Einstein on Israel and Zionism: His Provocative Ideas About the Middle East

by Fred Jerome

Albert Einstein thought and wrote extensively not just on the most difficult problems in physics, but also in politics. For the first time, this book collects his essays, interviews, and letters on the Middle East, Zionism, and Arab-Jewish relations. Many of these have never been published in English, and all of them contradict the popular image of Einstein as pro-Zionist. He was offered and refused the Presidency of Israel, but had he taken it, he may have said things the Zionists didn’t want to hear; he favored a non-religious state that would welcome Jew and Palestinian alike. One person’s letters, even Einstein’s, cannot resolve the crisis in the Middle East, but decades later, when horrors of the conflict in the Middle East are familiar to everyone, the reflections of one of the twentieth century’s greatest thinkers are a signpost, showing his commitment to social justice, understanding, and friendship between Jew and Arab.

Genres: History, Politics, Science, Nonfiction

352 pages, Hardcover

First published August 5, 2008

About the author

Fred Jeromeis senior consultant to the Gene Media Forum, Newhouse School of Communications, Syracuse University. His articles and op-ed pieces have appeared in many publications.

Reviews

[Wale · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading Einstein's independent thoughts on the plight and experience of his fellow brothers.
However I resented the author's attempt of trying to colour Einstein's opinions with his own views of what he thinks Einstein meant by such and such- a conceit that so much pervades journalism and the media today.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

My neighbor found this book and loaned it to me to read first! WOW!I sure wish a few power brokers would have listened to Einstein back in the 20s and 30s and perhaps the Israel-Palestine situation would never have degraded into what it has been throughout my 58 yrs.

Jerome is an Einstein scholar, and for this book had dozens of articles of correspondence translated, researched transcriptions of dozens of speeches, and the book is a fascinating and informative view back in time!

He recognized Great Britain and later the US for the evil for which they were (and are) responsible.

Highly recommended!!!!

[Zulfiqar · Rating 5 out of 5]

“He wanted me to understand the nature of his concern. He had, he said, told Chaim Weizmann, even before 1948, that while he wanted a homeland for the Jews, he didn’t not want that to happen at the cost of the suffering of the Palestinian Arabs. When Weizmann said to him in reply that “God promised the Jews this land,” Einstein told me that he responded, “We must take God out of this argument-because both sides see God on their side. If God is the one who promised this land to the Jews, then God is also the one who placed the Arabs in it.”

“I said that I didn’t think that Colonel Nasser or General Nahuib had any problem with Jews as Jewish people. Their problem was with Israel, with its aggressive plans against Palestinians l, and with its expansionary plans against the rest of the Arab world. “That” I said is the problem.” In response, Einstein said that when it comes to people like Menachem Begin and his massacre of Arabs in the village of Deir Yassin, he thought I was completely right. These people are Nazis in their thoughts and their deeds, he said, but I am talking about others. This like Begin, he maintained, do not embody the Jews or the concept of Israel. (Jerome, Fred 2009 Einstein on Israel and Zionism History Provocative Ideas about the Middle East)

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great insight into one of the most brilliant and compassionate minds of the 20th century. A must read for any students of the conflict in Palestine.

[Eurydice Montpelier F. Waltz · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone very interested in physics and is constantly surrounded by Einstein's equations and his long-lasting influences on modern science, this piqued my interest. This book lays out very concisely exactly how Einstein's views on Israel and Zionism changed over the years. Even if we were not dealing with one of the most pivotal figures in history who completely reformed the scientific paradigm of the twentieth century, it would simply be fascinating to see how people - especially Jews - reacted to Israel in its formative years. I do think, however, that the author could have been considerably more critical of Einstein's early statements on Zionism and Israel. Instead, Jerome tends to overlook painfully ignorant statements Einstein made in some of his letters - his ideas on how Israel should be established - in favor of reassuring the reader that *later on* Einstein gets it right. It would have been vastly more informative if Jerome had taken the time to deconstruct each of Einstein's oversights in those earlier letters, point out the flaws in his "logic" surrounding colonization, and illustrate exactly where Einstein got it wrong, and why he had no choice but to change his views.

The book, however, opens with a commentary on the recent tragedies that had taken place in Palestine at the time the book was written, 2008, which remains excruciatingly relevant today. I hope it doesn't take Einstein's opinions to change any modern readers' view of the occupation, but it is a fascinating read, regardless.

[William · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because of the subject matter. The scientific stuff kind goes right over my head but this is an easy read. It is well documented and it offers up a behind the scenes look at the history of Israel and Zionism, alongside a genius observing it unfold. Though he was a great thinker, Einstein was also very thoughtful and just a legit dude--very classy. All in all, Einstein = Good dude with a lot on his mind.

Poor out some liquor for Albert.

[Bruce · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually didn't finish this one, stopped half way through.
It's a great read, and there's a lot of great info on history
of palestine and europe especially. It references a lot of
einstein's letters and also some books he wrote on the subject of
israel. I might just look those up when I get ready to read up on the
subject again.