The Arab-Israeli Dilemma (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East) [Paperback]

Fred J. Khouri (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 605 pages
• Publisher: Syracuse Univ Pr (Sd); 3 edition (August 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0815623402
• ISBN-13: 978-0815623403
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,039,054 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book balances the slavishly pro-Israel tomes, February 28, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Arab-Israeli Dilemma (Contemporary Issues in the Middle East) (Paperback)

A well-written book, and well documented. No matter what your view of the Arab-Israeli conflict, this book balances against the 99% of books that take a pro-Israel slant. I especially appreciated Khouri's calm, objective manner of discussing the issues.

Is this book outdated? Heck no! What I think is interesting is that history basically never changes in the Middle East. This book is essential for any scholar of the area.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars reader beware: this is a stongly biased book, January 30, 2009

By 

Jonathan (Burlingame, CA USA) - See all my reviews

I picked up this book looking for a solid and comprehensive overview of the historical context for current tensions between Israel and the Arab nations. In fact, the back cover has several quotes from reputable sources suggesting the value of this 'balanced' overview to diplomats, historians and students of the middle-east.
It became clear, however, just two chapters in (covering pre-1945 history), that this wasn't an 'objective' account by an unbiased historian. In addition to the many citations to contemporaneous information sources (many from UN accounts), there are numerous general and unsubstantiated references throughout the book to the 'extensive Zionist financial and political influence' supposedly contributing to the creation of the state of Israel. This premise draws heavily on the repeatedly discredited 19th century Russian publication entitled "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" which continues to be published today in dozens of languages throughout every region in the world. In addition, Zionist military actions are repeatedly characterized as "terrorist" activity while the opposing Arab and Palestinian military actions are downplayed and rarely characterized as anything unjustified.
The book offers a very detailed view of the events related to the establishment of Israel, but is seriously flawed by its author's heavy anti-Israeli bias.
For a very accurate and highly readable book on the subject, I recommend instead Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israel Conflict (published by the Near East Report)

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Reader beware: this is a strongly biased book, January 30, 2009

By 

Jonathan (Burlingame, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Arab-Israeli Dilemma (Hardcover)

I picked up this book looking for a solid and comprehensive overview of the historical context for current tensions between Israel and the Arab nations. In fact, the back cover has several quotes from reputable sources suggesting the value of this 'balanced' overview to diplomats, historians and students of the middle-east.
It became clear, however, just two chapters in (covering pre-1945 history), that this wasn't an 'objective' account by an unbiased historian. In addition to the many citations to contemporaneous information sources (many from UN accounts), there are numerous general and unsubstantiated references throughout the book to the 'extensive Zionist financial and political influence' supposedly contributing to the creation of the state of Israel. This premise draws heavily on the repeatedly discredited 19th century Russian publication entitled "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion" which continues to be published today in dozens of languages throughout every region in the world. In addition, Zionist military actions are repeatedly characterized as "terrorist" activity while the opposing Arab and Palestinian military actions are downplayed and rarely characterized as anything unjustified.
The book offers a very detailed view of the events related to the establishment of Israel, but is seriously flawed by its author's heavy anti-Israeli bias.
For a very accurate and highly readable book on the subject, I recommend instead Myths and Facts: A Guide to the Arab-Israel Conflict (published by the Near East Report)