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Beginner's Guide (Oneworld Publications)
The Palestine-Israeli Conflict: A Beginner's Guide
The Middle East is in deadlock There are two sides in this conflict This is the only book that allows both sides to be heard.
THE PALESTINE PERSPECTIVE – DR DAWOUD EL-ALAMI "The creation of the state of Israel was at the expense of the Palestinians. The indigenous Arab population of Palestine has been systematically discriminated against since the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which created Israel for the Jews at the expense of a native population, which has been denied its own nationhood and become a dispossessed, marginalized people."
THE ISRAELI PERSPECTIVE – RABBI PROFESSOR DAN COHN-SHERBOK "Over the centuries, the Jews have been exposed to hatred and violence in many of the countries where they have settled. What could be more justified than the creation of a homeland for the Jews in the land of their origins, Israel – a state where Jewish national identity can be recognized, and where the inhabitants can finally be safe from persecution?"
With coverage of all the most recent events, this fully-updated edition of the essential bestselling guide to the Palestine-Israeli conflict explores the history, motivations and people behind a dispute that has been setting the Middle East ablaze for over sixty years.
THE PALESTINE PERSPECTIVE – DR DAWOUD EL-ALAMI "The creation of the state of Israel was at the expense of the Palestinians. The indigenous Arab population of Palestine has been systematically discriminated against since the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which created Israel for the Jews at the expense of a native population, which has been denied its own nationhood and become a dispossessed, marginalized people."
THE ISRAELI PERSPECTIVE – RABBI PROFESSOR DAN COHN-SHERBOK "Over the centuries, the Jews have been exposed to hatred and violence in many of the countries where they have settled. What could be more justified than the creation of a homeland for the Jews in the land of their origins, Israel – a state where Jewish national identity can be recognized, and where the inhabitants can finally be safe from persecution?"
With coverage of all the most recent events, this fully-updated edition of the essential bestselling guide to the Palestine-Israeli conflict explores the history, motivations and people behind a dispute that has been setting the Middle East ablaze for over sixty years.
256 pages, Paperback
First published October 31, 2001
109 people are currently reading
407 people want to read
About the author
Dan Cohn-Sherbok
162 books3 followersRabbi Professor Dan Cohn-Sherbok is Professor of Judaism at the University of Wales, Lampeter. He is the author of over fifty books including the acclaimed The Palestine Israeli Conflict: A Beginner's Guide, co-authored with Dawoud El-Alami.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
October 8, 2015
While this is called a Beginner's Guide to the conflict it is neither geared to the beginner or a guide to the conflict. It presents a history of the conflict from two different perspectives, which is subtly different.
It also presupposed a significant degree of existing knowledge, from who had colonised which wider lands at which times to knowing about anti-Semitism prior to the book's historical starting point. It doesn't explain many terms and has a short, poor glossary. It doesn't explain who some people are and uses different versions of their names or spellings for them without making clear they are the same people (something it also does with place names). It doesn't decide who it is important to mention and who not, so some people get named checked with no further explanation. It spends whole pages explaining things that could be simply described with a map - it only has two and they are not very helpful. I had to read it with a computer to hand to look up quite basic things from who was the Colonial power in Egypt at different times and who various people were. It spends a whole page explaining what happened on 11 September 2001 yet assumes you will know that Mahammad Ali ruled Egypt in the C19th.
This would be easily fixed with a good editor, glossary and glossary of people and gets in the way of an otherwise useful introduction to the history from the Israel and Palestinian perspectives. The book serves to highlight indirectly how much of this history is actually about decisions taken by prominent global and regional powers at the time for their own interests, and a third perspective that explores more directly the global shifts and how they affected this particular area of the world would help complete the picture.
It also presupposed a significant degree of existing knowledge, from who had colonised which wider lands at which times to knowing about anti-Semitism prior to the book's historical starting point. It doesn't explain many terms and has a short, poor glossary. It doesn't explain who some people are and uses different versions of their names or spellings for them without making clear they are the same people (something it also does with place names). It doesn't decide who it is important to mention and who not, so some people get named checked with no further explanation. It spends whole pages explaining things that could be simply described with a map - it only has two and they are not very helpful. I had to read it with a computer to hand to look up quite basic things from who was the Colonial power in Egypt at different times and who various people were. It spends a whole page explaining what happened on 11 September 2001 yet assumes you will know that Mahammad Ali ruled Egypt in the C19th.
This would be easily fixed with a good editor, glossary and glossary of people and gets in the way of an otherwise useful introduction to the history from the Israel and Palestinian perspectives. The book serves to highlight indirectly how much of this history is actually about decisions taken by prominent global and regional powers at the time for their own interests, and a third perspective that explores more directly the global shifts and how they affected this particular area of the world would help complete the picture.
March 5, 2024
definitely not a beginner’s guide, as it was extremely dense and focused more on the history of palestine and israel in the context of the world rather than the current state of the two. also lacked a lot of actual opinion, although towards the end i felt that the palestinian author composed a really beautiful set of chapters comprising his thoughts and beliefs. overall, it would’ve been a lot better with more opinion and less deep-dives into far-back history if it really wanted to be suited towards beginners. i also recommend not using the audiobook format if reading.
April 28, 2012
It is a rarity that both sides of a conflict are allowed to sit in the same book. For that alone the book is worth 4 stars! Of course the flip side is having to read the same timeline twice.
Rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok makes a good case for the Israeli people and Dr. Dawoud El-Alami is a good defender of the Palestinian cause.
This book is a quite advance for a 'Beginner's Guide' but if flipping back and forth between the two sides does not rebuff you, it really is the best way to read it, then this really is a great book to forge a first opinion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok makes a good case for the Israeli people and Dr. Dawoud El-Alami is a good defender of the Palestinian cause.
This book is a quite advance for a 'Beginner's Guide' but if flipping back and forth between the two sides does not rebuff you, it really is the best way to read it, then this really is a great book to forge a first opinion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
May 7, 2025
Very informative but maybe a bit dense to read by audiobook?
March 5, 2013
An informative background to a quite complicated subject. It's quite probable that no text can fully illuminate this conflict, but this Beginner's Guide gives it a good shot. Especially unique is the opportunity to hear the story as told by both of the opposing sides, which gives it more objectivity than one version of events alone could have managed. A good resource for anyone looking to learn more about this subject.
June 27, 2024
Presentar uno de los temas (sino el más) más polémicos de la actualidad es el propósito que se plantearon los autores, a través de la plataforma "Beginner's guide". El esfuerzo primero consiste en presentar las posiciones de ambas partes, que terminan constituyendo un repaso histórico, desde sus perspectivas, de lo que ha sido el conflicto entre los judíos y árabes por la misma tierra. Procurando ser imparcial en este review -lo cual me cuesta por mi sesgo- se recoge que tras décadas de violencia, no ha habido ningún ganador, y sí mucho sufrimiento. Una sociedad supo desarrollarse y ser una prospera potencia, mientras que la otra está en la constante miseria. ¿Por qué pasa esto? Muy personalmente creo que la respuesta bien la dijo la ex PM Golda Meir "habrá paz cuando los palestinos amen a sus hijos, más de los que nos odian a nosotros (los israelíes)".
Luego del repaso histórico de cada autor, se presenta un derecho a réplica (no sé si la palabra debate sea la adecuada) y entusiasma que aún a pesar de todos los dolores, invitan al lector a tener esperanza en el futuro, cosa que no será fácil pero sí necesario.
Esta edición data de 2022. Por lo que los brutales atentados terroristas de Hamas a Israel y la subsecuente guerra total de éste a aquel, no puede más que augurar una visión negra a corto plazo. Quizá primero haya que extirpar al cancer que es Hamas, pero las ideas cuestan derrotarlas, siempre están ahí. Para eso, para que haya paz, debe haber educación y formación cívica.
Ojalá algún día tanto la seguridad de Israel como la libertad de los palestinos sea una realidad, pero para eso se deben reconocer mutuamente como iguales en dignidad en tanto su naturaleza como seres humanos.
Luego del repaso histórico de cada autor, se presenta un derecho a réplica (no sé si la palabra debate sea la adecuada) y entusiasma que aún a pesar de todos los dolores, invitan al lector a tener esperanza en el futuro, cosa que no será fácil pero sí necesario.
Esta edición data de 2022. Por lo que los brutales atentados terroristas de Hamas a Israel y la subsecuente guerra total de éste a aquel, no puede más que augurar una visión negra a corto plazo. Quizá primero haya que extirpar al cancer que es Hamas, pero las ideas cuestan derrotarlas, siempre están ahí. Para eso, para que haya paz, debe haber educación y formación cívica.
Ojalá algún día tanto la seguridad de Israel como la libertad de los palestinos sea una realidad, pero para eso se deben reconocer mutuamente como iguales en dignidad en tanto su naturaleza como seres humanos.
June 20, 2024
4.5 From both a Zionist and Palestinian perspective, this book presents an overview of Palestinian and Israeli history, and ideas from both authors regarding the way forward. This is technically a beginners guide, but is still very dense and requires some background knowledge (I would have liked a bit more of that background in the book, even just a one sentence rundown of who a certain person is before talking about what they did.) Although I didn't find Cohn-Sherbok's case for Zionism convincing at all, I gained an understanding of Zionist ideology, and some sympathy for where that ideology grew from. Following Cohn-Sherbok and El-Alami's respective sections, there is a brief debate at the end of the book, which I found a really good addition and a powerful statement from El-Alami.
In the day and age of social media (which is undoubtedly a useful tool for individuals to show the reality of war on their lives), I think its necessary to consume longform content too, so that you understand the meaning and intent behind 15 second videos and catchphrases. This book is certainly one I would recommend. I listened to it as an audiobook, which I generally do with dense political books as I find it a lot easier. It's free to borrow off of the Borrowbox app (from Brisbane Libraries at least).
In the day and age of social media (which is undoubtedly a useful tool for individuals to show the reality of war on their lives), I think its necessary to consume longform content too, so that you understand the meaning and intent behind 15 second videos and catchphrases. This book is certainly one I would recommend. I listened to it as an audiobook, which I generally do with dense political books as I find it a lot easier. It's free to borrow off of the Borrowbox app (from Brisbane Libraries at least).
January 8, 2025
I originally picked up this book at a local bookshop near Paddington station. I was amused by the cover of the book, depicting what I thought was a Palestinian child running as if delivering a fast bowl in a cricket match. On closer inspection, however, he was in fact clutching a rock while fleeing from the pursuit of Israeli artillery. By mapping the parallel journey of both Palestinians and Israelis, the authors (Cohn-Sherbok & El-Alami) reveal sharply perpendicular interpretations of their shared history. While I hoped to develop a stoic view of Arab-Israeli history, the book enveloped me with passionate accounts of Jewish and Palestinian identities.
For the Jews, the foundation of their spiritual homeland was built on the bedrock of the Zionist movement, which sought to restore Jewish nationalism as a bulwark against widespread antisemitism prevalent in the 19th and early 20th century. While this effort may have proceeded under appropriate legal and political channels, the legitimacy of Britain and France carving the remnants of Ottoman empire through the Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916) for their own strategic interests’ questions whether the similar importance was provided to not only Palestinian aspirations, but Arab self-determination at large.
I feel that this reality has never been full conceptualised by the Jewish diaspora, as both authors comprehensively explain how the advent of the British Mandate in Palestine and the subsequent waves of Zionist immigration (known as “Aaliyahs”), were met with antisemitism reminiscent of pre-war standards. While reading the early chapters, I found myself wondering, “why couldn’t the Palestinians just accept the Jews in the same way that modern countries accept migrants ?, didn’t the Balford declaration (which legitimised a homeland for jews in Palestine) just mimic the standards of our globalised society.” El-Alami, rightly argues however that Palestine didn’t belong to Britain, it was de facto colonised, and therefore the tension arising from Jewish territorial claims within it were a byproduct of this exothermic reaction.
However, it is perplexing to observe the Palestinians' refusal to accept several initiatives that could have safeguarded their long-term interests: (1) the Passfield White Paper (1930), which sought to restrict Jewish immigration and land purchases; (2) the proposed legislative council, aimed at providing harmonious representation for both Jewish and Palestinian communities; (3) the advisory and Arab agency, designed to facilitate Arab input in governance; and (4) the Churchill White Paper (1939), which would have effectively curtailed future Jewish immigration. This steadfast rejection of political participation, whether fuelled by distrust, discontent, or miscalculation, significantly hindered the realization of Palestinian aspirations. In the absence of democratic engagement, their position was ultimately undermined and overtaken by decisions from external actors, such as the United Nations (UN). Indeed, the UN acted as the chef that carved the heart of Palestine with a blade as dull as a butter knife, leaving behind the state of Israel and fragmented remnants of Palestinian territories. This led to a series of Arab military campaigns against Israel, which, far from reversing the tide, further deepened Israeli hostility and omnipotence, while further fracturing the remaining Palestinian land.
Yet it is equally ironic that this broken version of their homeland remains a paradise that many Palestinians today dream that they could return to. It is no doubt that the preservation of Zionism has led to the desecration of Palestine, and erosion of Palestinian rights. One can only ponder what the relationship of these two countries would be if their conception was one of mutual symbiosis, rather than that of amensalism.
I feel the authors excelled in writing the Palestinian and Jewish narratives and while the book remained a challenging read due to its detailed exploration of event, the last chapter notably highlighted the salient points of contention. As I began to reflect of these narrative, a deeper more personal question arose for me. As a doctor, I have faced the difficult ethical dilemma of sacrificing the escalation of medical intervention to preserve the integrity of human life, but upon reading this book, I was left wondering whether justice, too, can be sacrificed to safeguard the peace of humanity. And while I can take it upon myself to define the borders of human life, after reading this book, I remain steadfast in my belief that I can’t do the same for Israel and Palestine.
For the Jews, the foundation of their spiritual homeland was built on the bedrock of the Zionist movement, which sought to restore Jewish nationalism as a bulwark against widespread antisemitism prevalent in the 19th and early 20th century. While this effort may have proceeded under appropriate legal and political channels, the legitimacy of Britain and France carving the remnants of Ottoman empire through the Sykes-Picot Agreement (1916) for their own strategic interests’ questions whether the similar importance was provided to not only Palestinian aspirations, but Arab self-determination at large.
I feel that this reality has never been full conceptualised by the Jewish diaspora, as both authors comprehensively explain how the advent of the British Mandate in Palestine and the subsequent waves of Zionist immigration (known as “Aaliyahs”), were met with antisemitism reminiscent of pre-war standards. While reading the early chapters, I found myself wondering, “why couldn’t the Palestinians just accept the Jews in the same way that modern countries accept migrants ?, didn’t the Balford declaration (which legitimised a homeland for jews in Palestine) just mimic the standards of our globalised society.” El-Alami, rightly argues however that Palestine didn’t belong to Britain, it was de facto colonised, and therefore the tension arising from Jewish territorial claims within it were a byproduct of this exothermic reaction.
However, it is perplexing to observe the Palestinians' refusal to accept several initiatives that could have safeguarded their long-term interests: (1) the Passfield White Paper (1930), which sought to restrict Jewish immigration and land purchases; (2) the proposed legislative council, aimed at providing harmonious representation for both Jewish and Palestinian communities; (3) the advisory and Arab agency, designed to facilitate Arab input in governance; and (4) the Churchill White Paper (1939), which would have effectively curtailed future Jewish immigration. This steadfast rejection of political participation, whether fuelled by distrust, discontent, or miscalculation, significantly hindered the realization of Palestinian aspirations. In the absence of democratic engagement, their position was ultimately undermined and overtaken by decisions from external actors, such as the United Nations (UN). Indeed, the UN acted as the chef that carved the heart of Palestine with a blade as dull as a butter knife, leaving behind the state of Israel and fragmented remnants of Palestinian territories. This led to a series of Arab military campaigns against Israel, which, far from reversing the tide, further deepened Israeli hostility and omnipotence, while further fracturing the remaining Palestinian land.
Yet it is equally ironic that this broken version of their homeland remains a paradise that many Palestinians today dream that they could return to. It is no doubt that the preservation of Zionism has led to the desecration of Palestine, and erosion of Palestinian rights. One can only ponder what the relationship of these two countries would be if their conception was one of mutual symbiosis, rather than that of amensalism.
I feel the authors excelled in writing the Palestinian and Jewish narratives and while the book remained a challenging read due to its detailed exploration of event, the last chapter notably highlighted the salient points of contention. As I began to reflect of these narrative, a deeper more personal question arose for me. As a doctor, I have faced the difficult ethical dilemma of sacrificing the escalation of medical intervention to preserve the integrity of human life, but upon reading this book, I was left wondering whether justice, too, can be sacrificed to safeguard the peace of humanity. And while I can take it upon myself to define the borders of human life, after reading this book, I remain steadfast in my belief that I can’t do the same for Israel and Palestine.
August 19, 2020
This book was an excellent primer on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Cohn-Sherbok presented the Jewish perspective and El-Alami presented the Palestinian perspective. Both were incredibly eye-opening and thought-provoking.
I'll admit I went into this book with a fairly ignorant bias towards the Palestinians. Having done some minimal research on the present-day conditions in the West Bank and Gaza strip, my sympathies lied heavily with those communities. I did my best to remain as objective as possible when reading this book because I truly wanted a more nuanced and accurate understanding of the origins and history of the conflict. And I'm satisfied to say I got what I wanted.
I'm not entirely sure if there's much purpose in me declaring a side on this issue. Devastation and violence has been perpetuated by both Israelis and Palestinians over the past century. But it is clear to me that the atrocities committed by Israel against the Palestinians have been disproportionately brutal and inhumane, not to mention they have received large economic support from the United States. The ongoing Occupation of Palestine and the numerous illegal Jewish settlements are unconscionable. The treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza is absolutely horrendous and in many instances violates international law. There is no justification for it.
This is a complex situation with a complex history, and I don't claim to be an expert or even that I have much of a right to throw in my two-cents. But as a human being reading about the degradation of fellow human beings, my heart breaks.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the conflict, and I suggest everybody should take it upon themselves to do so. I feel I can now better appreciate the arguments of both sides. My heart seriously goes out to everybody from all sides who've been affected by this conflict.
I'll admit I went into this book with a fairly ignorant bias towards the Palestinians. Having done some minimal research on the present-day conditions in the West Bank and Gaza strip, my sympathies lied heavily with those communities. I did my best to remain as objective as possible when reading this book because I truly wanted a more nuanced and accurate understanding of the origins and history of the conflict. And I'm satisfied to say I got what I wanted.
I'm not entirely sure if there's much purpose in me declaring a side on this issue. Devastation and violence has been perpetuated by both Israelis and Palestinians over the past century. But it is clear to me that the atrocities committed by Israel against the Palestinians have been disproportionately brutal and inhumane, not to mention they have received large economic support from the United States. The ongoing Occupation of Palestine and the numerous illegal Jewish settlements are unconscionable. The treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza is absolutely horrendous and in many instances violates international law. There is no justification for it.
This is a complex situation with a complex history, and I don't claim to be an expert or even that I have much of a right to throw in my two-cents. But as a human being reading about the degradation of fellow human beings, my heart breaks.
I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in learning more about the conflict, and I suggest everybody should take it upon themselves to do so. I feel I can now better appreciate the arguments of both sides. My heart seriously goes out to everybody from all sides who've been affected by this conflict.
March 3, 2024
I started this before my trip to the Holy Lands, which was 2 weeks (!) before the 2023 conflicts reignited.
My book was the 2015 edition, and all I could think was how history repeats itself. It was tricky to read as it is a lot of names and dates, but the debate at the end was really good.
I think it is unpopular, but I found that the historically oppressed became the oppressors, and this was how I found things to be on my trip too.
My book was the 2015 edition, and all I could think was how history repeats itself. It was tricky to read as it is a lot of names and dates, but the debate at the end was really good.
I think it is unpopular, but I found that the historically oppressed became the oppressors, and this was how I found things to be on my trip too.
January 30, 2024
I don’t know what to say about this one. Both authors—one Jewish Zionist, the other Palestinian Muslim—do well at presenting their case. They recount the history from their side, often confirming the story of the other.
It was depressing, but I’m definitely more informed.
It was depressing, but I’m definitely more informed.
October 12, 2025
Great entry point for learning the two sides from two different perspectives.
November 27, 2023
Wow, am I ever confused! For a beginner guide, I found it difficult to digest all the decades of history, politics, wars, infighting, kidnappings, intifadas, names, boundaries, settlement construction, etc. Two authors, Dan Cohn-Sherbok and Dawoud El-Alami, explain the history and problems between the Israelis and Palestinians from different points of view. Thus, the book is divided into two large sections of seven chapters per author. An ending chapter of a debate between the two is also included. A more detailed glossary including names of leaders and their respective countries, more geographical place names and other terms, plus more maps, would aid understanding of this complex issue. The end chapter of the debate between the two authors was far easier to understand and more interesting than the main two sections. With the extended glossary and maps, a book of debates between the two might be the better way to go.
What did I glean from the book besides confusion? That each side is to blame for the ongoing division. Compromise seems impossible, and the ever-changing prime ministers, presidents, groups, and political parties in Israel and elsewhere mean that there is no continuity of policy. In the debate, I thought the suggestion from the Israeli side that the surrounding Arab nations should simply give the Palestinians part of their lands for an extended land of their own was truly ludicrous. El-Alami comes back on that plan of Arab boundary shifting with a zinger. El-Alami won that one. However, no one wins in the overall Israeli-Palestinian dilemma that has gone on for a hundred years or more. Oh, that there would be an everlasting peaceful solution! Both sides have suffered greatly.
I give this book three stars because of the too-short but quite interesting debate at the end of the book. Otherwise, I might only give it two stars.
What did I glean from the book besides confusion? That each side is to blame for the ongoing division. Compromise seems impossible, and the ever-changing prime ministers, presidents, groups, and political parties in Israel and elsewhere mean that there is no continuity of policy. In the debate, I thought the suggestion from the Israeli side that the surrounding Arab nations should simply give the Palestinians part of their lands for an extended land of their own was truly ludicrous. El-Alami comes back on that plan of Arab boundary shifting with a zinger. El-Alami won that one. However, no one wins in the overall Israeli-Palestinian dilemma that has gone on for a hundred years or more. Oh, that there would be an everlasting peaceful solution! Both sides have suffered greatly.
I give this book three stars because of the too-short but quite interesting debate at the end of the book. Otherwise, I might only give it two stars.
June 4, 2025
[28 Apr 2025] What a useful book, incredibly informative and interesting. It should be required reading for all those on Palestinian protest marches and those who cling to a unilateral understanding of this situation. The book is - as others have commented on - not really a beginners guide. It is exceptionally detailed and meticulously researched - every conflict and every peace attempt all laid out in detail. It takes persistence to hold-on in there and determination to move through the descriptions of death and despair. Logically set out by two passionate and knowledgeable experts - both the Palestinian and Israeli points of view are presented and then a debate behind them is set out at the end.
It reveals little understood information about the situation, especially the passionate emotional responses and frankly no one comes out of it with any glory - the Israelis, the Palestinians, the British, the other Arab nations and pretty much all those involved. A catalogue of sectarianism, terrorism, prejudice and racisms, arrogance, stupidity, intransigence and a deep-seated craving for perpetuating conflict. Thousands of innocent people killed, maimed and lives blighted. A human tragedy of massive proportions and mix of horror and terrorism, wrapped in ideals and aspirations.
I found it very useful and I now understand the conflict in a different way - a sense of sadness that the collective guilt of Europeans resulting in acquiesce to the demand for a return to the homeland (after two-thousand years) and the choosing of a colonial 'possession' which the British had grabbed after the Ottomans had vacated Palestine. Then the extreme aggression of the Israelis and the lack of ability of the Palestinians to organise politically with a single voice and the various terrorist groups. I was left thinking that those who march every Saturday in London should be forced to read this book and understand how deeply complex and seemingly intractable the situation is and that Palestine is good and Israel is bad idea simply demonstrates how ignorant they really are. If you have any care for the middle east this book is a must read.
It reveals little understood information about the situation, especially the passionate emotional responses and frankly no one comes out of it with any glory - the Israelis, the Palestinians, the British, the other Arab nations and pretty much all those involved. A catalogue of sectarianism, terrorism, prejudice and racisms, arrogance, stupidity, intransigence and a deep-seated craving for perpetuating conflict. Thousands of innocent people killed, maimed and lives blighted. A human tragedy of massive proportions and mix of horror and terrorism, wrapped in ideals and aspirations.
I found it very useful and I now understand the conflict in a different way - a sense of sadness that the collective guilt of Europeans resulting in acquiesce to the demand for a return to the homeland (after two-thousand years) and the choosing of a colonial 'possession' which the British had grabbed after the Ottomans had vacated Palestine. Then the extreme aggression of the Israelis and the lack of ability of the Palestinians to organise politically with a single voice and the various terrorist groups. I was left thinking that those who march every Saturday in London should be forced to read this book and understand how deeply complex and seemingly intractable the situation is and that Palestine is good and Israel is bad idea simply demonstrates how ignorant they really are. If you have any care for the middle east this book is a must read.
January 10, 2025
This book is split into two sections by the two authors, one from a Jewish Perspective, and one from a Palestinian Perspective. While it is good to see the development of the conflict as it exists, and notably, dropping off before the latest bout of fighting, it reads like a book of "This happened, this happened, this happened", with both sides offering a relatively unbiased view that showcases that both sides have done wrong. It gives a basic understanding, but does not do justice to how complex and nuanced the conflict is.
November 25, 2009
Way too academic for me. Could barely get through the first few pages
January 22, 2025
The premise of an introduction to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with two authors seemed incredibly promising. I thought that dividing the work into an Israeli presentation of the facts by a Jewish historian and a Palestinian scholar presenting the Palestinian side would be an excellent exercise in comparing/contrasting the narratives around the Palestine-Israeli Conflict. However, I was ultimately left disappointed with how this idea was executed.
Billed as a "beginner's guide," the way the authors chose to chronicle events seemed counterintuitive. Countless names, places, events, and dates were dropped at a breakneck speed. This was done without taking the time to present the information to the reader, who, in all likelihood, is learning about these topics for the first time. On the other hand, the presentation was far too limited to have much value for those already familiar with the subject matter.
Additionally, I was baffled by the authors' choices of what to omit from the discussion. For example, El-Alami, the Palestinian scholar, neglected to even mention the Nakba! Instead, he rushed through the displacement of the Palestinian people in 1948 with very few details provided or addressed. I am not exaggerating when I say that the word "Nakba" only appeared once in the entire main body of text (3 times total if you count the 2 appearances in the index and the glossary).
One would think the ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of an entire nation, or 750,000 people (80% of Palestinians in 1948), would warrant some discussion. Especially as this event launched almost a century of conflict between Israel and Arabs, central to the Palestinian plight.
Instead, El-Alami only wrote: "Jewish terrorist organizations had fought the British since the 1930s but had showed restraint during the war. After the war, however, there was a wave of Jewish terrorist activity against Palestinians and even more so against the British. On 9 April 1948 a branch of the Irgun led by Menachem Begin carried out a massacre of men, women and children in the village of Deir Yassin. The calculated intention of this was to cause mass panic in the surrounding areas and in this aim it was entirely successful. Entire villages fled in fear that they would suffer the same fate. The two most notorious acts of Jewish terrorism against the British were the hanging of two British officers and the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. These were the final events leading to the British decision to give up the Mandate and withdraw their forces."
Immediately after, he moves on to Ben-Gurion's declaration of the foundation of Israel. That's it!
The Deir Yassin massacre alone could have warranted a few pages, not to mention the entire Nakba. I recognize that the text is fairly short and the goal is not to probe in depth each event between 1948 and now, but come on! It is absolutely ridiculous to consign what many consider "l'élément déclencheur" of the whole conflict to less than 150 words. (Note: I recommend Pappé's "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" for anyone looking to learn more about the Nakba.)
What's more, I found Cohn-Sherbok narrative incredibly perplexing, in that he will uncritically present ethically ambiguous actions from Israel and either won't address it or will blame it on Palestinian violence and resistance.
The following quote, explaining Israel's initial view and treatment of the native Palestinians in its first 2 years of existence, was one shocking example of this:
"Zionists insisted that Israel should be a Jewish state - there was no place, they argued, for non-Jews within the mainstream of national life even if Arabs were granted citizenship. For many, the Arab remnant in Israel was perceived as a potential threat to the stability of the country.(…) [Prime Minister] Ben-Gurion, for example, was adamant that the Arab minority was a dangerous presence. Throughout his tenure as Prime Minister, he continually pointed to the inherent danger posed by the Arab population. It was, he believed, a hotbed of conspiracy.
From the beginning, Israel's policies towards the Arabs were in accord with this perception: they were seen as implacable enemies of the state. From 1948 ninety per cent of the Arabs lived under Military Government (…) The most important aspect of Military Government was the restriction of movement: Article 125 of the Emergency Regulations of 1949 granted military governors the power to declare any area or place a forbidden area that no one was allowed to enter or leave without a written permit. Under such a provision, nearly one hundred Arab villages were designated closed areas out of which no one was permitted to move without a permit. (…) Other powers granted to military governors included the right to banish, restrict the residence of or detain Arabs without trial, and to impose a curfew. The justification for such regulations was state security. (…) [F]or this reason, any expressions of Arab nationalism or anti-Zionism could be suppressed by the military authorities. Such emergency provisions were seen as vital for Jewish survival given the nature of Palestinian resentment.
Such restrictions might appear to undermine the principle of equality of citizenship. But the Israeli government was determined to protect the new Jewish state at all costs. It should be stressed also that these restrictions applied to areas rather than individuals. Nonetheless, the main objective was to ensure that any form of Arab insurrection would be thwarted and that the Arab population would be strictly controlled. (…) [They] were keenly aware that they had been denied the right to equal treatment within the Jewish state.
Nonetheless, the first generation of Arabs in Israel were aware of their loss of land. During the fighting between Jews and Arabs, a sizeable area of Arab territory had been seized and this was later legalized by the Knesset under the Land Acquisition Law of 1953. In addition, Arab lands were taken by the military authorities on military grounds and given to Jewish settlers. Financial compensation was offered, but those who had lost their property refused to accept such payment in the hope that the land would be returned. The majority of land and houses taken belonged to Palestinian Arabs who had fled during the fighting; this was confiscated under the Absentees’ Property Law of 1950. This property was given to Israel’s new immigrants. Approximately 418 Arab towns were taken over during this period. Dismayed by this state of affairs, dispossessed Arabs harboured deep resentment against those who had seized their land that had been inherited from ancient times and their ownership of which the British Mandate had respected. This transformation of Arab life in Palestine was coupled with the loss of Arab control. Arabs had had no political power under Ottoman rule or during the British Mandate. After Israel’s defeat of Arab states during the 1949 campaign, Ben-Gurion instituted the law of abandoned property in 1950, resulting in the acquisition of agricultural land, urban real estate, houses and shops. In this way Arab wealth and influence were totally undermined."
Cohn-Sherbok casually presents that Israel was a fundamentally intolerant colonialist project, an ethnostate by design which aimed to keep the Palestinians as a permanent underclass to prevent resistance, and then moves on as if it didn’t compromise his view of Palestnians being the principal cause for unrest in the region. Excuse me? Is there really no possible criticism for Israel militarily controlling the lives and movements of an entire race of indigenous people? Flabbergasting, honestly.
In summary, I deeply disliked this book, finding the pacing and level of detail inappropriate and miscalculated, whether the reader was new to the topic or already comfortable with the subject. I also found the events and discussion points (or lack thereof) to make the discussion deeply frustrating for both authors. Altogether, I give the book 1.5 stars for the interesting concept of the book and because it was also occasionally informative by presenting diverging historical narratives and letting the reader consider these different framings.
Billed as a "beginner's guide," the way the authors chose to chronicle events seemed counterintuitive. Countless names, places, events, and dates were dropped at a breakneck speed. This was done without taking the time to present the information to the reader, who, in all likelihood, is learning about these topics for the first time. On the other hand, the presentation was far too limited to have much value for those already familiar with the subject matter.
Additionally, I was baffled by the authors' choices of what to omit from the discussion. For example, El-Alami, the Palestinian scholar, neglected to even mention the Nakba! Instead, he rushed through the displacement of the Palestinian people in 1948 with very few details provided or addressed. I am not exaggerating when I say that the word "Nakba" only appeared once in the entire main body of text (3 times total if you count the 2 appearances in the index and the glossary).
One would think the ethnic cleansing and forced displacement of an entire nation, or 750,000 people (80% of Palestinians in 1948), would warrant some discussion. Especially as this event launched almost a century of conflict between Israel and Arabs, central to the Palestinian plight.
Instead, El-Alami only wrote: "Jewish terrorist organizations had fought the British since the 1930s but had showed restraint during the war. After the war, however, there was a wave of Jewish terrorist activity against Palestinians and even more so against the British. On 9 April 1948 a branch of the Irgun led by Menachem Begin carried out a massacre of men, women and children in the village of Deir Yassin. The calculated intention of this was to cause mass panic in the surrounding areas and in this aim it was entirely successful. Entire villages fled in fear that they would suffer the same fate. The two most notorious acts of Jewish terrorism against the British were the hanging of two British officers and the bombing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem. These were the final events leading to the British decision to give up the Mandate and withdraw their forces."
Immediately after, he moves on to Ben-Gurion's declaration of the foundation of Israel. That's it!
The Deir Yassin massacre alone could have warranted a few pages, not to mention the entire Nakba. I recognize that the text is fairly short and the goal is not to probe in depth each event between 1948 and now, but come on! It is absolutely ridiculous to consign what many consider "l'élément déclencheur" of the whole conflict to less than 150 words. (Note: I recommend Pappé's "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine" for anyone looking to learn more about the Nakba.)
What's more, I found Cohn-Sherbok narrative incredibly perplexing, in that he will uncritically present ethically ambiguous actions from Israel and either won't address it or will blame it on Palestinian violence and resistance.
The following quote, explaining Israel's initial view and treatment of the native Palestinians in its first 2 years of existence, was one shocking example of this:
"Zionists insisted that Israel should be a Jewish state - there was no place, they argued, for non-Jews within the mainstream of national life even if Arabs were granted citizenship. For many, the Arab remnant in Israel was perceived as a potential threat to the stability of the country.(…) [Prime Minister] Ben-Gurion, for example, was adamant that the Arab minority was a dangerous presence. Throughout his tenure as Prime Minister, he continually pointed to the inherent danger posed by the Arab population. It was, he believed, a hotbed of conspiracy.
From the beginning, Israel's policies towards the Arabs were in accord with this perception: they were seen as implacable enemies of the state. From 1948 ninety per cent of the Arabs lived under Military Government (…) The most important aspect of Military Government was the restriction of movement: Article 125 of the Emergency Regulations of 1949 granted military governors the power to declare any area or place a forbidden area that no one was allowed to enter or leave without a written permit. Under such a provision, nearly one hundred Arab villages were designated closed areas out of which no one was permitted to move without a permit. (…) Other powers granted to military governors included the right to banish, restrict the residence of or detain Arabs without trial, and to impose a curfew. The justification for such regulations was state security. (…) [F]or this reason, any expressions of Arab nationalism or anti-Zionism could be suppressed by the military authorities. Such emergency provisions were seen as vital for Jewish survival given the nature of Palestinian resentment.
Such restrictions might appear to undermine the principle of equality of citizenship. But the Israeli government was determined to protect the new Jewish state at all costs. It should be stressed also that these restrictions applied to areas rather than individuals. Nonetheless, the main objective was to ensure that any form of Arab insurrection would be thwarted and that the Arab population would be strictly controlled. (…) [They] were keenly aware that they had been denied the right to equal treatment within the Jewish state.
Nonetheless, the first generation of Arabs in Israel were aware of their loss of land. During the fighting between Jews and Arabs, a sizeable area of Arab territory had been seized and this was later legalized by the Knesset under the Land Acquisition Law of 1953. In addition, Arab lands were taken by the military authorities on military grounds and given to Jewish settlers. Financial compensation was offered, but those who had lost their property refused to accept such payment in the hope that the land would be returned. The majority of land and houses taken belonged to Palestinian Arabs who had fled during the fighting; this was confiscated under the Absentees’ Property Law of 1950. This property was given to Israel’s new immigrants. Approximately 418 Arab towns were taken over during this period. Dismayed by this state of affairs, dispossessed Arabs harboured deep resentment against those who had seized their land that had been inherited from ancient times and their ownership of which the British Mandate had respected. This transformation of Arab life in Palestine was coupled with the loss of Arab control. Arabs had had no political power under Ottoman rule or during the British Mandate. After Israel’s defeat of Arab states during the 1949 campaign, Ben-Gurion instituted the law of abandoned property in 1950, resulting in the acquisition of agricultural land, urban real estate, houses and shops. In this way Arab wealth and influence were totally undermined."
Cohn-Sherbok casually presents that Israel was a fundamentally intolerant colonialist project, an ethnostate by design which aimed to keep the Palestinians as a permanent underclass to prevent resistance, and then moves on as if it didn’t compromise his view of Palestnians being the principal cause for unrest in the region. Excuse me? Is there really no possible criticism for Israel militarily controlling the lives and movements of an entire race of indigenous people? Flabbergasting, honestly.
In summary, I deeply disliked this book, finding the pacing and level of detail inappropriate and miscalculated, whether the reader was new to the topic or already comfortable with the subject. I also found the events and discussion points (or lack thereof) to make the discussion deeply frustrating for both authors. Altogether, I give the book 1.5 stars for the interesting concept of the book and because it was also occasionally informative by presenting diverging historical narratives and letting the reader consider these different framings.
January 26, 2021
This book was a brilliant primer on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, especially for someone like me- a complete beginner when it comes to this topic. The book helped to supplement my knowledge on the conflict while also reading JSTOR articles. I would highly recommend this book for those looking for a detailed introduction on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In all honesty, I did not read the book from cover to cover; the reason being I was using it for dissertation research, thus much of it wasn’t entirely relevant. However, I did skim through most chapters which helped me grasp some understanding of other important events that have occurred in the history of the conflict. With that said, when I have some free time, I will definitely come back to this and read it from cover to cover.
Out of all the books and sources I used for my dissertation, this one in particular was unique as it provides the reader with both versions of the conflict so far. The first half was written by Jewish rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok and the second half was written by Dawoud El-Alami, a Palestinian lecturer on Islam. Being able to see both sides of the debate is extremely important for something as contentious as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as it provides the reader with a real insight into the events while understanding the mentality behind each side. This provides a real eye-opening and thought-provoking read. When researching and writing a topic like this, it is almost impossible to find unbiased sources, but I found with this book I was able, to some extent, to make up my own mind. The fact that the book is split into two viewpoints proved extremely useful for my dissertation, in particular, as I am writing about the causes of the 1948 Palestinian Exodus and heavily focussing on the Jewish and Palestinian narrative of this event.
Out of all the books and sources I used for my dissertation, this one in particular was unique as it provides the reader with both versions of the conflict so far. The first half was written by Jewish rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok and the second half was written by Dawoud El-Alami, a Palestinian lecturer on Islam. Being able to see both sides of the debate is extremely important for something as contentious as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as it provides the reader with a real insight into the events while understanding the mentality behind each side. This provides a real eye-opening and thought-provoking read. When researching and writing a topic like this, it is almost impossible to find unbiased sources, but I found with this book I was able, to some extent, to make up my own mind. The fact that the book is split into two viewpoints proved extremely useful for my dissertation, in particular, as I am writing about the causes of the 1948 Palestinian Exodus and heavily focussing on the Jewish and Palestinian narrative of this event.
February 19, 2019
Oneworld Beginners Guides' "The Palestine-Israeli Conflict" is an important and unique book as it allows both sides of the problem to be heard, for that alone the book is worth 4 stars! The first half of the book was written by the rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok and the second half was done by Palestinian lecturer Dawoud El-Alami. This is really great as when studying history and current events, it is almost inevitable and unavoidable for the author to input some bias on the event/issue but this book allows you to make up your mind. I also found it helpful because after reading both the Palestinian and Jewish history, I still felt torn, but after reading the perfect culmination of the book in the brief debate between the two authors at the end, there was more clarity in my mind. In my opinion, the best thing one can do with such a seemingly un-solvable issue that also may seem like it doesn't affect you is to educate yourself on the history and the present status of the problem instead of immediately panicking as you feel you have to always pick a side. This pressure to take a side is displayed today in many shapes and forms but this book teaches to go in with a free-spirited open-mind, listen to everyone/gather information and only then take a stance while also always respecting others stances and opinions.
Anyway, the history of the problem which is often ignored today gives you a deeper insight and perspective to what is happening today and I learnt that there is no complete right or complete wrong side. I have retrieved many facts from the book and others and collected them on to a document. This is the first of many that I will read on the Palestine-Israeli Conflict and has sparked curiosity to learn more and engage in discussions. It must be remembered that these discussions should be a game of intellectual tennis (rallying and learning) instead of rugby (attempting to destroy your opponent without acknowledging their arguments).
All in all, great informative book, however, I would of liked to of seen a longer debate section at the end.
Anyway, the history of the problem which is often ignored today gives you a deeper insight and perspective to what is happening today and I learnt that there is no complete right or complete wrong side. I have retrieved many facts from the book and others and collected them on to a document. This is the first of many that I will read on the Palestine-Israeli Conflict and has sparked curiosity to learn more and engage in discussions. It must be remembered that these discussions should be a game of intellectual tennis (rallying and learning) instead of rugby (attempting to destroy your opponent without acknowledging their arguments).
All in all, great informative book, however, I would of liked to of seen a longer debate section at the end.
April 6, 2025
'The Palestine-Israeli Conflict: A Beginner's Guide' by Dan Cohn-Sherbok and Dawoud El-Alami. I'm not a beginner in matters to do with this conflict but picked this book up as it's unusual to see a book that claims to be depicting it from both sides. The two authors are colleagues at the University of Lampeter in Wales, one is Jewish and the other Palestinian. The book starts from the Jewish perspective and explains the history and rise of Zionism, the formation of the State of Israel, and the conflicts and wars following that. The second half is from the Palestinian perspective and covers the same period. I felt that both authors were quite fair and objective in their writing though it's impossible for there not to be some bias of course. I leant some things I didn't know before, but overall it was a good reminder of the many things I've forgotten (there's an awful lot to remember when a conflict has been running for so long and so much has happened). The book was updated in 2015. I'm hoping they'll do another update in the next few years as I'd really like to get their perspectives on the current atrocities and escalations.
December 17, 2023
This covers modern Israeli history from prefounding to the present day. Told once by a Jew, once by an Arab and finishing with a debate. It covers the basics but also several events that would fly under the radar. While, both authors have an obvious bias, the underlying history tells a story of the Israelis slowly encroaching more and more on the Palestinians country and rights (with a lot of help from the international community), while hostility from the Palestinians steadily grew.
The Jewish author does paint a convincing case of why the Jews needed a homeland but the Arab writer has the much easier job of showing how they fulfilled this need by unfairly bullying that homeland's natives out of a country. It seems to me that Israel supporters can only win arguments by ignoring this part of history and focusing on modern Arab terrorism (which is definitely bad) and acting as if it came out of nowhere.
The Jewish author does paint a convincing case of why the Jews needed a homeland but the Arab writer has the much easier job of showing how they fulfilled this need by unfairly bullying that homeland's natives out of a country. It seems to me that Israel supporters can only win arguments by ignoring this part of history and focusing on modern Arab terrorism (which is definitely bad) and acting as if it came out of nowhere.
May 24, 2017
From the age of 10 onwards my life, albeit peripherally, was affected by the conflict in Northern Ireland. I saw how hatred could deepen and widen the schism between communities living together. The conflict in Palestine between the state of Israel and the Palestinians of the West Bank has been going on longer, has been more violent and more repressive than the Northern Ireland situation. Violence has bred violence, repression has deepened hatred and division, peace talks have been on the verge of success time without number; there are now generations of citizens of the disputed territories; the problem seems to be ever more intractable. The only future is to give peace a chance. Let us not forget the suffering and let us keep up the pressure to find an equitable solution; I cwertainly will but don't expect resolution in my lifetime, sadly.
November 29, 2020
I had a superficial understanding of the issues around Israel and Palestine before reading this, and while this book is informative you’re always aware that these are basically two long essays by people on opposite sides of this incredibly polarising situation. It’s good for basic history and dates and events, but you have to do a fair bit of reading between the lines and comparing what one guy says with the other.
They both try to be fair but I think the faults of the book are best exemplified by the debate section at the end where both authors choose which facts and arguments to use so they can “win”.
What I really want is a book about the Middle East peace process which is like King Leopold’s Ghost is to the Congo. Something truly in-depth and balanced, fair and factual.
They both try to be fair but I think the faults of the book are best exemplified by the debate section at the end where both authors choose which facts and arguments to use so they can “win”.
What I really want is a book about the Middle East peace process which is like King Leopold’s Ghost is to the Congo. Something truly in-depth and balanced, fair and factual.
January 8, 2024
Solid 3.5-4 stars. A good introduction, done with a genuine attempt at keeping it balanced. First you have the history from one side and then it begins again and tells from the other side with some rebuttal back and forth at the end. There's a lot of dates and events and on to the next type history, really only brief summary if things but it is an introduction, not a comprehensive history. Weirdly i felt more sympathy for the Palestinian side with the Israeli accounting and more sympathy for the Israeli side when the Palestinian side was presented. It was interesting to see what each side played up or left out in their histories. I wanted more from each writer and some independent analysis but i can't knock it for what it's not supposed to be.
March 9, 2024
I often have bones of contention with so-called “beginners guides” because, more often than not, they’re far too complicated for such a term. However, with this book, I didn’t feel it was the case.
Although it was a difficult read, both emotionally and intellectually, it was particularly interesting at the end during the debate between co-authors. I’ll admit I still don’t, and don’t believe I’ll ever, feel advised / educated enough to understand and speak about the issues between Palestine and Israel, but I want to keep trying to read books like this for some background knowledge. At least it’s better than relying on an Instagram infographic.
Although it was a difficult read, both emotionally and intellectually, it was particularly interesting at the end during the debate between co-authors. I’ll admit I still don’t, and don’t believe I’ll ever, feel advised / educated enough to understand and speak about the issues between Palestine and Israel, but I want to keep trying to read books like this for some background knowledge. At least it’s better than relying on an Instagram infographic.
July 7, 2021
not sure I can really give this book a rating nor can I say I “enjoyed it” in the traditional sense.
What this book did do was make me realise how little I know about this conflict and how awful that is considering our countries white-centric interference with it. Really useful to have both a Palestinian and Israeli perspective on the events to give a well rounded picture of the complicated nature of this situation.
Would recommend to anyone wanting to know more about this awful situation and the nuances that allowed it to happen.
What this book did do was make me realise how little I know about this conflict and how awful that is considering our countries white-centric interference with it. Really useful to have both a Palestinian and Israeli perspective on the events to give a well rounded picture of the complicated nature of this situation.
Would recommend to anyone wanting to know more about this awful situation and the nuances that allowed it to happen.
July 11, 2024
If you want to better understand the long-standing conflict in the Middle East, then this book presents a detailed, nuanced view. Other reviews have rated the book poorly as it is too dense to be a ‘Beginner’s Guide’ but I believe to try and simplify the situation in Palestine over the last 100+ years and strip it back to basics would be to do a huge disservice to the complexity of the conflict. By reading this book slowly, taking notes as you go, and revisiting chapters, you can start to grasp just how complex and nuanced this conflict is.
March 19, 2019
As someone who knows very little about the conflict I was very pleased with this book. It gave a good overview of the history without being dogmatic to either side. My only quibble is I wish the bibliography had been more expansive as I felt I have only begun to scratch the surface (as a beginners guide suggests!) and I was not sure where to turn next for more information. Nevertheless if you are looking a for a good overview of the conflict I would recommend this.
February 21, 2023
Excellent book on the topic. Both sides of this tragic and complicate conflict are represented, which helps give a balanced view. Be sure to read the most recent 5th edition, published in 2022 (ISBN: 978-0861543700) I’ve just returned from the area, While there I spent 3 nights in the West Bank city of Bethlehem. The deep injustices perpetrated against Palestinians is evident everywhere. But I want to learn both sides. This book helps.
November 28, 2017
Very good book. Highly recommendable for those who want an introduction on the Palestine-Israel conflict. Very general and for the average reader. Brief history about Israel/Palestine by both a Palestinian and Israeli scholars. It´s also interesting to see that there are some major disagreements in the story. It´s interesting to see how each side thinks.
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