Still a basic and indespensible account of the Palestinian question, updated to include the most recent developments in the Middle East- from the intifada to the Gulf war to the historic peace conference in Madrid.
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From Publishers Weekly
Said's controversial but instructive Palestinian interpretation of the Mideast conflict now includes a new introduction and epilogue commenting on the intifada , Gulf war and Madrid peace talks.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From the Inside Flap
Still a basic and indespensible account of the Palestinian question, updated to include the most recent developments in the Middle East- from the intifada to the Gulf war to the historic peace conference in Madrid.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
210 of 230 people found the following review helpful
By nadav haber
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Does the fact that I am an Israeli Jew living in Israel mean that I should reject this book ? Does the fact that I think the book is crucially important mean that I am "taking sides" ?
I believe otherwise. I found this book to be very important, as it is an account of a Palestinian - an admittedly interested party in the conflict. Said knows about the Jews and Zionism much more than most Israeli Jews know about the Palestinians. But of course - Said is never "objective" - he himself is a refugee, who describes the side of Zionism as he and many others like him experienced.
Said shows surprising understanding of Zionism - he even says that one cannot compare the situation in Israel to that which existed in South Africa. He says that things here are more complicated. Said acknowledges the achievements of Zionism as far as Jews are concerned, another surprise.
I felt a deep passion for peace and compromise in this book - I believe that the author accepts the reality of a Jewish state in Israel. However, Said points out that no such peace can be achieved as long as Palestinian dreams are constantly shattered or ignored.
There are two sides to this story - I am on one and Said is on the other. Still, this book is important because it acknowledges the existance of two sides, and thus provides a road to conciliation that is so important to all of us.
I think every Jew and every Paelstinian should read this book, and so should evreybody with a serious interest in our troubled piece of land.
I believe otherwise. I found this book to be very important, as it is an account of a Palestinian - an admittedly interested party in the conflict. Said knows about the Jews and Zionism much more than most Israeli Jews know about the Palestinians. But of course - Said is never "objective" - he himself is a refugee, who describes the side of Zionism as he and many others like him experienced.
Said shows surprising understanding of Zionism - he even says that one cannot compare the situation in Israel to that which existed in South Africa. He says that things here are more complicated. Said acknowledges the achievements of Zionism as far as Jews are concerned, another surprise.
I felt a deep passion for peace and compromise in this book - I believe that the author accepts the reality of a Jewish state in Israel. However, Said points out that no such peace can be achieved as long as Palestinian dreams are constantly shattered or ignored.
There are two sides to this story - I am on one and Said is on the other. Still, this book is important because it acknowledges the existance of two sides, and thus provides a road to conciliation that is so important to all of us.
I think every Jew and every Paelstinian should read this book, and so should evreybody with a serious interest in our troubled piece of land.
75 of 91 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
In this book Edward Said presents an argument for the right of Palestinians to the land known as Palestine. Since the 7th century Palestine had been predominantly Arab. For example a 1922 census showed that 78% of the population was Arab. With the creation of Israel in 1948 by the UN, these Arabs were dispersed quite often by force. Ironically 1948 is the same year that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declared that everyone has the right to return to his own country. The right of the Palestinians has been ignored or denied. Not even a plebiscite represents their point of view.
His argument is compeling. Edward Said writes logically and with insight. If finally the reader does not agree with him, the reader will surely think long and hard about it.
55 of 70 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The cover of my book has a quote from the NY Times that says books like this one need to be "read in the hope that understanding will provide a better chance of survival." That quote couldn't be more accurate. The Question of Palestine is a cry for understanding of Arab culture and history, and subsequently a more balanced view of the conflict today (or 1979, when it was published. But that doesn't matter because it is still applicable today).
The Q of Palestine is divided into two main sections, the history of the ignorance of Araba culture and the true nature of Zionism, and how the Palestinians are mobilizing today. Said describes Zionism as both a colonial adventure with little regard for the Arab natives, and the subsequent effort to create facts to make it more acceptable. Said does a remarkable job of describing how the U.S., Israel and the rest of the western world have misperceived the entire conflict because we see the conflict through a western lens. Through this lens, the Arabs are for the most part, innocently ignored. His attempt, then, is to try and give a view that is NOT through this western lens. He shows that yes, contrary to popular opinion, the Arabs DO have a history and culture that have both been destroyed by Zionists. He shows that no, contrary to popular opinion, they will not just get up and leave after being hit on the head enough times. They have a very strong nationalistic pride, and it will only get stronger.
I highly recommend this book. It is definately not aimed at filling the niche of "historically objective, comprehensive history of the conflict" (for that see Benny Morris's "Righteous Victims"). So if you are new to the subject, probably start with something else. But it does fill a necessary roll of a look into the existence and the understanding of a distinct Palestinian pride and culture. Only when enough people start recognizing some of the things Said talks about will the leaders of Israel and the PLO ever find some common ground on which to move toward peace. Essential Reading!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars
"Questionable" History
The "question" about "palestine" that needs to be asked is why Said would devote a book to an invention--palestine--that was merely the European name for Israel? Read more
Published 1 month ago by Kitchen Magician
1.0 out of 5 stars
Edward Said and Me
Like Arafat, this 'palestinian' was actually another Egyptian
by Justus Reid Weiner - Sept 20, 2000 - Middle East Forum
... Read more
by Justus Reid Weiner - Sept 20, 2000 - Middle East Forum
... Read more
Published 6 months ago by abu afak
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than 30 years on...and all too much is still "news"...
...in the truest sense of the word.
Edward Said wrote this book in 1979, around the time of the Camp David accords, one of the many efforts to bring peace to the region. Read more
Edward Said wrote this book in 1979, around the time of the Camp David accords, one of the many efforts to bring peace to the region. Read more
Published 13 months ago by John P. Jones III
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Palestinian Experience
In the introduction, the author states his purpose: "my aim has been to write a book putting before the western reader a broadly representative Palestinian position". Read more
Published on February 15, 2011 by Lex Rex
2.0 out of 5 stars
Not useless, but pretty bad all the same
I'll say this about QP: I'm glad it was written. Having an account of the Palestinian condition serve(d/s) the interests of scholarship. The book makes several good points. Read more
Published on September 13, 2009 by A. Z. F.
2.0 out of 5 stars
The claims of Palestinians
This book is one sided. But most strikingly is that in such books about the Palestine question the historic facts are neglected. Read more
Published on March 21, 2009 by Roman Nies
1.0 out of 5 stars
More Anti-Israel diatribe!
Another propaganda bandwagon: lets blame the Jews!
Dont buy this rubbish along with every other book written buy decieved Jew hating morons. Read more
Dont buy this rubbish along with every other book written buy decieved Jew hating morons. Read more
Published on February 24, 2007 by L. Mullen
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review on "The Question of Palestine"
In "The Question of Palestine" author Edward W. Said analyzes the complexity in recognizing the Palestinian plight that has plagued a society since the establishment of Israel. Read more
Published on December 14, 2004 by Giovanni
1.0 out of 5 stars
The politics of victimization
Edward Said tries to portray the Zionism from its victims' point of view. He arbitrarily asserts that the Palestinians are victims of the Zionism. Read more
Published on November 28, 2004 by Aviv Dagan
1.0 out of 5 stars
Overcharged with ideology
The good thing about the book is that it is very well written and in a clear fashion. This renders such a diffucult topic understandable. Read more
Published on March 20, 2004 by Alex Gurovich Jeifetz
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 85
books:
See all 85 books this book cites
100
books
cite this book:
See all 100 books citing this book
- The Arabs in Israel by Sabri Jiryis on 8 pages
- Daniel Deronda (Oxford World's Classics) by George Eliot on 6 pages
- To Jerusalem and Back (Classic, 20th-Century, Penguin) by Saul Bellow on 4 pages
- The Transformation of Palestine: Essays on the Origin and Development of the Arab-Israeli Conflict by Ibrahim Abu-Lughod in Back Matter (1), Back Matter (2), and Back Matter (3)
- The Arab Awakening: The Story of the Arab National Movement by George Antonius on page 20, Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 85 books this book cites
- Taboo Memories, Diasporic Voices by Ella Shohat on 6 pages
- Interviews with Edward W. Said (Conversations With Public Intellectuals Series) by Amritjit Singh on 5 pages
- Edward Said and the Work of the Critic: Speaking Truth to Power (a boundary 2 book) by Paul A. Bové on 5 pages
- George Eliot and the British Empire (Cambridge Studies in Nineteenth-Century Literature and Culture) by Nancy Henry on 4 pages
- Edward Said: The Paradox of Identity by Bill Ashcroft on 4 pages
See all 100 books citing this book
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