The Arab-Israeli Conflict (Studies in Contemporary History) [Paperback]

T. G. Fraser (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0312127596 | ISBN-13: 978-0312127596 | Publication Date: September 15, 1995

The historic handshake between Israeli Premier Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat in September 1993 marked a decisive moment in the Arab-Israeli conflict. It was an event which many had thought as unlikely as the fall of the Berlin Wall or the end of apartheid. Since 1945, the struggle between Arab and Jew over the same piece of land in the Middle East seemed one of the most entrenched problems in the world: on five occasions - in 1948, 1956, 1967, 1973 and 1982 - it erupted into war. That it involved two tragedies makes the conflict no easier. For the Jews the events of Hitler's Holocaust, an event in the history of civilised Europe barely imaginable even today, stirred what became an irresistible urge to secure their own state. For the Arabs, the creation of that state, Israel, meant the destruction of a way of life they had known for centuries, and their own hopes of a state - Palestine. For over four decades there seemed scant prospect of reconciling these two tragic, and increasingly embittered, legacies. Professor Fraser's clear and concise text sets out the basic arguments on each side and traces their complex, and often bloody, path towards the moves leading to the Israeli-PLO accord.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Fraser has provided us with a concise history of the Arab-Israeli conflict that is clear, balanced, and impartial. [He] has successfully managed to identify and assess the critical perspectives of both Arabs and Israelis. This edition brings readers up to date with the most recent developments surrounding this volatile conflict."--Ahmed H. Ibrahim, South West Missouri State University

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

About the Author

T.G. Fraser is Professor of History, University of Ulster at Coleraine.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 165 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan (September 15, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312127596
• ISBN-13: 978-0312127596
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,845,719 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Balanced and User-Friendly for Novices, October 5, 2006

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Eric G. Tenbus - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Arab-Israeli Conflict, Second Edition (Studies in Contemporary History) (Paperback)

I use the Fraser text in my undergraduate courses because of its brevity and its ability to break down the complexity of this conflict-laden relationship into a usable fashion. Fraser also provides a uniquely and consistent British/European perspective on the crisis that the other brief texts in this field ignore. Thus, it forces my students to think beyond their American blinders and, frankly, to realize that the U.S. is not the sole power involved or the power that should be forced to accept the lion's share of blame for the Arab-Israeli conflict. For example, students are often dumbfounded to find out that it was not the US that saved Israel from an early destruction in 1948, but the Soviet Union through Czechoslovakia. They say, "but we always learned that the US was to blame for . . ." Use this book if you want a sober examination and balance in what is no doubt an intractable situation with highly-partisan perspectives.