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Let's Chat About Israel and Palestine. History and Books. [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2023-12-14
Well, I have to start somewhere:
There must not be one law for the Jew and another for the Arabs....In saying this, I do not assume that there are tendencies toward inequalirty or discrimination. It is merely a timely warning which is particularly necessary because we shall have a very large Arab minority. I am certain that the world will judge the Jewish State by what it will do with the Arabs, just as the Jewish people at large will be judged by what we do or fail to do in this state where we have been given such a wonderful opportunity after thousands of years of wandering and suffering. Chaim Weizmann ~The First President of Israel.1949-52
I received a PM yesterday [I’ll not give their handle unless they give their permission in the comments]
Is there a book you might recommend that offers what you think is a balanced treatment of the history of Israel and Palestine in the 20th and 21st centuries? If you don't have any suggestions, is there someone else here at DK whom I should ask? Thanks.
My first thought was why me, then:
I was reminded of this quote
“L’histoire est juste peut-être, mais qu’on ne l’oublie pas, elle a été écrite par les vainqueurs” Alexis Guignard de Saint-Priest: Histoire de la royauté: considérée dans ses origines, jusqu'à la formation des principales monarchies de l'Europe, Volume 2 1842.
In other words, history is written by the victors, and don’t forget it. Some credit this to Napoleon, I prefer, that it is how you win that matters.
So I replied.
A couple of books I would recommend: My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel, Ari Shavit
In Search of Fatima: A Palestinian Story, Ghada Karmi Combined these two give a wonderful balance as to what that land means to both sets of people. Then pick any history book you like when considering the two books I recommended. It will at least enable you to make up your mind in the minefield of I/P I hope this helps.
Although it has been around a decade since I read either book, I am sure they still influence my thoughts today.
Like History, the definition of Zionism depends on the views of the person writing it; from my personal experience.
Even on I/P diaries, I learn something new, even amongst the screams of Why are you ignoring XXX even though I mentioned it in previous diaries.
So to the point Kossacks:
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