Product Description

Examines the true history of the conflict and asks what could inspire such a caricature or whether any truth contributes to this. Should Israel shoulder the blame, or are the realities of the conflict far more complex? And how can a geographically tiny state be thought to have such a profound effect on world politics?

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #238248 in Books
• Published on: 2005-04-07
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Mail on Sunday
"A superb book"

Tom Gross, CNN, Sunday Telegraph and Wall Street Middle East Commentator
"Incisive, informed, well-written. An unusually fair and accurate account from someone who is neither Jew nor Arab."

Jewish Telegraph
"Neill Lochery shows a remarkable insight into the minds and actions of the main players".

Customer Reviews

Detailed history up to 2004

With events moving so fast in the Middle East, this book is already outdated with regard to its possible scenarios for the future and the hopes based on the Geneva Accords of 2003. Even the Postscript to this paperback edition is a bit irrelevant now that both the election victory of Hamas and the Iranian nuclear threat have entered the arena. It does, however, provide a thorough history of the conflict up to the year in question.

The narrative starts with the failed Camp David talks of year 2000 but throughout, it deals extensively with the history of Israel from the 19th century onwards, including the British Mandate, the Holocaust and the 2nd World War. The birth of Israel, the Palestinian refugee exodus and the role of the UN are also examined in detail.

Chapter 3 looks at international relations, how Israel's alignment with the West came about, and its relations with its neighbours. The next chapter: The Second Republic, discusses Israel in the 1960s, including cultural change, the 1967 war and its aftermath, the Yom Kippur war and Israeli settlements in Judea and Samaria.

Chapter 5 goes into great detail about developments in Israeli politics in the 1980s, a decade that encompassed the National Unity Government and the Lebanon war, whilst chapter 6 investigates the 1990s. This includes sections on the arrival of the immigrants from the then imploding Soviet Union, the nature of the Israeli economy and a discussion of secular versus religious rights.

The next chapter analyses the failed Oslo peace process. The passage titled The Culture Of Language And The Meaning Of War is of special interest. It explains the seemingly separate conflicts being waged in Hebrew, in Arabic and in English, examining the media coverage in Israel, the West and the Arab World. In this regard, I refer the interested reader to an excellent book, The Other War: Israelis, Palestinians and the Struggle for Media Supremacy, by Stephanie Gutmann.

The Postscript addresses the Geneva Accords of December 2003, in which the author placed high hopes. The book concludes with notes arranged by chapter, a glossary of terms, an extensive bibliography, a section on websites and an index.

The map section from pp. 128 to 138 is very valuable for understanding the land issue. These maps include the Sykes-Picot Agreement of 1916, the 1922 Partition, the UN Partition Plan of 1947, Jerusalem since 1967 and the Oslo Redeployment Map.

Books that may contribute to an understanding of the Middle East situation include the aforementioned title by Gutmann, The Case For Israel by Alan Dershovitz, The Mountains of Israel by Norma Archbold Parrish, Dream Palace Of The Arabs by Fouad Ajami and From Time Immemorial by Joan Peters.

Extremely informative and easy-to read
As someone who follows the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with great interest, I have become weary of books which have an obvious bias or agenda towards one side or the other. I was therefore very pleasantly surprised by Neill Lochery's book, which is not only balanced but also provides many new insights and ideas.

The book is written in a simple question and answer format, and addressed all of the major issues of contention between the two parties. Refreshingly, Lochery is unafraid either to assign blame or give praise to both sides where needed. This makes a pleasing change from the norm, where too many commentators seem to believe that there can only be room for one narrative, and that if you are in favour of one side you must always find fault with the other.

In short, this is a comprehensive yet very easy-to-read book. If you would like to learn more about the Palestinian- Israeli conflict, this should be the first book you buy.

An excellent introduction to the Mid-East conflict.
I initially purchased this book on the premise that it investigated the role and coverage of the media in relation to the Arab/Palestinian - Israeli conflict.

Although it does pay some attention to these and related issues, it is my personal opinion that this analysis does not go deep enough.

In relation to such media coverage, initial intimations are made as to how the reporting of the international media has allegedly been dominated by a left-of-centre political culture which has served to reinforce stereotypical perceptions of the conflict. Reference being made as to how certain incidents have even led to the media allegedly breaking it's own codes of practice.

A case is presented, how with little background knowledge, what underlies the nature of many reports emanating from the region, is the alleged perception of most journalists that the Palestinians are the "victims" and the Israelis are the "aggressors". References are made to support these accusations.

Written entirely from a secular perspective the study provides a reasonable account of Israel's history in relation to the Arab - Israeli conflict.

A chronicle of Israel's history being provided, especially in relation to the Jewish presence in the Land, together with the political, international and regional overtures surrounding the re-birth of the Jewish state.

The effective carving-up of the Middle East by France and Great Britain after the First World War and the part that this has played in subsequent history is also studied. The strategic, self interests of the Western powers & the political machinations also being taken into consideration, both at the time and during the present day.

Whilst attaching blame to both sides in the conflict, the book presents the opinion that the ongoing "Road Map" will not bring peace and that to some degree, such has been seen by terrorist groups as a "reward/incentive" from the international community in relation to the years of attacks upon the Jewish state.

Replete with references, the writer also shows how the Arab/Palestinian world has allegedly refused 'statehood' on numerous occasions whilst refusing to recognise the existence of a Jewish state, irrespective of any negotiated borders/boundaries. Due reference being made to the numerous regional wars and their context, culminating in the unrest of the present day. The "peace process" itself is afforded appropriate attention.

At the outset the writer declares that amongst the fundamental issues being investigated are the realities behind the Arab - Israeli controversy. These include the question as to how Israel has allegedly become a "pariah" state in the eyes of many and the contentious matter of land "ownership" in the Middle East. These and many other deep-lying arguments over Israel's fight for survival/existence in the region are studied.

Having said all this, the often considerable amount of detail that is provided is still lacking in some areas and far from complete. However, I would not dismiss the relevance or worth of this study, especially to those who are not well versed in these subjects. Here the reader may be provided with a suitable introduction to a pivotal and contentious issue.

In closing, may I respectfully recommend the following books;

For those interested in a more detailed history pertaining to the region;-

"Empires Of The Sands; The Struggle for Mastery in the Middle East, 1789-1923" by Inari & Efraim Karsh.
"From Time Immemorial; The Origins of the Arab-Jewish Conflict Over Palestine" by Joan Peters.
"A Peace To End All Peace; The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace" by David Fromkin.
"The Palestine War 1948" by Efraim Karsh.

In relation to the media coverage of the ongoing conflict;-

"Poison" by Raphael Israeli.
"Covering The Intifada; How the Media Reported the Palestinian Uprising." by Joshua Muraychik

And in relation to the "peace process" itself;

"The Missing Peace; The Inside Story of the Fight for Middle East Peace" by Dennis Ross.
"High Cost Of Peace" by Yossef Bodansky.
"Arafat's War; The Man and His Battle for Israeli Conquest" by Efraim Karsh.

Thank you for your time.