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Fatal Embrace: Christians, Jews, and the Search for Peace in the Holy Land
Author Mark Braverman shows how the Jewish quest for safety and empowerment and the Christian endeavor to atone for centuries of anti-Semitism have combined to suppress the conversations needed to bring about a just and lasting peace in the Holy Land. Fatal Embrace charts Braverman's journey as an American Jew struggling with the difficult realities of modern Israel. The book vividly describes the spiritual and psychological forces driving the discourse and is a call to action to Americans of all faiths.
390 pages, Paperback
First published February 1, 2010
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73 people want to read
About the author
Mark Braverman
17 books3 followersMark Braverman is the executive director of the Holy Land Education and Peace building Project, a grassroots organization that promotes interfaith dialogue, peace-building, and conflict resolution in the Middle East. Braverman currently lives in Bethesda, Maryland, with his wife, Susan.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
October 31, 2012
As soon as I pressed the 5th star, I began to feel defensive. Is the book really that good? Do I really agree with all of Braverman's criticisms about the founding of the State of Israel and the multitude of sins that followed, and with where he ends up? And aren't his arguments a bit repetitious and thus the book longer than it needs to be? Do I like some of the religious thinkers/theologians he strongly, although not fatally embraces, such as Spong and Borg? Well, at least not as much as he does.
But, then, there is so much I like about Mark Braverman's book: his writing style is direct and uncluttered and he makes his points strongly and clearly without ranting; he calls out AIPAC and its grip on the U.S. Congress; he calls out the idea that any criticism of the State of Israel (i.e. Israeli government) is a criticism of Jews, Judaism, and is anti-Semitic; he calls out Christians who uncritically embrace the State of Israel and its Zionist goals; he insists that sometimes one must take a stand for what is just rather than make the usual one hand and on the other hand arguments, creating a false equivalency.
Braverman was raised in Philadelphia but his ancestors were Palestinian Jews, his grandfather a direct descendant of one of the great Hasidic rabbis of Europe, he attended Hebrew school and was steeped in Judaism, as a child he put his dimes is a little cardboard folder to help buy and develop land for Jewish settlement in Palestine, he has close relatives who still live in Israel. Then, on one of his many visits to Israel as an adult, he toured the occupied territories and saw the Separation Wall grabbing huge swaths of Palestinian land, the checkpoints, the restricted roads, and the continued construction of illegal Jewish settlements. He was forever changed and his relationship with Israel was forever changed.
What is it, he asks, that gives Israel the right, the entitlement, the liberty to occupy and, by military force, maintain control over land belonging to others, colonize it, and strive for ethnic cleansing in this land? He argues that the Jewish belief in their exceptionalism as God's chosen people - separate, tribal, and apart - is the root of the problem and until Jewish exceptionalism yields to the legitimacy of the other, a two-state or a one-state solution is impossible. He also chastises Christians who, in their attempt to atone for the anti-semitism of the past, seem to believe that Israel is beyond criticism. In a well argued section, he asserts that anti-Zionism is NOT anti-semitism. Zionism, he explains, is an ideology and can be embraced or criticized or rejected like any other ideology; and Israel is a political entity, a nation, that like any other nation state, should be held to standards of human rights and international law.
He lays bare the argument about the right to security. Under that banner, all becomes defensible. He wants Jews to give up their sense of victimhood, while certainly not denying the holocaust or other persecutions. Like past Speaker of the Knesset, Abraham Burg("The Holocaust Is Over, We Must Rise From Its Ashes"), Braverman asks "what is our [Jews] attachment to suffering?"
Rather than the Old Covenant, Braverman - not a Christian - argues that Jesus made a New Covenant and he made it universal by dissolving the tribal nature of the Old Covenant and extending it to all humanity.
So where does Braverman end up? He does not believe that peace will ever be achieved in "the Holy Land" until Israel admits that its founding was inextricably bound up with its dispossession of the indigenous inhabitants of the land and that the greatest threat to Israel's survival today is not an external enemy but its unwillingness to accept/embrace the other people who live in its midst. Is this something beyond a two-state solution? Yes, Braverman says, with the colonization and fragmentation of the West Bank, the two-state solution has already passed us by. Is a one-state solution possible? It's Braverman's call to action.
But, then, there is so much I like about Mark Braverman's book: his writing style is direct and uncluttered and he makes his points strongly and clearly without ranting; he calls out AIPAC and its grip on the U.S. Congress; he calls out the idea that any criticism of the State of Israel (i.e. Israeli government) is a criticism of Jews, Judaism, and is anti-Semitic; he calls out Christians who uncritically embrace the State of Israel and its Zionist goals; he insists that sometimes one must take a stand for what is just rather than make the usual one hand and on the other hand arguments, creating a false equivalency.
Braverman was raised in Philadelphia but his ancestors were Palestinian Jews, his grandfather a direct descendant of one of the great Hasidic rabbis of Europe, he attended Hebrew school and was steeped in Judaism, as a child he put his dimes is a little cardboard folder to help buy and develop land for Jewish settlement in Palestine, he has close relatives who still live in Israel. Then, on one of his many visits to Israel as an adult, he toured the occupied territories and saw the Separation Wall grabbing huge swaths of Palestinian land, the checkpoints, the restricted roads, and the continued construction of illegal Jewish settlements. He was forever changed and his relationship with Israel was forever changed.
What is it, he asks, that gives Israel the right, the entitlement, the liberty to occupy and, by military force, maintain control over land belonging to others, colonize it, and strive for ethnic cleansing in this land? He argues that the Jewish belief in their exceptionalism as God's chosen people - separate, tribal, and apart - is the root of the problem and until Jewish exceptionalism yields to the legitimacy of the other, a two-state or a one-state solution is impossible. He also chastises Christians who, in their attempt to atone for the anti-semitism of the past, seem to believe that Israel is beyond criticism. In a well argued section, he asserts that anti-Zionism is NOT anti-semitism. Zionism, he explains, is an ideology and can be embraced or criticized or rejected like any other ideology; and Israel is a political entity, a nation, that like any other nation state, should be held to standards of human rights and international law.
He lays bare the argument about the right to security. Under that banner, all becomes defensible. He wants Jews to give up their sense of victimhood, while certainly not denying the holocaust or other persecutions. Like past Speaker of the Knesset, Abraham Burg("The Holocaust Is Over, We Must Rise From Its Ashes"), Braverman asks "what is our [Jews] attachment to suffering?"
Rather than the Old Covenant, Braverman - not a Christian - argues that Jesus made a New Covenant and he made it universal by dissolving the tribal nature of the Old Covenant and extending it to all humanity.
So where does Braverman end up? He does not believe that peace will ever be achieved in "the Holy Land" until Israel admits that its founding was inextricably bound up with its dispossession of the indigenous inhabitants of the land and that the greatest threat to Israel's survival today is not an external enemy but its unwillingness to accept/embrace the other people who live in its midst. Is this something beyond a two-state solution? Yes, Braverman says, with the colonization and fragmentation of the West Bank, the two-state solution has already passed us by. Is a one-state solution possible? It's Braverman's call to action.
October 14, 2025
Mark Braverman’s book, ‘Fatal Embrace,’ is not easy reading and can get heavy, especially if you are unfamiliar with Judaism and Christian mythology.
Apart from focusing on Mark Braverman’s personal journey, grappling with the realities of modern-day Israel’s horrible legacy, and the degradation of Zionism, he dives deep into the complex relationship between Christians and Jews across the millennia.
Christians persecuted Jews, but, after the Holocaust, appear to focus on expiating their collective guilt and on appeasing the Jews. The Jews – especially the Zionists – cast themselves as the chosen ones, and the eternal victims forced to defend themselves and to blame the Palestinians for the injustice they mete out to the Palestinian people.
The book also explores the powerful Zionist lobby in Europe and, in particular, in America, but this aspect of the book gets lost in the theological discussion.
Mark Braverman is clear and direct and, unlike many others, does not shy away from criticizing powerful lobby groups like AIPAC.
The book has three shortcomings. The author does not describe the psychological state of the Israeli Jews, nor the state of their culture. While seeking to dehumanize the Palestinians, have they also become dehumanized?
Additionally, although the book primarily focuses on the Jewish-Christian relationship, it does not describe or explore the Palestinian perspective.
Nor does he explore why the white Christian world, while expiating their sins of the Holocaust, condones the apartheid and violence meted out to brown Palestinians.
Read the book patiently, especially if you are unfamiliar with Christian and Judaic theology.
Apart from focusing on Mark Braverman’s personal journey, grappling with the realities of modern-day Israel’s horrible legacy, and the degradation of Zionism, he dives deep into the complex relationship between Christians and Jews across the millennia.
Christians persecuted Jews, but, after the Holocaust, appear to focus on expiating their collective guilt and on appeasing the Jews. The Jews – especially the Zionists – cast themselves as the chosen ones, and the eternal victims forced to defend themselves and to blame the Palestinians for the injustice they mete out to the Palestinian people.
The book also explores the powerful Zionist lobby in Europe and, in particular, in America, but this aspect of the book gets lost in the theological discussion.
Mark Braverman is clear and direct and, unlike many others, does not shy away from criticizing powerful lobby groups like AIPAC.
The book has three shortcomings. The author does not describe the psychological state of the Israeli Jews, nor the state of their culture. While seeking to dehumanize the Palestinians, have they also become dehumanized?
Additionally, although the book primarily focuses on the Jewish-Christian relationship, it does not describe or explore the Palestinian perspective.
Nor does he explore why the white Christian world, while expiating their sins of the Holocaust, condones the apartheid and violence meted out to brown Palestinians.
Read the book patiently, especially if you are unfamiliar with Christian and Judaic theology.
March 28, 2010
‘The fight is between those who seek peace and those who seek war.’
In this book, Dr Braverman makes a case for how the Jewish yearning for safety and self-determination, and the Christian desire to atone for centuries of anti-Jewish persecution, have combined to prevent the dialogue needed to bring about peace in Palestine. Dr Braverman offers insights from his own Jewish perspective and contends that standing up for justice for the Palestinian people is not anti-Semitic. The book concludes with some specific steps needed to bring about peace in the Holy Land as well as some resources for further study.
I found this an interesting and challenging read. Dr Braverman looks to American society to change the political wind, to challenge all involved to look at the changes required to bring about a lasting peace in the Holy Land. Clearly, America has a leadership role here because of its close relationship with Israel and because of its own superpower role. But how essential is America’s role? ‘If we are to have a new, shared covenant, it must be one that does not look backwards to the archaic and painful past but forward to a day when justice will reign.’
How marvellous it would be if all of the parties involved could establish a peace which respects the rights and dignity of all occupants of the Holy Land: if, somehow, the participants could move beyond ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ to ‘We’. If you are interested in any aspect of the future of Israel and of the Palestinian people, then you may find this book sheds useful light on the past history, the current issues and challenges. Dr Braverman has identified many of the barriers to peace: how hard can it be for constructive dialogue between participants to follow?
‘We must transcend the tribal barriers. It is not too late.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
In this book, Dr Braverman makes a case for how the Jewish yearning for safety and self-determination, and the Christian desire to atone for centuries of anti-Jewish persecution, have combined to prevent the dialogue needed to bring about peace in Palestine. Dr Braverman offers insights from his own Jewish perspective and contends that standing up for justice for the Palestinian people is not anti-Semitic. The book concludes with some specific steps needed to bring about peace in the Holy Land as well as some resources for further study.
I found this an interesting and challenging read. Dr Braverman looks to American society to change the political wind, to challenge all involved to look at the changes required to bring about a lasting peace in the Holy Land. Clearly, America has a leadership role here because of its close relationship with Israel and because of its own superpower role. But how essential is America’s role? ‘If we are to have a new, shared covenant, it must be one that does not look backwards to the archaic and painful past but forward to a day when justice will reign.’
How marvellous it would be if all of the parties involved could establish a peace which respects the rights and dignity of all occupants of the Holy Land: if, somehow, the participants could move beyond ‘Us’ and ‘Them’ to ‘We’. If you are interested in any aspect of the future of Israel and of the Palestinian people, then you may find this book sheds useful light on the past history, the current issues and challenges. Dr Braverman has identified many of the barriers to peace: how hard can it be for constructive dialogue between participants to follow?
‘We must transcend the tribal barriers. It is not too late.’
Jennifer Cameron-Smith
August 1, 2014
This book was an eye opener for me. Views similar to mine coming from a Jewish lover of Israel. As the author points out, it is very hard to be critical of Jewish actions in Israel without being considered anti-Semetic. Over the years as I studied the issues from all angles, I have wondered, am I so biased I can't be objective? It was very comforting to find there are others out there with a vast knowledge of the situation who have similar views.
July 17, 2011
This is the powerful personal narrative of an American Jew (descended from Palestinian Jews), whose travels to the land, including the occupied West Bank, transformed his understanding of Israel and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Must read for anyone interested in understanding the Pal-Isr. conflict from a different (than the mainstream U.S. news and Christian sources) perspective.
Must read for anyone interested in understanding the Pal-Isr. conflict from a different (than the mainstream U.S. news and Christian sources) perspective.
December 26, 2010
a Jewish voice calling for Christians to be honest about Israeli apartheid. Tough to read, but helpful.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews