The Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War

James L. Gelvin

Description

The Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of War

Informations

• Publié par: amugydyw
• Nombre de lectures: 203
• Langue: Français

Extrait

he Israel-Palestine Conflict: One Hundred Years of Warby James L. Gelvin. Cambridge University Press, 2005, 294 pp., $18.00.

Autor Gelvin as presented a very good istorical summary of tis 100year conflict. From te introduction to tis book we find te autor to be well studied in te areas of nationalism and te social and cultural istory of te geograpical area under study. His apparent knowledge of te istory of te Middle East and te istorical perspective gained from is researc for oter books provide a strong basis for some of te positions e advances trougout te document. He writes, “I ave written tis book for students and general readers wo wis to understand te broad sweep of te istory of te IsraeliPalestinian struggle and situate it in its global context.” he autor as, in tis reviewers mind, done a very good job of following is intent. Gelvin does not argue but simply presents a very welldeveloped istory of te rise of nationalism among bot Israelis and Palestinians. He metodically unfolds a istory of te individuals wo were clearly influenced by te development of nationalism in bot societies. he structure of te book is one wic would elp anyone wo as little knowledge about tese two peoples to develop a basic understanding. It is muc more tan you would ever learn from reading a magazine but less tan you would find used in postgraduate reading. he book would be a wonderful introduction to understanding te Middle East problem—a History 101 suggested reading. His few potograps and maps do a great deal to elp te reader understand wat te autor presents in is analysis. He clearly builds upon te “religious” and “land” conflicts tat reside between te two entities. He presents te influence of te wars fougt in te European teater and te allocation of land in a postwar environment to build is case for nationalism in bot parties. he picture of two groups of people, tinking tey ave legitimate rigts to te land tey live upon, is vividly presented troug te eyes and words of leaders suc as heodor Herzl, Izz adDin alQassam, Ariel Saron, Yasser Arafat, and numerous oters. Wile te autor sometimes sows a bias for certain leaders and teir actions, e attempts to balance is istory wit an open presentation of wat e believes to ave been major mistakes and key positive actions by leaders from bot sides of te conflict. He analyzes proposals for peace for te area very clearly and leaves tis reader wit a better picture of tose nonnegotiable items tat must be placed at te ead of te list for all peace negotiations. I recommend tis book be required introductory reading to begin a more de- tailed study of te positions of te two peoples at te peace table negotiating for teir rigt to exist as free and independent nations. Military personnel would benefit from te autors istorical collection of data as well as is personal in- sigts into te influence of certain individuals on te figt for nationalism. Also provided, absent a lesson on national infrastructure, is a basic concept for nation building—similar to wat te United States is presently attempting in Iraq.