The Arab-Israeli Conflict: A History

by Ian J. Bickerton

Though more than sixty years have passed since the signing of the proclamation of the State of Israel, the impact of that epochal event continues to shape the political policies and public opinion of not only the Middle East but much of the world. The consequent conflict between Arabs and Israelis for sovereignty over the land of Palestine has been one of the most bloody, intractable, and drawn-out of modern times. It continues today in cycles of aggressive violence followed by temporary, tenuous ceasefires that are marked and complicated by resolute opinions and fractious religious ideologies. In this timely volume, noted military historian Ian J. Bickerton cuts through the complex perspectives in order to explain this struggle in objective detail, describing its history from the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire following World War I to the present day. In concise and clear prose, Bickerton argues that the present problem can be traced to the fact that each side is trapped by a conception of their past from which they seem unable to break free. This attachment and reaction to history has had a negative influence on the decision-making of Arabs and Israelis since 1948. Ultimately, Bickerton maintains that the use of armed force has not, and will not, resolve the issues that have divided Israelis and Arabs. The Arab-Israeli Conflic t is a plea for reasoned diplomacy in a situation that has been dominated by extreme violence. This book will appeal to a wide general audience seeking a balanced understanding of this enduring struggle that still dominates headlines.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1993

About the author

Ian James Bickerton was educated at the University of Adelaide in South Australia, where he gained his B.A. with Honors in History. He received his M.A. at Kansas State University before completing his Ph.D. at the Claremont Graduate School, CA. He is a member of the School of History at the University of New South Wales, and has taught the history of the modern U.S.A., the history of U.S. foreign relations, and the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict. He has also taught at the University of California Santa Barbara, the University of Missouri at Kansas City, and he has lectured in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe and Israel.

Ian has traveled widely in the U.S. carried out research in most U.S. presidential libraries (where he met President Harry. S. Truman) and Israeli State Archives, and during the past decade has taught U.S exchange students in Florence, Italy.

Reviews

[Dimitar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everyone has heard of the MENA conflict at one point or another, and especially so in the recent year. I chose to read this book in particular for history on it because it was ranked as one of the least-biased books out there (or at least the textbook - A History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict) was ranked as such, so I figured that the author is unlikely to break away from that theme in this one.

The book gives a good starting point of the events that lead up to the establishment of an Isreali state and what the reaction to that was from surrounding nations and states, it goes through the major events since then and it truly paints, in my opinion, a good objective picture of the good and bad actions of either and all sides involved in it and in what ways those have and are actively sabotaging the goal of achieving peace and also goes even further to debunk a lot of propaganda that has been put out there.

[Piotr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is 20 years old. Reading it was deeply devastating, especially when accompanied by the news, images, and TV reports from Gaza and the West Bank — as well as by memories of the events in Israel from last October.
Ukrainian Bahmut and Pokrovsk, Palestinian Gaza City or Khan Yunis - while the World looks away - scorched earth approach prevails, genocide accusations get more and more substantial.
And I just don't know what is more terrifying – the increasing cruelty of the perpetrators or the complete helplessness of the bystanders.

[j3z7Gt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Highly recommended for who wants to read a brief history about Arab-Israeli conflict.

[Gordon Arthur · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes on the major challenge of giving a dispassionate history of the Arab-Israeli conflict and, to a large extent, succeeds, despite the (Australian) author's pro-Palestinian position (mine is broadly pro-Israel). His job is not made any easier by the heavy use of blatant propaganda by both sides and the lack of access to Arab and Palestinian official documents. Bickerton introduces the events leading up to the conflict, starting in the 1920s, and traces it to 2009, when the book was published. He shows how both sides have contributed to the current mess and both sides have repeatedly turned down chances for peace. While I do not agree with all his conclusions, it is difficult to argue with his final conclusion that the conduct of both sides in this conflict is sheer lunacy.

[Brigitt · Rating 4 out of 5]

clear concise analysis with different viewpoints about this eternal conflict

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wahat to say. Bloody reading.

[Hardik Lohani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Concise and to the point. With some pragmatic views from author to resolve the impasse. Keep in your reading list.

[Bram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Start here.