Customer Reviews

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Crisis in the Middle East

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In the last three years I have visited both Israel and some of its Arab neighbours (Jordan and Syria) and have carefully read some of the best books written on the issues affecting the current conflict. I keep asking myself the question: Which of the two sides is right? The answer is extremely complex, as it becomes apparent that the leaders on both sides have opposing visions and are men of war and not of peace. Israel wants to somehow live in an ethnically uniform land, and for that have to "encourage" the Palestinians to leave. Whereto? They don't really care, as long as they leave. The Palestinians, who were there long before the Hebrews, don't want to leave and want those of them who were expelled from their homes over succeding wars to be allowed to return to Israel to live there in peace. Israel doesn't want them back. The vision is not what is lacking; what is lacking on both sides is something called "generosity".

Having said all this, this book helps, through its well-written text and through its very moving pictures, to understand the issues. The book is very current, so it brings its coverage right up to date, in the best journalistic style (trust Reuters for that!). It is non-biased, in that it shows that both sides have a point. Suicide bombers have become so out of despair! Things just have to be talked over! In any negotiation, neither side can expect to win durably unless it is prepared to meet the other side's needs!

Lastly, a key point. Through the pictures which transmit almost unendurable suffering on both sides, one is just as moved to see a Palestinian grandfather shot by Israeli troops than to see a young Israeli killed by a Palestinian suicide bomber. Suffering, and empathizing with it, doesn't know any side. Many Israelis have Palestinian friends and viceversa. Why can't their politicians be more succesful in allowing them to live in peace?

I definitely recommend this book. You'll read it in one afternoon.

This is a very good, NON biased book about the conflict in the middle east. It has the most moving, excellent pictures you can find and is a great book to own. i will save this book, as i am from there. It is such a complex problem but this book explains it very good.

Wow, An excellent Book! I picked up a copy after a friend gave me another of Reuter's books "September 11" which is just like this one, filled with the pictures of the human drama that has come from those tragedies! It was difficult for me to look at that book since I knew so many people in the Towers, but it is a testimony to the human will that these two books illustrate! This is written by the reporters from Reuters, who are right there everyday, so it is good to have a balanced perspective, to know what is going on!

This is an excellent book on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. The book is filled with beautiful photography and good writing. Note that this book is relatively up-to-date (published in July 2002), and it does a fairly nice job explaining how the Oslo Accords fell apart in the latter 1990s. Of particular interest is the second half of the book that has short biographies of the major players involved.

The maps in this book are excellent, showing how the borders have changed with respect to the territories, especially the W. Bank. The best part of this book is the photography: the photos are absolutely gorgeous. This one's a keeper, but be sure to augment your library (and your knowledge) with a more thorough and academic treatment of this conflict's history. e.g. Tessler's book.

If you don't understand why Al Qaeda believes the way they do, you are vulnerable. Don't look at Fox News for an explanation - "They envy our freedom." - read this and have a platform for perspective. It matters to USA what happened. Benevolence, inclusion, understanding, kindness, compassion, justice, love and Hope are the way. That takes a basic knowledge of what is going on in the Middle East and a commitment to understand before taking a stand. We lost thousands, they lost millions. The picture on the cover shows the basic crux and point of all of this. The 3000 year covenant vs. the will of Allah.

Perhaps it is inevitable but this book is like most of the media's coverage of the 'Israeli-Palestinian' conflict. It contains the typical pictures: The Muslim woman in her headscarf and the Israeli soldier, the Arab children and the Israeli soldier, the Arab with a rock and the Israeli tank. The Dome of the Rock. The Jew at the Western Wall. The Arab with his Khaffiyeh and olive tree.

The history is simplistic and often biased. The book does not use the word 'terrorist' but in the footnotes explains that the first use of the word 'terrorist' by the media referred to "Jewish terrorist in Mandatory Palestine." Thus according to Reuters, there are no modern terrorists, but if there were terrorists they would be Jews.

The pictures are the ones made famous all over the world due to the second intifada. The Palestinian throwing the rock at the tank, the Israeli soldier shouting at the Palestinian man. It would have been nice just once to see something original. Perhaps to read about cleaveges within Palestinian society. Perhaps to learn about the Russians who moved to Israeli settlements because of poverty. Perhaps a story about the Bedouin and Druzim in the Israeli army. Perhaps a story about Palestinians killed by other Palestinians, or the role of Palestinian Christians. How about a story about Taybeh and its beer brewery, the only one in Palestine? How about a story about all the suicide bombings in Israel?

No, its easier to be un-original and not look beneath the surface.

Seth J. Frantzman