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orlamaude's review against another edition
5.0
I found this book to be a very well-laid out and thorough account of the modern history of Palestine, providing a well-researched and personal explanation of the plight of the Palestinian people and of the complexity of the conflict in Palestine today.
I thought the first several chapters, covering the origins of the Zionist project in Palestine, were particularly interesting, and I found it fascinating to read the 1898 correspondence between Theodor Herzl and Yusuf Diya (mayor of Jerusalem). At times I thought the writing was a little convoluted, but the material is also definitely a bit above my head so I might have just been losing the thread lol. In general I think the author‘s arguments are clear and very convincing. Can’t fit all my thoughts into a Goodreads review 😂🥲
The conclusion’s suggestions for a future peace based on equal rights for all inhabitants of the territory of Palestine (an end precluded by the fundamental concept of the state of Israel as a Jewish state) was interesting, as well as the discussion of nationalism in the final few pages.
I don’t really feel qualified to rate the book because although I though it was really well done, I honestly feel like I didn’t understand all of it and I definitely got a little lost here and there. I’m giving it 5 stars because I learned SO much while reading it, and would absolutely recommend it to anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of the roots and complexity of the current crisis in Gaza.
I thought the first several chapters, covering the origins of the Zionist project in Palestine, were particularly interesting, and I found it fascinating to read the 1898 correspondence between Theodor Herzl and Yusuf Diya (mayor of Jerusalem). At times I thought the writing was a little convoluted, but the material is also definitely a bit above my head so I might have just been losing the thread lol. In general I think the author‘s arguments are clear and very convincing. Can’t fit all my thoughts into a Goodreads review 😂🥲
The conclusion’s suggestions for a future peace based on equal rights for all inhabitants of the territory of Palestine (an end precluded by the fundamental concept of the state of Israel as a Jewish state) was interesting, as well as the discussion of nationalism in the final few pages.
I don’t really feel qualified to rate the book because although I though it was really well done, I honestly feel like I didn’t understand all of it and I definitely got a little lost here and there. I’m giving it 5 stars because I learned SO much while reading it, and would absolutely recommend it to anyone wanting to gain a deeper understanding of the roots and complexity of the current crisis in Gaza.
kirsten0929's review against another edition
5.0
[2020] Notes to self…Knew so little going in, understand so much more now. Six chapters, each detailing a declaration of war from 1917 to 2017. Comprehensive but not bogged down in detail, information-dense but always readable. Loved the personal experiences that the author was able to add. Will be taking in all news on this conflict with a much more critical eye from here on.
felixbooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Comprehensive, searing and direct. Exceptionally readable without losing its identity as an fundamentally academic study.