Israel/Palestine (Hot Spots in Global Politics series) [Paperback]

Alan Dowty (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 5, 2005 | ISBN-10: 0745632025 | ISBN-13: 978-0745632025 | Edition: 1

• New edition of this widely adopted introduction to the Isreali-Palestinian conflict
• Fully revised and updated, the second edition also includes a new chapter on the so-called fourth stage of the conflict.
• Written by one of the worlds leading authorities on the conflict, who is recognized for the even-handedness of his approach to this complex and sensitive topic
• Assumes no prior knowledge on the part of the reader
• Includes an extensive chronology of events at the back of the book

Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book is a superb little gem. It is very well written, makes good use of quotes and sources, and, most of all, and excellent introduction to the complexities of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Dowty is remarkably fair. Both sides have their views presented in a compelling manner, both die-hard Zionists and Palestinian activists will find much to admire – and resent – about this book." – Steven David, Johns Hopkins University

"Alan Dowty’s Israel/Palestine is an authoritative and extraordinarily valuable text for courses on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Rare for its scrupulous attention to balance and careful examination of the responsibilities of all sides, Dowty not only offers an opportunity to evaluate critically their differences but also suggests the commonalities out of which the conflict could be resolved." –S. Ilan Troen, Brandeis University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

Review

"This book is a superb little gem. It is very well written, makes good use of quotes and sources, and, most of all, and excellent introduction to the complexities of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Dowty is remarkably fair. Both sides have their views presented in a compelling manner, both die-hard Zionists and Palestinian activists will find much to admire – and resent – about this book." – Steven David, Johns Hopkins University

"Alan Dowty’s Israel/Palestine is an authoritative and extraordinarily valuable text for courses on the Arab-Israeli conflict. Rare for its scrupulous attention to balance and careful examination of the responsibilities of all sides, Dowty not only offers an opportunity to evaluate critically their differences but also suggests the commonalities out of which the conflict could be resolved." –S. Ilan Troen, Brandeis University and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Polity; 1 edition (July 5, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0745632025
• ISBN-13: 978-0745632025
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,294,496 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Book on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, August 16, 2005

By 

Ilan Peleg "Professor Ilan Peleg" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Israel/Palestine (Hot Spots in Global Politics series) (Paperback)

This is a truly excellent book on one of the most difficult conflicts in today's world, the dispute between Israelis and Palestinians over what Professor Dowty calls, thoughtfully, "Israel/Palestine". This small volume is as great an introduction to the conflict as I have read in a long time.

The book has many strong points. The most important among them:

1. It is genuinely balanced, giving a fair description, analysis and even prescription to a conflict on which almost anything said is considered biased by one party or the other (and often both!). Dowty achieves a measure of "objectivity" (assuming that true objectivity is beyond reach) by letting each party speak in its own voice. You will not find in this book straw men or cartoonish descriptions of what the conflicting parties allegedly believe. This fairness is as refreshing as it is unusual.

2. The book is very well written, as accessible as poissible, and clearly organized. Other books on the Arab-Israeli conflict run 800-900 pages; Dowty does it in 240 pages. While more details are, of course, possible--this small volume ought to be looked upon as an introduction, an invitation to learn more.

3. Professor Dowty identifies correctly the cause of the conflict as "the claim of 2 peoples to the same piece of land" (p. 4) and demolishes convincingly alternative explanations (myths that tend to perpetuate the conflict).

4. Although this is a brief book, I find it highly sophisticated. For example, the author offers a good, rational discussion of solutions to the conflict (pp. 77-79 and in other places)

5. Despite the space limitations that must have been imposed on the author, he makes good use of maps (without which one cannot understand the analysis) and, in general, his use of sources reflects his expertise.

This is a very useful book for college courses, the attentive public and intelligent readers interested in comprehending this highly complicated dispute. It supplies the historical background without which no fruitful discussion of the contemporary dilemmas can take place. If you are interested in UNDERSTADING the conflict rather than in propaganda (on either side), this volume should be on your shelf.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best and most up to date introduction to the subject, October 7, 2005

By 

M. Aronoff (U.S.A) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Israel/Palestine (Hot Spots in Global Politics series) (Paperback)

Alan Dowty's Israel/Palestine is simply the best, most coherent, concise, up to date, and balanced introduction to the tortured relations between Israel and the Palestinians available. It is scrupulously fair and even handed without sacrificing analytical rigor. It provides the historical background and dispels conventional myths; that it is an age-old conflict based on ethnic hatred rooted in religion and insoluble because of endless violence. He accurately and concisely defines the conflict as "the claim of two peoples for the same piece of land" (p.4). Dowty fairly relates both the Jewish and Arab narratives, the emergence of Israel, the "re-emergence" of the Palestinians as active players after the 1967 war up to the first Intifada to contextualize his insightful analysis of the failure of the Oslo peace process and its implications. He devotes a complete chapter to an examination of the core issues; territory and settlements, Jerusalem, security issues, and refugees which he concludes with a general prognosis. I quote just one of Dowty's many profound insights: "The lack of attention to one's own impact on the politics, society, and public attitudes of the other side seems to be a fixed attribute of Middle East conflicts. Perhaps the `winner' in the Arab-Israeli conflicted will be the first party to realize how much power it has to influence the internal dynamics of the other side and to use this power effectively" (200).The concluding chapter, "The Perfect Conflict" examines tragic aspects of the clash of right with right and the mutual sense of victimhood. Dowty critically examines the option of a binational state and rejects it as unpractical and supports the two-state solution as the only practical solution. He analyzes the role of the extremists on both sides and the policy of unilateral disengagement in his concluding analysis. I have used this book as a required text in an advanced undergraduate seminar in political science and my students are very enthusiastic about it. It is so well written without resort to professional jargon that it is appropriate for nonprofessionals interested in the subject. I highly recommend it.

Professor M.J. Aronoff (Rutgers University)

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars innnovative, perceptive, and insightful, September 6, 2005

By 

Prof. Abraham Ben-Zvi (Washington,DC,USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Israel/Palestine (Hot Spots in Global Politics series) (Paperback)

Israel/Palestine is simply a great text.Against the backdrop of the plethora of highly polemic and biased works,which approach the Israeli-Palestinian predicament in a highly-charged and partisan manner,Professor Dowty's book is an immensely valuable contribution.The book is balanced,thoughtful and insightful.It is based upon a most scrupulous and comprehensive research.The author manages to beautifully and compellingly combine facts and analysis into a very coherent whole, and the outcome is an integrative,clear and concise interpretation of the origins and evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.The book avoids any sweeping generalizations and wholesale accusations of any of the parties.It is nuanced and sophisticated,seeking to elucidate the core and dynamics of the conflict,which originated in certain incompatible ideologies,legacies and cultural experiences rather than in conspiracies or imperialistic schemes.It consistently juxtaposes these perspectives,and the outcome is a most analytical,well-written and powerful text,which is permeated with empathy for both sides and is based upon a most profound understanding of historical processes.It is a must book for anyone interested in the conflict.