak reality. Both sides have failed to fulfill their commitments.”
“The Palestinians are going through a process similar to the one the Israelis have been going through over the last generation. It is a process of understanding that the use of military might to obtain political visions and objectives has limited effectiveness.”
“Their first goal should be to pursue an interim agreement consisting of tangible and measurable confidence building measures.”
“The reality they present at best reflects a small part of the picture yet it creates a looping echo chamber that percolates into public discourse. The concepts they communicate become the facts. The narratives they convey become the reality, and the theories they create become the truth.”
“The overwhelming majority of victims of militant Islamic terrorism are Muslims.”
“Money that is now becoming a double edged sword. At the core of their policies in the Arab gulf states is the perception that in exchange for obedience to the ruler and minimal political involvement citizens are entitled to that ruler’s care for their welfare, particularly their economic wellbeing. The moment the ruler cannot take core of the economic needs of the citizens this historical covenant will become invalid and an opening will be created for citizens to demand their rights by force.”
Egypt made a buffer zone with Gaza - removing tunnels and replacing with a swamp.
“Western mediators of knowledge are also guided by a western mindset and western codes of thinking. They’ve been shaped by concepts regarding the Middle East that have been suffocated with western terms like colonialism, democracy, freedom, human rights, freedom fighters, and pluralism, combined with a healthy dose of political correctness and relativism. These concepts, though resonating well with the like-minded hearts and heads of the western audience, often do not dialogue with the Middle East reality.”
“The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of many conflicts in the region whose outcome, in terms of fatalities, human suffering, and destruction as tragic as they are, are very small in comparison to the results of other conflicts in the Middle East. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict contributes to the instability in the Middle East but solving it will not stabilize the region. The forces and undercurrents causing instability are far bigger and deeper and most have nothing to do with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will not end the war in Syria, thwart the chaos in Iraq, Libya, and Yemen, calm the turbulence in Egypt, Jordan, or Lebanon, make militant Islamic groups disappear, end the Iran-Arab power struggle or address the underlying issues challenging Arab societies. The centrality of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the public discourse and political arena in the west may appear in western circles to be a reflection of the centrality of the conflict in the Arab discourse and media, but a review of the Arab media platforms, aside from Palestinian ones, shows that on a daily basis the Israeli-Palestinian conflict does not capture the headlines of Arab media.”
“Practical conversations about events likely to happen are a better use of westerners' time than ones that consider unlikely steps like Israel agreeing to [evacuate neighborhoods].”
Middle East is more used to fighting together then against then together again. Iran-Iraq war >> Iran sending soldiers to help Iraq against ISIS.
“As Tunisia struggles with its violent transition they have fallen prey to violent networks offering not only economic opportunity and social inclusion but also a confident worldview.”
“It was then that the wheels of my understanding really began to turn. A lot of young people from the west have an international, multi-cultural value system. They are environmentally aware and are drawn to social activism. Their worldview is a universe that is an integrated human ecological system, a world in which romantic idealism in the form of missions to protect animals, save the environment, help the underprivileged, and volunteer for organizations engaged in humanitarian assistance make an important personal statement and provide a mission that offers self-fulfillment. Their world is one of relativism in which it isn't always clear who is right and who is wrong because there are many sides and narratives to every issue and these are steeped in cultural, economic, historical, political, normative, and social backgrounds. And the goal is to accept and understand the other. These young people have learned to agree to disagree respectfully. Yet curiously in this world of colors, there is one place where the rainbow becomes black and white, where their world becomes a dual narrative, a two-colored world… Western culture is suffocated with the concept of the night who saves the day… but the knight cannot only function in the rainbow of relativism, multiculturalism, and a sea of narratives. A knight from the essence of his being also needs the ideal of a world of black and white, good and evil.”
“The Oslo accords… were guided by the concept that the two-state solution was the preferable and achievable solution to the conflict. At the time of the signings it seemed as though the conflict could be solved through negotiations, compromises, and concessions. But a generation later the reality is gloomy. The expectations and hopes crashed violently and both sides are rightfully blaming each other for the bleak reality. Both sides have failed to fulfill their commitments.”
“The Palestinians are going through a process similar to the one the Israelis have been going through over the last generation. It is a process of understanding that the use of military might to obtain political visions and objectives has limited effectiveness.”
“Their first goal should be to pursue an interim agreement consisting of tangible and measurable confidence building measures.”
September 24, 2016
Great book! I believe this is a really good perspective on the different forces influencing the current Middle East. Very eye opening. And scary.
December 10, 2017
This book is terrific. It does a great job at explaining Middle East politics, and gave me a much better understanding of this region's alliances and complexities.
August 2, 2019
Essential Intel for the Middle East
A superb technical political analysis of the middle east that any journalist, diplomat, pundit, politician, business or military analyst covering the region ought to read and assimilate. Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence officer, brilliantly and succinctly describes the competing factions in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon and what the interests and attendant risks are to the powers in the region.
Forget “linkage theory” and be prepared to take in the shifting dynamics of what King Abdulla II of Jordan once termed “the Shia Crescent”. In a December 2015 interview with Mohammed 'Ali Jarari, Supreme leader off the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, “Iraq, Syria and Lebanon are all part of the axis of resistance, thus there should be no borders betwteen them” - which would give the Iranians access to the Mediterranean and should give the majority of Lebanese who are Sunni and Christian -i nightmares.
What's fascinating about this account is that we see that events are being shaped not only by a centuries old Persian-Arab feud but also as a struggle between those who hope to benefit from chaos and those such as Turkey, Egypt and the Gulf Monarchies who wish to preserve the current order, the problem being that each country (or former country) contains elements of its rivals. Assad partners with ISIS in order to trade for oil – how else could ISIS have crossed 300 km of open desert to attack Palmyra given that Assad has a fully functioning air force. Iran worries because 85% of its oil and gas and 45% of its agriculture lie in Khuzestan, a mostly Arab region of the country with aspirations of independence. Iran also exerts control at the gateway to the Persian/Arabian Gulf through its occupation of the Gulf islands of Abu Musa, and Greater and Lesser Tunb and threatens to do so again at the Gulf of Aden, the gateway to Suez with its Shia allies in Yemen. The oil rich eastern part of Sunni Saudi Arabia is Shia. The port of Basra in Iraq (in particular, Basra Logistics City) is now seen as vital to Iran's national security interests, a far different situation that prevailed a quarter century ago when Iran and Iraq were at war.
Iran is no longer sponsoring Hamas, though is funding Islamic Jihad. As such Hamas has been seeking out new sponsorship form Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Why not Egypt? Because Egypt has its own internal problems not the least of which is Bedouin Arabs who have blown up the gas line to Jordan over 30 times, which deprives Egypt of hard currency both from the sale of gas and the potentially lucrative tourism industry based at Sharem al-Shaikh. Sinai is also used as a major arms smuggling route into Africa and Gaza – the Egyptians have responded by bulldozing homes and removing Egyptian residents along the border with Gaza and building a series of deep 1000 foot trenches which they intend to turn into fish farms. The Army's self conception as Egypt's guardians is modelled on Turkey's Attaturk regime.
Beautifully sourced with extensive material and representative quotations from the Arab and Iranian press. What is missing – maps. There are only two maps in the appendix, one regular and the other showing how ISIS sees the world. Melamed is very textually oriented, but visual summations showing lines of influence and control would have been nice to have. His concluding recommendations are interesting to consider, but not essential for appreciating the rest of the book.
Two supplementary references. Gwynn Dyer's Don't Panic: ISIS, Terror and Today's Middle East covers some of the same material, but not nearly in as much depth. I also highly recommend the recently published The Pragmatic Superpower: Winning the Cold War in the Middle East by Ray Takeyh which gives a complementary historic perspective of American post WW II involvement in the region. Melamed's title also reminds one very much of the similarly named Inside ... series by legendary reporter John Gunther who educated an earlier generation to world politics in the 1930s and 40s
A superb technical political analysis of the middle east that any journalist, diplomat, pundit, politician, business or military analyst covering the region ought to read and assimilate. Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence officer, brilliantly and succinctly describes the competing factions in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon and what the interests and attendant risks are to the powers in the region.
Forget “linkage theory” and be prepared to take in the shifting dynamics of what King Abdulla II of Jordan once termed “the Shia Crescent”. In a December 2015 interview with Mohammed 'Ali Jarari, Supreme leader off the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, “Iraq, Syria and Lebanon are all part of the axis of resistance, thus there should be no borders betwteen them” - which would give the Iranians access to the Mediterranean and should give the majority of Lebanese who are Sunni and Christian -i nightmares.
What's fascinating about this account is that we see that events are being shaped not only by a centuries old Persian-Arab feud but also as a struggle between those who hope to benefit from chaos and those such as Turkey, Egypt and the Gulf Monarchies who wish to preserve the current order, the problem being that each country (or former country) contains elements of its rivals. Assad partners with ISIS in order to trade for oil – how else could ISIS have crossed 300 km of open desert to attack Palmyra given that Assad has a fully functioning air force. Iran worries because 85% of its oil and gas and 45% of its agriculture lie in Khuzestan, a mostly Arab region of the country with aspirations of independence. Iran also exerts control at the gateway to the Persian/Arabian Gulf through its occupation of the Gulf islands of Abu Musa, and Greater and Lesser Tunb and threatens to do so again at the Gulf of Aden, the gateway to Suez with its Shia allies in Yemen. The oil rich eastern part of Sunni Saudi Arabia is Shia. The port of Basra in Iraq (in particular, Basra Logistics City) is now seen as vital to Iran's national security interests, a far different situation that prevailed a quarter century ago when Iran and Iraq were at war.
Iran is no longer sponsoring Hamas, though is funding Islamic Jihad. As such Hamas has been seeking out new sponsorship form Saudi Arabia and Turkey. Why not Egypt? Because Egypt has its own internal problems not the least of which is Bedouin Arabs who have blown up the gas line to Jordan over 30 times, which deprives Egypt of hard currency both from the sale of gas and the potentially lucrative tourism industry based at Sharem al-Shaikh. Sinai is also used as a major arms smuggling route into Africa and Gaza – the Egyptians have responded by bulldozing homes and removing Egyptian residents along the border with Gaza and building a series of deep 1000 foot trenches which they intend to turn into fish farms. The Army's self conception as Egypt's guardians is modelled on Turkey's Attaturk regime.
Beautifully sourced with extensive material and representative quotations from the Arab and Iranian press. What is missing – maps. There are only two maps in the appendix, one regular and the other showing how ISIS sees the world. Melamed is very textually oriented, but visual summations showing lines of influence and control would have been nice to have. His concluding recommendations are interesting to consider, but not essential for appreciating the rest of the book.
Two supplementary references. Gwynn Dyer's Don't Panic: ISIS, Terror and Today's Middle East covers some of the same material, but not nearly in as much depth. I also highly recommend the recently published The Pragmatic Superpower: Winning the Cold War in the Middle East by Ray Takeyh which gives a complementary historic perspective of American post WW II involvement in the region. Melamed's title also reminds one very much of the similarly named Inside ... series by legendary reporter John Gunther who educated an earlier generation to world politics in the 1930s and 40s
February 9, 2023
Avi Melamed's writing about the Middle East is at once dispassionate and elucidating. He weaves together the complex and fraught history, geography, culture, and religious mosaic of the Middle East into a captivating text. Through a non-partisan lens Melamed provides the reader with the view of the region through lens of intelligence expert. He masterfully weaves the strands (which can seem unrelated to the uninitiated) of regions and culture and religions into a tapestry that offers his reader a full 3-D model. There are both deep analysis and basic building blocks on each page of the text. This book should be a primer for both the novice and expert alike. A must read for anyone interested in understanding the complexity and danger we face in the Middle East.
March 21, 2018
Deep, not shallow
The author, like most historians, claims his work is more cursory that comprehensive, but to most western laymen like me, he does a great deal to explain the multiple layers of difficult issues that define this incredibly troublesome region. He shoots straight, and to my way of thinking does a remarkable job of not showing bias, but presents mountains of complex information, unreadable names and unthinkable challenges in a most readable way.
I hope the President and his advisors read this book. It’s not all gloom and doom in the end, but to reach that higher ground takes the great skill of a very intelligent and remarkable gentleman.
The author, like most historians, claims his work is more cursory that comprehensive, but to most western laymen like me, he does a great deal to explain the multiple layers of difficult issues that define this incredibly troublesome region. He shoots straight, and to my way of thinking does a remarkable job of not showing bias, but presents mountains of complex information, unreadable names and unthinkable challenges in a most readable way.
I hope the President and his advisors read this book. It’s not all gloom and doom in the end, but to reach that higher ground takes the great skill of a very intelligent and remarkable gentleman.
June 27, 2018
I ventured into this book expecting it to be biased and I wasn't disappointed; it turned out to be exactly that. To be fair, the author attempts to be objective and sometimes even succeeds at it. Despite the author's blinkered narrative, the book is very informative about the different actors involved in the Middle-East conflict. The most significant point in the book, for me, was learning about Aliaa Magda Elmahdy's bold activism against misogyny. On the whole, this is an edifying book that's worth a read to get a new perspective on the complex subject of Israel-Palestine and Arab world.
March 16, 2024
It is often said that Israel lives in a “tough” neighborhood - a phrase that is meant to encapsulate the myriad challenges and omnipresent security situation that Israel faces within the Middle East.
“Inside the Middle East” is an attempt to give an overview of the nature of these challenges; namely by describing the various political movements and both regional and territorial disputes that shape the region.
Being an Arabic speaker, won’t say there is a ton that I wasn’t familiar with already. Avi does a reasonable job essentially summarizing groups like the Muslim brotherhood, ISIS, Irans influence and gives a bit of the recent history of Islamism. It’s not a particularly serious critique of the role Israel plays in all this either, which made it frustrating to read at times. There are far, far better books on this subject. I’d instead direct readers to the incomparable Fawaz Gerges or Eugene Rogan, both whom are considered authorities on this subject.
“Inside the Middle East” is an attempt to give an overview of the nature of these challenges; namely by describing the various political movements and both regional and territorial disputes that shape the region.
Being an Arabic speaker, won’t say there is a ton that I wasn’t familiar with already. Avi does a reasonable job essentially summarizing groups like the Muslim brotherhood, ISIS, Irans influence and gives a bit of the recent history of Islamism. It’s not a particularly serious critique of the role Israel plays in all this either, which made it frustrating to read at times. There are far, far better books on this subject. I’d instead direct readers to the incomparable Fawaz Gerges or Eugene Rogan, both whom are considered authorities on this subject.
February 24, 2020
This was a very refreshing read! Sometimes the problems of the middle east are not because of the US and/or Israel - which is the current conseus in the western academia and "liberal" circles. Tackling this perspective is necessary for reconciliation and freedom for the people in the Arab world which is full of rich history and culture. Really well done.
April 19, 2020
A super informative book for anyone wishing for a short version of Middle Eastern history. Avi is very knowledgeable and gives an insightful and unbiased look at past turmoil and offers a prospective way forward for Israel and Palestine. Just a few points are a bit outdated as a lot changes in 4 years, but over all a well written and worthwhile book.
Read
April 12, 2022This was A LOT to read. Very interesting for sure, but very much like a textbook with lots of dates and names. I really appreciated the maps in the back of the book. Avi Melamed was coming to our temple to discuss the book that came after this one- that’s what sparked my interest in reading this…I’ve always been interested in the Middle East, though.
Read
April 18, 2023Everything changes but you
This is an extremely well written examination of the area describing hubris and human failing on a grand scale. However, although western institutions ensure security for its peoples we also fail to look into our mirrors for truth. The people of the middle east are not so different from us, it is human nature to blame the 'other'. Unsolvable.
This is an extremely well written examination of the area describing hubris and human failing on a grand scale. However, although western institutions ensure security for its peoples we also fail to look into our mirrors for truth. The people of the middle east are not so different from us, it is human nature to blame the 'other'. Unsolvable.
March 16, 2019
I appreciate this book. It was enlightening & educational. Avi Melamed is very insightful & has a lot of knowledge about Israel and the Middle East. Melamed does help me build my basic knowledge and understanding of the Middle East, the major players that have made the region what it is today.
August 13, 2019
Great book
While an avid reader on Islam I was lacking knowledge on the inner workings of the Middle East countries. This book filled that cognitive space very well. It also repeated facts quite often which was excellent for my tiny brain. A very informative read!
While an avid reader on Islam I was lacking knowledge on the inner workings of the Middle East countries. This book filled that cognitive space very well. It also repeated facts quite often which was excellent for my tiny brain. A very informative read!
April 16, 2020
It's the first book I'll read about the crisis in the middle east. it gave a very good basic understanding better than from the media. However I'll say it is not free of biases from Israel's perspective.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews