A friend of mine from high school moved to Israel many years ago and married, had five children and spent his life as a professor at a university in Jerusalem. I asked him once to explain the Israel/Palestine conflict in a succinct way. He told me that it was impossible to do that. He did say that he had one child who built a house on the West Bank and he had refused to help pay for it. That was the extent of what clarity he could share with me.
I appreciated his candor when I read the book pictured above Can We Talk About Israel by Daniel Sokatch published in October of this year. He walks the reader through the whole history of the nation of Israel, the decisions that allowed its creation, the people who already lived there who weren’t consulted and the inevitable discord that has existed since then.
Jared Kushner, Trump’s son-in-law, promised to “solve” the conflict maintaining that it was “really just a real estate issue.” I knew at the time that his intervention was absurd, but the book clarifies just how much worse his involvement made the region, particularly promoting moving the American embassy.
Sokatch’s careful walk through all the Prime Ministers in Israel’s history was very clarifying. He is able to go beyond the “right wing” “left wing” labels so often used in the American press. I was able to see how radically differently the government at any one time attempted to work with or work against the Palestinians.
The book is easy to read, humorously illustrated and just detailed enough to allow any one of us to admit we know much less about Israel and Palestine than we thought we did. I welcomed the humbling and thought back to my friend’s true answer to my request for a simple explanation: “it is impossible to do that.”
Sad, but true!
LikeLiked by 1 person
During our trip to the Holy Land in 2012, we talked with people on both sides of the conflict and most of them wanted peace but had no idea how they could make it happen. It was sad, really.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. My friends who have made the pilgrimage report the same sorrow.
LikeLiked by 2 people
“Tribalism” is said by some to be a major factor in our (the world’s) cultural and political divide. In that sense, the Jewish and Palestinian “tribes” of the Middle-East are too dominated by uncompromising leaders and factions to even want peaceful solutions — much less achieve them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I guess we all fall victim to the “us” and “them” mentality pretty easily.
LikeLike
Looks like an interesting read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It really is.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is a book I need to read when I have time to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would also like a book explaining the conflict in laymen’s terms, but that’s like asking someone to describe artificial intelligence simply.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good point.
LikeLike
A tragic situation…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I wish I could find a copy of that book. Seems like an interesting read. How are you?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am good. I am recovering from a hard fall on a sidewalk, but nothing broke thank goodness.
LikeLike
So sorry to hear about that. Be careful, we are not getting any younger.
LikeLike
I keep realizing that!
LikeLike
Israel is an emotional issue, and one that I have very strong opinions about. But I won’t voice those here, and will just say that I am glad you found the book informative.
Best wishes, Pete.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I avoided my views other than to say they were pretty uninformed!
LikeLiked by 1 person
As Pete implies, on this issue that whatever view you take someone will say it is wrong – or worse. But thanks for mentioning the book. I’ll bear it in mind in case I do get into a disagreement with someone close.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think the author nails us all about our ignorance.
LikeLike
I used to follow a young video blogger who lived in the region and her work was so informative. I am putting this book on my list to read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That blog sounds fascinating.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was but I lost track of her.
LikeLike
HI Elizabeth, I read this last night and got distracted before I left a comment. This sounds like an interesting book, I agree this conflict is an interesting one. My son wrote one of his final school papers on this conflict and how he thought it could be resolved.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would love to hear his ideas on solutions.
LikeLike
Added to my TBR pile. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person