The 1967 Arab-Israeli War was a devastating triumph for Israel, which immediately began to establish settlements in the newly conquered territories. Those settlements, and the movement that made them possible, have utterly transformed Israel, and yet until now the full history of the occupation has never been told. Lords of the Land tells that tragic story, and reveals what a catastrophe it has been for both Israel and the Palestinians.
Lords of the Land
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
"Thorough and eye-opening." The Economist "Lords of the Land lets no-one off the hook." London Review of Books"
About the Author
Professor Idith Zertal, a leading Israeli historian, whose essays have been published around the world, is the author of many books and articles on Jewish, Zionist and Israeli history. She currently teachers at the Institute of Jewish Studies at the University of Basel, and lives in Israel and Switzerland. Akiva Eldar is currently the chief political columnist and editorial writer for the Israeli daily Ha'aretz. His columns also appear regularly in the Ha-aretz-Herald Tribune edition. In May 2006 the Financial Times selected him among the most prominent and influential commentators in the world. He lives in Israel.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
62 of 69 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
'Lords of the Land' is unquestionably the definitive account of the settler movement written so far. It sets out in rich detail how successive Israeli governments, including Labour ones supported this disastrous enterprise. It chronicles how Sharon and others on the Israeli right were instrumental in the enterprise. Further then that - it details how intertwined the IDF and government ministries have been with the settlers.
Particularly interesting are the sections regarding the legal mechanisms that have been used over the years for the purpose of settlers aquiring land such as the earlier attempt in the Beth El case to cloke settlements as a "security" consideration to the more sophistacted attempts to turn land in the West Bank into "state land" and ultimately then land for the settlers.
Anyone who cares about peace between Israelis and Palestinian and a two-state solution ought to read this book. Anyone who may naively have thought the settlers were brave Zionist pioneers are likely to be disappointed - if anything, the settlers represent the very opposite - a distortion of Zionism.
Particularly interesting are the sections regarding the legal mechanisms that have been used over the years for the purpose of settlers aquiring land such as the earlier attempt in the Beth El case to cloke settlements as a "security" consideration to the more sophistacted attempts to turn land in the West Bank into "state land" and ultimately then land for the settlers.
Anyone who cares about peace between Israelis and Palestinian and a two-state solution ought to read this book. Anyone who may naively have thought the settlers were brave Zionist pioneers are likely to be disappointed - if anything, the settlers represent the very opposite - a distortion of Zionism.
71 of 84 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The settlements are illegal under both international and Israeli domestic law.
October 13, 2007
Format:Hardcover
A previous reviewer made the shocking (but incorrect) assertion that the legality of the settlements is somehow in question. She is absolutely incorrect. See Article 49 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which explicitly stipulates: "The Occupying Power shall not deport or transfer parts of its own civilian population into the territory it occupies."
Perhaps she should have read the footnotes of this excellent book, or just searched for the terms "prohibition on settlement of occupied territory" to see a comprehensive discussion of this question from a legal perspective.
Obviously many other people (not only the previous reviewer) may somehow fail to understand that the prohibition on settlement on occupied territory was designed specifically to prevent projects like the Nazi plans for Poland, in which large numbers of civilians were transferred to establish agricultural colonies in various areas. The prohibition is absolute and non-derogable (which means that a country can't opt out of it under certain conditions).
As such, the (il)legality of the settlements under international law is almost universally accepted, with the exception of a VERY small number of scholars seeking to justify this blatant breach of international humanitarian law (the law of war). This excellent book shows how the settlement movement has not only violated international humanitarian law, but also Israeli domestic law (see, for example, the Israeli Supreme Court decision ruling that settlements built on the land of the Palestinian village of Belin were illegal since they were built on land stolen from private owners, yet still allowing the Israeli settlers who broke into the unfinished buildings to remain in the homes).
An excellent, well-researched, and highly relevant book.
Perhaps she should have read the footnotes of this excellent book, or just searched for the terms "prohibition on settlement of occupied territory" to see a comprehensive discussion of this question from a legal perspective.
Obviously many other people (not only the previous reviewer) may somehow fail to understand that the prohibition on settlement on occupied territory was designed specifically to prevent projects like the Nazi plans for Poland, in which large numbers of civilians were transferred to establish agricultural colonies in various areas. The prohibition is absolute and non-derogable (which means that a country can't opt out of it under certain conditions).
As such, the (il)legality of the settlements under international law is almost universally accepted, with the exception of a VERY small number of scholars seeking to justify this blatant breach of international humanitarian law (the law of war). This excellent book shows how the settlement movement has not only violated international humanitarian law, but also Israeli domestic law (see, for example, the Israeli Supreme Court decision ruling that settlements built on the land of the Palestinian village of Belin were illegal since they were built on land stolen from private owners, yet still allowing the Israeli settlers who broke into the unfinished buildings to remain in the homes).
An excellent, well-researched, and highly relevant book.
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By D. ROSEN
Format:Hardcover
(This review is of the Hebrew edition of the book). This is a very well written and extremely well investigated book looking into one of the great tragedies of modern times. Rather than try and use the territories captured in 1967 to help solve the Palestinian refugee problem created with its establishment in 1948, Israel decided to colonize them in a way that would make it very hard ever to disengage from them. This book looks at the process through which this occurred, as well as the effects subjugating another people for the last 40 years has had on Israeli society.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
The Nightmare of Greater Israel
Zertal's and Eldar's Lords of the Land is an attempt to provide a comprehensive history of the settlement movement in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip after the 1967 Six Days War. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Eric Maroney
3.0 out of 5 stars
There are better books out there
This book gets at some of the important issues in the debate over settlement in the West Bank, but I felt that the authors were too one-sided. Read more
Published on September 12, 2010 by Emily
5.0 out of 5 stars
Settlements tragedy...
For all of those who love or are just interested in Israel and the idealistic dream it long represented this is must reading! Read more
Published on July 4, 2010 by Lillian Douglas
1.0 out of 5 stars
Definitely not fair and balanced
The book is fine; if it were to admit to its own bias. If this were labeled as a politically opinionated book it would get a passing grade (not that I was THAT impressed with it)... Read more
Published on February 9, 2010 by Christa Rosenberg
1.0 out of 5 stars
Blatant propaganda, no journalistic integrity, no depth in knowledge...
This book is, from the get-go, a cheap shot at Israel and the settlements. The author doesn't even attempt to provide a fair and balanced view of the issue. Read more
Published on February 9, 2010 by David M. Rosenberg
1.0 out of 5 stars
Moshe Dann's review
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2009
Review of LORDS OF THE LAND: THE WAR OVER ISRAEL'S SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, 1967-2007
by Moshe Dann
Lords of the... Read more
Review of LORDS OF THE LAND: THE WAR OVER ISRAEL'S SETTLEMENTS IN THE OCCUPIED TERRITORIES, 1967-2007
by Moshe Dann
Lords of the... Read more
Published on August 6, 2009 by webrand
5.0 out of 5 stars
Essential reading
Deeply researched and well presented examination of post-1967 Israeli settlement in the West Bank and Gaza--the religious settlers' views and government policies--and the effects... Read more
Published on September 24, 2008 by Tess Alexander
2.0 out of 5 stars
Lords of the Lie
It does not take the reader too long to understand where the writers of this book are coming from, and what their general approach is. Read more
Published on January 16, 2008 by Shalom Freedman
1.0 out of 5 stars
propaganda
Propaganda masquerading as scholarship, the authors' "facts" are not verified and tendentious. This book has no pretense of objectivity. Trash!
Published on December 23, 2007 by diogenes
5.0 out of 5 stars
It Presents Facts About Israel, So Expect Bad Reviews, But It's Very...
Outside of the United States, it is generally accepted that the Palestinian people are being treated unfairly and unjustly by Israel. Even many Israelis acknowledge it. Read more
Published on October 12, 2007 by J. Ampang
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