Israel: Opposing Viewpoints [Hardcover]

Bob Anderson (Editor), Janelle Rohr (Editor)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 266 pages
• Publisher: Greenhaven Press; 1st edition (September 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0899084354
• ISBN-13: 978-0899084350
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #6,083,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still the most useful book about Israel after 15 years, December 17, 2004

By 

Jill Malter ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Israel: Opposing Viewpoints (Hardcover)

This is an excellent book about Israel. Rather than gloss over differences of opinion about the country, it selects articles with well-defined viewpoints.

We start with an excerpt from "The Jewish State" by Herzl showing that a Jewish state is necessary to normalize the Jewish people, given that the Jews will not "be left in peace." That's countered by Ahad Ha-am, who argues that Jews ought to be special and refuse a state! And there is a juicy and vicious tidbit against Zionism from Mahatma Gandhi, a person I previously had a high regard for.

Then we see an article by David Ben-Gurion in favor of Zionism and a counterclaim by George Antonius that there is no room in the Levant for any more nations! Plus a fascinating article by Judah Magnes, who is willing to give up on having a Jewish state if there guaranteed Jewish immigration, settlement on the land, Hebrew life, and culture. I think it is interesting that he did not demand freedom. But it hasn't mattered, Jews have had no chance to get any of what Magnes did demand without a state.

There is an outrageous article by Ed Said and others that seems intent on setting a world record for falsehoods per word. And a good article by Peter Schwartz on how the Jews and Arabs value civil rights. There are articles about Israel's value (or lack of it) to the United States. And once you start wondering if Israel is just an American colony, there is an article by Cheryl Rubenberg who implies that America is an Israeli colony! Plus a sober essay by Hyman Bookbinder, who reminds us that the Jewish lobby is not nearly as strong as its enemies assert, but not nearly as weak as they would like it to be.

The presence of opposing views breaks the spell of some of the more absurd articles. For example, Benjamin Beit-Hallahmi might seem to be reasonable if he had the floor to himself when saying that the UN condemned Zionism as racism in 1975. But in this book, his failure to condemn such a lie is properly seen as extreme and ludicrous.

Yitzhak Shamir comes across well, given that he speaks sincerely in favor of fulfilling the dream of Herzl. Kathleen Christison does not, as she tries to advise the Jews to give Arafat what he wants, in effect surrendering now, before it is too late. And there are interesting articles about whether Israel ought to keep all, none or part of the West Bank.

There are also articles debating whether or not Israel should become more religious, less religious, or pluralistic. And we see arguments about the importance of rebuilding the Jewish Temple, and about Divine Purpose.

This is simply a superb book. As the editors claim, one can't understand one's own arguments unless one understands the arguments of those who disagree. But one can't understand the arguments of those who disagree unless one sees them challenged.