How Israel Was Won: A Concise History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict

by Baylis Thomas

This is the only book you'll ever need in order to comprehend the complexities of the Middle East.

Genres: History, Middle East, Nonfiction

352 pages, Paperback

First published June 17, 1999

Reviews

[The Wanderer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from my sister, who received it from someone who had done a lot of research to discern the fairest book on the Israel/Palestine issue. Apparently, there exists not a single book on the topic that is approved of by both Jews and Arabs, so this was the second-best option: a book that both sides hate. Which means it's either the closest thing to a balanced analysis of the situation that you can get, or else it's complete and utter crap in every way.

I can see why both sides hate it: he claims that Israel is a nationalistic invader, guilty of terrorism (hence the Jewish disdain), and that the Arab nations were too weak, incompetent, and self-serving to truly want to try and help the Palestinians (hence the Arab disdain). It also casts England and the USA in a rather poor light. Yet, Thomas analyzes and explains what happened quite factually, and in so doing, manages to keep his work from becoming cynical and biting.

Although it is clear from the history he presents that he doesn't believe Israel is controlled by virtuous, upstanding people on the defensive, I didn't really begin to feel the author's own voice and emotions surrounding the issue until at least two-thirds of the way through. Even then, he remains fairly mild and finishes everything by reminding us that although the history of Israel is very unique, it is also very familiar. Ultimately, he is talking about the dangerous "illiberal" side of nationalism itself (not only of Zionism) and not really slinging accusations at these or those bad people.

This book was an education for me. Previously I knew very little about the whole situation and believed many of the myths that Thomas destroys. I wonder whether there's a more recent edition that covers the last twenty years, as well? I may yet seek out a super pro-Israel and a super pro-Palestinian work to give each side a chance to speak for itself, but I'm fairly convinced that Thomas's work is unappreciated as a result of its honesty, rather than because it's irredeemable crap.

[Brendan Steinhauser · Rating 3 out of 5]

I just re-read this book after my recent trip to Israel. It does a good job explaining the modern history of the Israeli/Arab conflict, but is a very one-sided view of things. The author is consistently pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel. But it is still an informative read, and worth supplementing with other books.

[Jayden Gilholy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly factually sound and an interesting read. Some mistakes include the claim that Lebanon consisted of only “2-3% Maronite Christians”, a misprint I assume. Author seems to brush over certain moments of Palestinian terror, whilst paying particular detail to Jewish terror against the British mandate, and Israeli state terror during the Lebanon war. Clearly a pro-Palestinian book, but not one that is intolerably dogmatic to the balanced reader. Requires wider context pre-reading, wouldn’t say it’s a beginner read.

[Zachary Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

Does a good job of presenting a short history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Chapters are all short and to the point, although I would like to have seen more detail regarding key documents such as the Balfour Declaration. Above all, it is useful for anyone still laboring under the mistaken notion that the Israelis are in some ways the victims rather than the instigators of much of the present trouble in the Middle East.

[Nikki]

Probably one of the best, most concise and objective history accounts to put perspective on the current conflict. Highly suggest this read!