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marvelruinedmyspirit's review against another edition
4.0
"While the fundamentally colonial nature of the Palestinian-Israel encounter must be acknowledged, there are now two peoples in Palestine [...]. Their mutual acceptance can only be based on complete equality of rights, including national rights [...]. There is no other possible sustainable solution, barring the unthinkable notion of one people’s extermination or expulsion by the other." Sadly Israel seems to have taken the conclusion to this book at its word.
This was a really hard look into the history of the colonisation of Palestine, and how little autonomy and self-determination the Palestinians were given by Israel and its allies (including my own country, a fact which was conveniently not taught in school when I attended it).
I will say, I wish that the author had made a clear choice between making this a part-memoir and making it only a history book; he inserted some facts about his family's history, which were interesting, but seemed out of place as it was only in passing.
This was a really hard look into the history of the colonisation of Palestine, and how little autonomy and self-determination the Palestinians were given by Israel and its allies (including my own country, a fact which was conveniently not taught in school when I attended it).
I will say, I wish that the author had made a clear choice between making this a part-memoir and making it only a history book; he inserted some facts about his family's history, which were interesting, but seemed out of place as it was only in passing.
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.