Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict: A History with Documents [Paperback]

Charles D. Smith (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 6, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0312437366 | ISBN-13: 978-0312437367 | Edition: Sixth Edition

Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict brings the multi-faceted story of the struggle in the Middle East to life for readers. Smith places the conflict in historical and political perspective, facilitating readers' understanding of how this complex situation has evolved over time. By examining its underlying causes, individual and group motives, and the roles that countries around the world have played in the region, Smith helps readers understand the history behind the headlines. He presents this in-depth account in an engaging, accessible book that includes historical and current voices on all sides of the struggle. The book's carefully selected documents, maps, photographs, and chronologies provide context for the narrative, and its up-to-the-minute coverage of developments captures readers' interest and helps them better understand the latest news in the region.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In addition to being well written and easily accessible for students, the text is also authoritative. Smith's treatment of the conflict is fair and analytically thoughtful." -- Toby Jones, Rutgers University

"The text is clear and concise. The introductions and conclusions to each chapter will keep students on track." -- John Calvert, Creighton University

Praise for the previous edition:

"I would recommend Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict because of its comprehensive treatment, logical presentation, clear language, and balanced discussion of a controversial subject." -- Sohail Hashmi, Mount Holyoke College

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

CHARLES D. SMITH is professor of Middle East history in the Department of Near Eastern Studies, University of Arizona. He has held numerous grants for research in the Middle East, was a Fulbright scholar in Egypt, and served as a member of the Institute for Advanced Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He has published scholarly articles on many topics, including Egyptian Islam, Anglo-French imperialism in the Middle East, and nationalism and identity. Author of Islam and the Search for Social Order in Modern Egypt, he is currently writing a study of Anglo-French relations and European imperial goals in the Middle East during World War I.

Product Details

• Paperback: 624 pages
• Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's; Sixth Edition edition (December 6, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312437366
• ISBN-13: 978-0312437367
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #727,966 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 111 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Scholarly well-documented history, January 18, 2002

By 

John Crane (North Carolina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict (Paperback)

"Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict" provides a concise and impartial history of Palestine, a topic which is the subject of much distortion and outright propaganda. Charles Smith, the author, relates the relevant historical facts, without judgemental commentary or extraneous information. His sources for significant facts are thoroughly documented in plentiful footnotes at the end of each chapter, which is probably why this book is often used as a text in university courses.

Smith's factual and scholarly approach to such a sensitive topic contrasts sharply with that of Mitchell Bard, author of the ubiquitous, though propagandistic, "Idiot's Guide to the Middle East Conflict", which sets a new standard for one-sided apologetics. Bard has worked for AIPAC, a pro-Israel lobbying group, and one of the most effective and powerful lobbying groups in America.

Some of the facts impartially reported by Smith invariably collide with popular misconceptions, which probably explains the defensive reactions reflected in some of the above polemical reviews of the book. In summary, if you want to know what events have led to the current situation in Palestine, without judgement of either side, read Smith's book.

42 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Actually, it's almost balanced., May 17, 2000

By 

Robert A Harris (Virginia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict (Paperback)

Smith's book provides good detail on plenty of issues and benefits from attempting to be balanced even if he tends to blame Israel more for problems , especially in the last 30 years. Essentially, Smith tries to give the flavor of how each side sees events, rather than doing all the interpretation for you. While more entrtaining, David Fromkin's 'A Peace to End all Peace' in no way treats the Palestinians as having legitimate interests, while Noam Chomsky's books have no empathy for the Israeli position. Another author with a fairly balanced perspective is Itamar Rabinovich.

41 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, objective introductory text, April 1, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Palestine and the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Fourth Edition: A History with Documents (Paperback)

Much ink and paper has been wasted on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict by propagandists claiming to be historians, so it is a rare pleasure to actually come across a solid, objective and even-handed introductory text such as this that anyone can use to gain an insight into the root causes of this conflict. Unlike the author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Middle East Conflict", the author of this book has no personal involvement with either side, and he does not try to spin-doctor, excuse or justify the atrocities committed by either said in this long historical conflict.