Customer Reviews

One Palestine Complete

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It takes skill to teach history through engaging personal narratives. Segev did exactly that, and I enjoyed the book thoroughly as a result. I picked it up because I am very interested in the Isael-Palestine issue and wanted an introduction. Segev's book answered all the factual questions I had, and more. I understand, however, that this is a controversial book -- for portraying the British as being more sympathetic than perhaps they actually were and for creating the appearance of equivalence between violence on the Palestinian side and violence on the Israeli side. I can't comment on the validity of these criticisms. I should say, however, that his book has left me as committed to Israeli as I ever was...

If I wrote a book about Hitler, outlining his achievements, his leadership abilities, the technical advances under his leadership and his dark shiny hair, would I be inaccurate? Of course not, just showing a very selective truth.

Segev is the worst kind of racist, a self-loathing Semite who perpetuates every Jewish stereotype within the first chapters. I was shocked by the bias even as early as the introduction. Speaking of Palestine on Page 5, "They (The British) opened up the country to mass Jewish immigration: by 1948, the Jewish population had increased more than ten fold." This is historically inaccurate as the White Paper severely restricted Jewish immigration to Palestine from 1939 onwards, costing thousands of lives of people who were unable to flee Nazi Europe.

Within the first 30 pages there are at least two stories of scared Jews being protected by non-Jews, poor, little scared things. While later in the book hardly one page mentions Joseph Trumpeldor one of the greatest and bravest heroes of Israel who died defending his country. I won't lie, I didn't finish this book. I couldn't stomach it. Shame on you Segev. I hope you're exposed as the charlatan you are, I'm sure history won't be kind.

This is a captivating book about Palestine with immense detail. Written with superb academic prowess by Tom Segev, we get a detailed look at the history of the country/region known in modern times as Palestine. Highly recommended for those looking for an objective look at the area.