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M**D
A Most Informative History of the Conflict in Israel-Palestine
I've recently read a number of books on the Israel-Palestine conflict, most of them by Jewish historians, and providing good overall accounts of the history. But the most informative book I found on the conflict was written by a Palestinian-American historian, Rashid Khalidi, The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism and Resistance, 1917-2017. It was written before the current war, but is able to shed considerable light on it. The author's family was living in Palestine in the 1800 when it all began, included many prominent officials. and kept a detailed family archive, to which the author had full access. The result is a rich history and a relatively balanced one. There is criticism of the PA, the PLO and Hamas, though the author was unaware of Israel's financing of Hamas, as well as of Israel. It's well-written and a highly recommended read.
F**H
Know your history!
Fantastic book that gives details and dates of the catastrophe of the Palestinian people. It will make you open your eyes and want to learn more. It also makes you wonder why western history has blocked this from teachings. Fantastic book to get a true understanding of the injustices that are taking place in Palestine and to the Palestinians. Heartbreaking truths of how inhumane, corrupt and heartless some people could be. EVERYONE should read this book! I plan to share it with my children when they are older.
A**B
One of the best works on Palestine
One of the best works on the genocide against the Palestinian people. Academic, yet written for everyone!
T**S
Inside account from the Palestinian side with the customary claim to the moral high ground.
The book is a good source of information, giving a timeline of the last hundred years. It’s obviously from a different perspective, and a strongly partisan and sanctimonious one at that. But it’s a good thing to hear the Palestinian perspective, even if Khalidi can be in an insufferable perpetual victim mode. As such, he ducks or superficially addresses some of the most serious issues that are the Palestinians own problem.The first is the shocking violence they have committed, with a level of cruelty that is incomprehensible to many Westerners. Deliberately targeting and trying to inflict as much bloodshed on innocent civilians, including elderly, women, and children. ‘Deliberate’ the operative word there. He talks about this savagery in the abstract, but his only apparent problem with it is that is can be a PR setback. And, of course, even his scant mentioning of it is always preceded with a denunciation of Israeli use of force, as if it’s only a reaction to the Israeli violence, and as if that justifies it. While the disproportionate use of force by Israel is a legitimate issue, the moral equivalence argument falls short because Khalidi only seems to be troubled by one side of it. He just can’t face that there is a very real depraved cruelty, and it’s not just a false image propagated by Israeli propaganda with their influence on the US media. It’s real, its wrong, it has a hugely negative effect on sympathy for Palestinians, and it’s a Palestinian problem.The other issue he ducks, and scarcely mentions, is Islam. And how it affects the entire issue. His book reads as if everyone is non-religious. In reality, the Palestinian issue is a huge for Muslims, including the radical element, who have made it their rallying cry. Whether he likes it or not, Palestine is given as a reason for almost every genuine Islamic terror attack, and it is reflexively given as an excuse afterward. And this includes 9/11, which, incredibly, Khalidi doesn’t even mention in the book. Khalidi has no problem being judgmental throughout the book, but he hides under the table when it comes to how Palestine is a raison de guerre and a rationalization for real, and savage, Islamic terror worldwide.On the bright side, he gives a good account of the United States’ role in the negotiations. It was interesting to read that James Baker and George Mitchell had a more balanced view in the conflict, but they were overrun or outmaneuvered by the hardline pro Zionists, like Dennis Ross. The United States position became so one sided that they may as well have just sat on the Israel side of the table. Something that is evident to anyone paying attention on the matter.So read the book to get a lot of historical information and to get a different perspective, even if the perspective, while interesting, includes denial.
D**L
Disturbing and informative
A deeply disturbing book about the colonization of Palestine. Everyone should read the book to understand the Palestinian perspective. Not always evenhanded--it skips over many violent Palestinian acts (Munich etc). Still, it is an important book to read.
J**N
Painful Truth Well Written
If you feel you want to know the modern history of the conflict between Palestinians and the State of Israel this is a solid choice. In all likelihood, it will change the lens through which you view and understand the conflict and the region. You may end up asking yourself dangerous questions like, "Why haven't I been exposed to this history up until now?" Why indeed.The author is both a historian and someone with personal experience in the region. The book contains the historical and the personal making it a great read. It's painful history to read because it was and remains painful history still unfolding before our eyes. It's not a comprehensive history nor does it claim to be, but if you want an insider's view of the period from 1917 - 2017 this is very much worth the cost of your time and money. This book just might change you. It will surely give you food for thought and raise lots of questions. If you have an opportunity watch an interview with the author online (not hard to find) and you will get his background up front and make your reading richer.
W**I
an absolute must read for Americans
This book is so meaty and detailed that it took me a really long time to get through, but I feel like this is an essential read for everyone, but especially Americans, right now. The Israeli and American propaganda/public relations machine has really convinced Americans that we – – and Israel – – are on the right side of history. However, we are not. We have been being lied to for decades and it's time that we start to make all of our decisions from a place of being educated and informed on those topics versus following along with whatever party we subscribe to. Anyone claiming that this is an anti-Israel book hasn't read it. It is history that has been withheld from us in order to continue to make Israel look like the victim. It is not antisemitic, but it is anti-Zionism which are two different things.
A**U
an excellent work
The author is extremely knowledgeable and is as objective in his opinions as is possible given the nature of the conflict and given the author’s heritage.
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