Two rabbis,visiting Palestine in 1897,observed that the land was like a bride,"beautiful,but married to another man". By which they meant that, if a place was to be found for Israel in Palestein,where would the people of Palestine go? This is a dilemma that Israel has never been able to resolve. No conflict today is more dangerous than that between Israel and the Palestinians. The implications it has for regional and global security cannot be overstated. The peace process as we know it is dead and no solution is in sight. Nor, as this book argues, will that change until everyone involved in finding a solution accepts the real causes of conflict, and its consequences on the ground. Leading writer Ghada Karmi explains in fascinating detail the difficulties Israel's existence created for the Arab world and why the search for a solution has been so elusive. Ultimately,she argues that the conflict will end only once the needs of both Arabs and Israelis are accommodated equally. Her startling conclusions overturn conventional thinking-but they are hard to refute.
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Ghada Karmi's storytelling eloquence is celebrated. Now the sheer power and sense of her analysis throws down a challenge to those who claim the 'problem' of Israel and Palestine cannot be solved. She shows it can. -- John Pilger Ghada Karmi's storytelling eloquence is celebrated. Now the sheer power and sense of her analysis throws down a challenge to those who claim the 'problem' of Israel and Palestine cannot be solved. She shows it can. -- John Pilger The demise of the two-state solution makes Ghada Karmi's work a compelling read. Her book is well-written and extraordinarily honest. Her bold vision of a single egalitarian state for Palestinians and Israelis is the only way to break the current log jam and bring an end to Apartheid Israel -- Dr Nur Masalha, Reader in Religion and Politics, Director of the Centre for Religion and History and of the Holy Land Research Project, St Mary's University College, University of Surrey The demise of the two-state solution makes Ghada Karmi's work a compelling read. Her book is well-written and extraordinarily honest. Her bold vision of a single egalitarian state for Palestinians and Israelis is the only way to break the current log jam and bring an end to Apartheid Israel. -- Dr Nur Masalha, Reader in Religion and Politics, Director of the Centre for Religion and History and of the Holy Land Research Project, St Mary's University College, University of Surrey Ghada Karmi's direct and incisive prose is a welcome contribution to a field overburdened. ... The book introduces in the most convincing manner the merit of the one state solution as a settlement that would benefit all concerned: the Palestinians wherever they are, the Israelis and the Middle East as a whole. -- Ilan Pappe, author of A History of Modern Palestine: One Land, Two Peoples Two rabbis visited Palestine in 1897 to examine its suitablity as a Jewish state and observed that the land was like a bride 'beautiful but married to another man'. These days the conflict ... has implications for the whole world. Karmi, one of our most renowned commentators on the Isreali-Palestinian conflict, has some startling ideas and conclusions in this fascinating book. -- Hampstead and Highgate Express
About the Author
Ghada Karmi is one of the world's most renowned commentators on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and a well-known figure on British radio and TV. Born in Jerusalem, she was forced to leave as a child in 1948 and grew up in Britain where she became a physician, academic and writer. Currently, Karmi is a research fellow and lecturer at the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter. She is the author of several books, including her most recent, widely acclaimed memoir, In Search of Fatima.
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30 of 34 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This book is a must read. The author begins speaking of the two rabbis who approached the so-called "land without a people" in 1898 and observed how beautiful a place it was but that it was 'married to another man'. Karmi focuses on the point that the 1948 'Nakba' has over time been sidelined in negotiations and mainstream media to be replaced by more recent 'realities on the ground' caused since 1967 in the occupied (now "disputed" due to weak journalism) territories. There is also some extremely interesting early European Jewish history in the opening stages of the book, later only to be wiped out by the apathy of Europe and the horrors of the Nazi holocaust.
Karmi's summary of the timeline from this date through the first Camp David accords to the 2006 Gaza implosion is told beautifully. Each time she describes the internal inefficiency that paralysed the Palestinians from coherent action in talks, she explains how Israel rejected every attempt by the Arab states who compromised for peace and preferred to do separate deals with them individually fragmenting their unity. Eventually the Arab states must take responsibility for their weakness.
This was a diplomatic coup for Israel but aded to the catastrophic situation in the occupied territories.
Karmi uses UN Resolutions, international law, and the International Declaration of Human Rights throughout the book as a basis for her argument and her greatest achievement in the end is to suggest various alternatives and solutions to the situation. She provides analysis of why each might fail and succeed, but she is the first author since Richard Crowley's 'Dispatches from the Middle East' that has succeeded in suggesting plausible answers. Both authors have produced the finest accounts of the conflict I have read, and both acknowledge that no Peace Treaty between the two sides can hope for LASTING success, unless it starts on the foundation of equality and most importantly justice.
Karmi's summary of the timeline from this date through the first Camp David accords to the 2006 Gaza implosion is told beautifully. Each time she describes the internal inefficiency that paralysed the Palestinians from coherent action in talks, she explains how Israel rejected every attempt by the Arab states who compromised for peace and preferred to do separate deals with them individually fragmenting their unity. Eventually the Arab states must take responsibility for their weakness.
This was a diplomatic coup for Israel but aded to the catastrophic situation in the occupied territories.
Karmi uses UN Resolutions, international law, and the International Declaration of Human Rights throughout the book as a basis for her argument and her greatest achievement in the end is to suggest various alternatives and solutions to the situation. She provides analysis of why each might fail and succeed, but she is the first author since Richard Crowley's 'Dispatches from the Middle East' that has succeeded in suggesting plausible answers. Both authors have produced the finest accounts of the conflict I have read, and both acknowledge that no Peace Treaty between the two sides can hope for LASTING success, unless it starts on the foundation of equality and most importantly justice.
17 of 21 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Solution for an Enduring Dilemma from a Renaissance Type Scholar and Activist
May 31, 2008
Format:Paperback
A Solution for an Enduring Dilemma from a Renaissance Type Scholar and Activist
Nineteenth Century Europe witnessed the height of nationalism and colonialism. Almost every nation ventured out to conquer a piece of the world, believing that any land not inhabited by Europeans is figuratively empty. And why not the Jews? Central and East European Jews, of Turkic/Slavic stock, commonly known as Ashkenazim, and currently constituting 80% of world Jewry, established their first colony in Palestine in 1882. That same year, the British invaded and occupied Egypt, and the colonialist Cecil Rhodes established a colony in south eastern Africa naming it after himself (now Zimbabwe).
It is said that the leaders of the Zionist Movement dispatched two rabbis to report on the country of their colonialist ambition. The rabbis reported back: "The bride is beautiful, but alas, she is already married to another man", meaning that the country was well- populated. That did not deter the leaders who persisted with their project to create a colonial-settler state, to be named Israel, and in the process cleansing out most of its endogenous population. Thus the enduring dilemma of what is to be done with the Palestinians and resolve this conflict that continues to cause so much misery for the whole population of that area and threaten world peace. This is the meaning of the title of this book.
The relationship of an author to her book is akin to that of the mother to her daughter. Thus a brief introduction of the author is worthwhile. Ghada Karmi, the nine year old of a prominent scholar, was more fortunate than most of those who were driven out of Jerusalem. Her family landed in England in 1949. If every cloud has its silver lining, the catastrophe that befell the Palestinians had its positive effects. Losing their land and homes, they turned to education as their means of survival and source of pride.
Ghada seems to have internalized this culture par excellence. She first qualified in and practiced medicine, and followed this with a doctorate in History of Medicine, and continues to teach, research and consult on these subjects. At the same time, she has been continuously involved in politics as a scholar and activist. I know of a man who would be proud of Dr. Karmi. He is Rudolph Virchow, the great German physician and scientist, and a leader of the 1848 revolution in Germany and Europe. When asked how he justified taking time from his medical pathology research to be active in politics replied: " Politics is medicine on a large scale".
This book is the latest of several books in and scores of articles written by this author. One of these books is an autobiography entitled "In Search for Fatima". Consider this fact: this memoir is rated as 9 on the Flesh-Kincaid Readability Index, meaning that it can be understood by a reader with 9 years education. In contrast "Married to Another Man" is rated 16. Few authors can be so versatile.
Eloquent, assertive and attractive, Dr. Karmi gained access to high political circles. This book benefits from her first-hand experience. It is also a scholarly and well- documented treatise. Even the most informed will find new material in it. The book is divided into seven chapters, an introduction, and an epilogue. Each chapter can be read on its own, but all serve as a useful background to understand the dilemma and the logic of the proposed solution. Two of the chapters are on the cost of Israel to the Arabs and the Palestinians.
Two others delve into the reasons the Jews and the West established and continue to sustain Israel. A chapter is titled " The Peace Process", and another discusses the various solutions that have been proposed, including the two-state proposal. The book culminates with a chapter arguing that the only logical solution is one democratic state for all those who live on the land of historic Palestine and Palestinian refugees.
To those who are pessimistic about finding a satisfactory solution to this enduring conflict, the author answers that this pessimism is unwarranted if one thought through the logic of the situation. To those with quick accusations of utopianism, anti-Semitism , or even treachery, she counters that such judgments are a lazy way out of having to think about ideas that conflict with what has become familiar, conventional and also serves vested interests. It is worthwhile taking the time to find out.
Nineteenth Century Europe witnessed the height of nationalism and colonialism. Almost every nation ventured out to conquer a piece of the world, believing that any land not inhabited by Europeans is figuratively empty. And why not the Jews? Central and East European Jews, of Turkic/Slavic stock, commonly known as Ashkenazim, and currently constituting 80% of world Jewry, established their first colony in Palestine in 1882. That same year, the British invaded and occupied Egypt, and the colonialist Cecil Rhodes established a colony in south eastern Africa naming it after himself (now Zimbabwe).
It is said that the leaders of the Zionist Movement dispatched two rabbis to report on the country of their colonialist ambition. The rabbis reported back: "The bride is beautiful, but alas, she is already married to another man", meaning that the country was well- populated. That did not deter the leaders who persisted with their project to create a colonial-settler state, to be named Israel, and in the process cleansing out most of its endogenous population. Thus the enduring dilemma of what is to be done with the Palestinians and resolve this conflict that continues to cause so much misery for the whole population of that area and threaten world peace. This is the meaning of the title of this book.
The relationship of an author to her book is akin to that of the mother to her daughter. Thus a brief introduction of the author is worthwhile. Ghada Karmi, the nine year old of a prominent scholar, was more fortunate than most of those who were driven out of Jerusalem. Her family landed in England in 1949. If every cloud has its silver lining, the catastrophe that befell the Palestinians had its positive effects. Losing their land and homes, they turned to education as their means of survival and source of pride.
Ghada seems to have internalized this culture par excellence. She first qualified in and practiced medicine, and followed this with a doctorate in History of Medicine, and continues to teach, research and consult on these subjects. At the same time, she has been continuously involved in politics as a scholar and activist. I know of a man who would be proud of Dr. Karmi. He is Rudolph Virchow, the great German physician and scientist, and a leader of the 1848 revolution in Germany and Europe. When asked how he justified taking time from his medical pathology research to be active in politics replied: " Politics is medicine on a large scale".
This book is the latest of several books in and scores of articles written by this author. One of these books is an autobiography entitled "In Search for Fatima". Consider this fact: this memoir is rated as 9 on the Flesh-Kincaid Readability Index, meaning that it can be understood by a reader with 9 years education. In contrast "Married to Another Man" is rated 16. Few authors can be so versatile.
Eloquent, assertive and attractive, Dr. Karmi gained access to high political circles. This book benefits from her first-hand experience. It is also a scholarly and well- documented treatise. Even the most informed will find new material in it. The book is divided into seven chapters, an introduction, and an epilogue. Each chapter can be read on its own, but all serve as a useful background to understand the dilemma and the logic of the proposed solution. Two of the chapters are on the cost of Israel to the Arabs and the Palestinians.
Two others delve into the reasons the Jews and the West established and continue to sustain Israel. A chapter is titled " The Peace Process", and another discusses the various solutions that have been proposed, including the two-state proposal. The book culminates with a chapter arguing that the only logical solution is one democratic state for all those who live on the land of historic Palestine and Palestinian refugees.
To those who are pessimistic about finding a satisfactory solution to this enduring conflict, the author answers that this pessimism is unwarranted if one thought through the logic of the situation. To those with quick accusations of utopianism, anti-Semitism , or even treachery, she counters that such judgments are a lazy way out of having to think about ideas that conflict with what has become familiar, conventional and also serves vested interests. It is worthwhile taking the time to find out.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Seems anything can be published these days. Israel is not IN "Palestine" Israel IS "Palestine" "Palestine" is the bogus European name for Israel. The Near East is home to ancient civilizations and Israel is one of them but palestine is not. The palestine spoken of today was an invention of the British when they named southern Syria/Israel "palestine" after World War I, in the aftermath of the collapse of the Ottoman Empire where there was no such palestine.
Palestine got its artificial name when the Romans invented the Latin name "palaestina" to impose on Israel in the second century in retribution for the Second Jewish Revolt, in an attempt to erase the Jewish identity of the land and the 1000 years of Jewish nationhood. They based "palaestina" on the Philistines who were ancient enemies of the Jews, thus, further punishing the Jews. 19th century European Christians would later Anglicize "palaestina" into the English term "palestine"
Funny thing, since there is no letter p in Arabic, so-called palestinians cannot even write their invented identity in their own Arabic language, reflecting the foreign origin of the name "palestine"
The foreign origins of "palestine" are further reflected in the fact that "palestine" does not appear in the so-called palestinians" own Koran, while Israel appears over and over, including an entire chapter, surah 17, entitled, "Bani Isra'il," Children of Israel. Nor does palestine appear in the Old Testament nor in the New Testament. Israel appears 2500 times in the Bible. This situation indicates that Israel has been the name of the land among inhabitants of the Near East, not palestine
1 Samuel 3:20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.
John 12:13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! "Blessed is the king of Israel!"
Quran 10:93: We settled the Children of Israel in a beautiful dwelling place, and provided for them sustenance of the best: it was after knowledge had been granted to them
Had the Romans not invented the Latin name "palaestina" and imposed it on Israel, European Christians would never have reinvented the name as English "palestine" and the name Israel would have remained intact through the centuries.
Palestine got its artificial name when the Romans invented the Latin name "palaestina" to impose on Israel in the second century in retribution for the Second Jewish Revolt, in an attempt to erase the Jewish identity of the land and the 1000 years of Jewish nationhood. They based "palaestina" on the Philistines who were ancient enemies of the Jews, thus, further punishing the Jews. 19th century European Christians would later Anglicize "palaestina" into the English term "palestine"
Funny thing, since there is no letter p in Arabic, so-called palestinians cannot even write their invented identity in their own Arabic language, reflecting the foreign origin of the name "palestine"
The foreign origins of "palestine" are further reflected in the fact that "palestine" does not appear in the so-called palestinians" own Koran, while Israel appears over and over, including an entire chapter, surah 17, entitled, "Bani Isra'il," Children of Israel. Nor does palestine appear in the Old Testament nor in the New Testament. Israel appears 2500 times in the Bible. This situation indicates that Israel has been the name of the land among inhabitants of the Near East, not palestine
1 Samuel 3:20 And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.
John 12:13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! "Blessed is the king of Israel!"
Quran 10:93: We settled the Children of Israel in a beautiful dwelling place, and provided for them sustenance of the best: it was after knowledge had been granted to them
Had the Romans not invented the Latin name "palaestina" and imposed it on Israel, European Christians would never have reinvented the name as English "palestine" and the name Israel would have remained intact through the centuries.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
Poorly researched and one-sided
This is a great book for those who hate Israel and hate Jews even more. It has all the requisites - made-up 'facts', un-sources (a newspaper and date is not a 'source'), and... Read more
Published 21 months ago by Mommykins
5.0 out of 5 stars
Married to another man
A fantastic fictional example of what happened to the human relationships in Germany when the Nazis reigned. Read more
Published on February 18, 2009 by Peter Zander
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