The Shortest History of Israel and Palestine

The century-old conflict between Israel and Palestine is one of the most bitter struggles in history,with profound consequences around the globe. In this accessible historyMichael Scott-Baumann succinctly describes its causes and charts its history from civil war to the present day. Adopting a distinct approacheach chapter starts with a lucid explanation of the politics and ends with personal testimony from interviews and memoirs of Palestinians and Israelis whose lives have been marked by conflict. By presenting competing interpretations from both sidesScott-Baumann examines the key flashpoints of the twentieth centuryincluding the early role of the Britishthe circumstances surrounding the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948and the dramatic impact of the Six-Day War of 1967. The latter part of the book focuses on the nature of Israeli control of the Palestinian territoriesand Palestinian resistance to itΓÇöwhich goes to the heart of the IsraeliΓÇôPalestinian conflict in recent decades. The result is an indispensable historical accountincluding analysis of why efforts to restore peace have continually failed. PeaceScott-Baumann concludeswill be contingent on both sides having a right to self-determination.