Shared Histories: A Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue [Library Binding]

Paul Scham (Editor), Walid Salem (Editor), Benjamin Pogrund (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2005 | ISBN-10: 1598740121 | ISBN-13: 978-1598740127

There is no single history of the development of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli historical narrative speaks of Zionism as the Jewish national movement, of building a refuge from persecution, and of national regeneration. The Palestinian narrative speaks of invasion, expulsion, and oppression. Its no wonder peace remains elusive. This volume attempts to present both histories with parallel narratives of key points in the 19th and 20th centuries to 1948. The histories are presented by fourteen Israeli and Palestinian experts, joined by other historians, journalists, and activists, who then discuss the differences and similarities between their accounts. By creating an appreciation, understanding, and respect for the “other,” the first steps can be made to foster a shared history of a shared land. The reader has the opportunity to witness first hand a respectful confrontation between the competing versions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

This volume attempts to present a dialogue between Israeli and Palestinian scholars over competing narratives in the 19th and 20th century history of the Middle East to 1948, in the hopes of creating an appreciation, understanding, and respect for the “other.”

From the Back Cover

"The reader, whether steeped in the history of the conflict or simply looking for some explanation of why it is so intractable, sees through the eyes of the protagonists themselves why mutual understanding is so difficult and, in the process, begins to understand why the two sides have not been able to come to terms."
—Edy Kaufman, University of Maryland and Hebrew University of Jerusalem (emerita)

This rare book will help inform Israelis and Palestinians of each other’s narrative, as well as identify points of agreements, which will contribute to diminishing the misunderstanding and hostility that have undermined peace efforts and reconciliation.
—Philip J. Mattar, Editor, The Encyclopedia of the Palestinians, and former Senior Fellow at the United States Institute of Peace

There is no single history of the development of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. There are two. The Israeli historical narrative speaks of Zionism as the Jewish national movement, of building a refuge from persecution, and of national regeneration. The Palestinian narrative speaks of invasion, expulsion, and oppression. No wonder peace remains elusive. This volume attempts to present both histories with parallel narratives of key points in the 19th and 20th centuries to 1948. The histories are presented by 14 Israeli and Palestinian experts, joined by other historians, journalists, and activists, who then discuss the differences and similarities between their accounts. By creating an appreciation, understanding, and respect for the "other," the first steps can be made to foster a shared history of a shared land. The reader has the opportunity to witness, at first hand, a respectful confrontation between the competing versions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Library Binding: 304 pages
• Publisher: Left Coast Press (September 30, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1598740121
• ISBN-13: 978-1598740127
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,619,745 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shared Histories: Superb execution of an important concept, May 16, 2006

By 

Ami Isseroff "Friend of Peace" (Rehovot, Israel) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shared Histories: A Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue (Paperback)

"Shared Histories" is a bold experiment that has achieved notable success. It has begun the process of producing a common understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If we cannot all agree on the interpretation, we must at least all be cognizant of the interpretations of different sides, and we must be able to agree on the bare facts. The authors initiated what is essentially a dialogue project between Israeli and Palestinian historians. This book is the result of that dialogue.

If you have read more than one account of the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, you know that it is virtually impossible to get an impartial account of any event or an impartial jury regarding any question in that conflict. The making of history is skewed not only by the inevitable honest personal biases, but often by conscious attempts to "spin" events in order to satisfy preconceived ideological notions. Two narratives inevitably were generated among two peoples, and an "industry" supporting and amplifying each of those narratives was generated to perpetuate and enlarge the differences. This situation does not aid in our understanding. More important, it is intended to vindicate one or the other side, and is not conducive to the convergence toward elements of a common perception needed as the basis for peace.

This book, and the process it has initiated, can go a long way to remedying the problem. Most of the major issues separating Israel Zionist and Arab Palestinian percepts of the genesis of the conflict are covered. Participants from both sides present and discuss their views of demographic changes and immigration, the evolution of Zionism and of the Palestinian Arab movement, the 1948 War of Independence, refugee question and more. They have created a genuine intellectual document in which working historians present their views and are challenged by their peers.

If you are seriously interested in understanding the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and are not afraid of slaughtering some ideological pet roosters and sacred cows, you need to read this book.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So fast, so great!, May 12, 2007

By 

T. Tran - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Shared Histories: A Palestinian-Israeli Dialogue (Paperback)

Thank you so much for the super fast shipping, and plus, the book looks so new!!! Great deal...Will definitely shop with you again! :)