Ten Excellent Books and Sources on the Middle East

Published October 04, 2008 @ 01:36PM PT

Were I asked to provide the English reader with an excellent introduction to the world of Middle East politics (focusing on Israel/Palestine) then this is it.

1. Haaretz Newspaper

Haaretz is Israel’s New York Times, the newspaper of record. The news is relatively straightforward, but occasionally biased towards peace and neo-liberalism. The real treasure is the collection of Israeli voices translated into English, and some excellent in depth feature articles.

2. Abraham- A Journey to the Heart of Three Faiths (2002)

Bruce Feiler

Many of us want to look at the modern Middle East and still see the biblical terrain underneath. Feiler allows us to do that while using a figure beloved by Muslims, Jews and Christians. This is a wonderful introduction to see the region in 4d – past, present, future and the imagined past, all at the same time.

3. Electronic Intifada

Ali Abunimah and Nigel Parry

This is an excellent resource for in depth news from Palestine, Palestinian politics, and the pro-Palestinian activist scene. It’s editorial voice supports a one state solution, but not dogmatically, and not to the exclusion of other voices.

4. The Birth of Israel: Myths and Realities (1987)

Simha Flapan.

The author was a prominent political and academic figure within left-Zionist circles. Using the diaries of Israeli leaders and de-classified documents, he presents the Israeli founding narrative side by side with evidence undermining that narrative. Rather than draw on Arab voices, he hews closely to facts and documents from within the Zionist establishment, making his arguments especially powerful to folks coming from a pro-Zionist background.

5. Uri Avnery’s weekly column

Uri Avnery is one of Israel’s most experienced, prolific and well known peace activists. He began fought in the War of Independence, started a weekly tabloid, got elected to the Knesset, and founded the peace group “Gush Shalom.” In his weekly column, he gives some of the best political commentary you will find.

6. Israel 21c (current)

Israel is more than a conflict with a country. It’s a vibrant society pursuing countless competing dreams, and representing the creative output of half of the Jewish people. The diverse half. This site will keep you up to date on Israel’s achievements and sensibilities. NOTE: yes, this is a PR effort founded after the 2^nd Intifada to help advance a favorable image of Israel in the world, especially the US. As long as you understand that – it’s a good source of information.

7. Dispatches from the Peace Front (2008)

Gila Svirsky

Like Avnery, Gila Svirsky is a fixture of the Israeli peace movement. But she is also a woman, a lesbian, and a feminist, which means that she had to overcome severe obstacles to asserting a role within Israel’s militaristic society. She has smart and cogent things to say (always) but this site is especially useful for understanding the leading role that the women’s peace movement has had.

8. Mantle of the Prophet (1985)

Roy Mottahedeh

This is a deeply personal account of Iranian society, the relationship between Shi’a Islam and the nation state most associated with it. The author lived through the Iranian Revolution, and his bittersweet observations help us understand the Iranian people, not just their political history.

9. Pity the Nation (2002)

Robert Fisk

Fisk is a well known British journalist who has covered the Middle East in the best way possible; by positioning himself with the people most likely to be killed and observing reality from their perspective. His book on Lebanon’s history is an absolutely riveting ‘I was there’ piece of journalism.

10. The Yellow Wind (1988)

David Grossman

This is a well known book about the conflict for three reasons: it’s literary, speaks with an exquisitely anguished voice, and came out not long after the start of the Intifada. An excellent introduction to the voice of the guilty, moderate Israeli.

Share this Post

Comments (7)

I highly recommend reading Dershowitz's "The Case For Israel"
also to read about "The Arrogant dream" of Herzl, followed by King "I have a dream" and by Obama "The Audacity of Hope" three great men. Herzl said: "If you wish it is not a dream"
http://www.marxist.com/dream-zionism020704.htm

If Charles has Palestine day we should add Herzl day on May second.

Posted by Michael Ross on 11/19/2008 @ 12:50PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Michael
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I guess I could add about 20 more books/sources, but I will only offer these: FALLEN PILLARS: U.S. POLICY TOWARDS PALESTINE/ISRAEL, by Donald Neff; TAKING SIDES, by Stephen Green; DEFENDING THE HOLY LAND, byZe'ev Maoz; and ISRAEL'S SACRED TERRORISM(The Diaries of Moshe Sharrett)...To-da...Shalom.

Posted by Daniel Egan on 12/11/2008 @ 09:58AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Daniel
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I guess I could add about 20 more books/sources, but I will only offer these: FALLEN PILLARS: U.S. POLICY TOWARDS PALESTINE/ISRAEL, by Donald Neff; TAKING SIDES, by Stephen Green; DEFENDING THE HOLY LAND, byZe'ev Maoz; and ISRAEL'S SACRED TERRORISM(The Diaries of Moshe Sharrett)...To-da...Shalom.

Posted by Daniel Egan on 12/11/2008 @ 09:58AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Daniel
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
The latest book by the Israeli author Ilan Pappe 'The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine' provides a clear and concise summary of the conflicts prior to the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948 and the drive for a 'Greater Israel' by leaders such as Ben-Gurion, endorsing the forced removal of the Arab population.

Posted by James Appleton on 12/20/2008 @ 12:59PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by James
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
The Lemon Tree, now a motion picture, tells the parallel story of two families- a Palestinian family who built the house of stones from their land and a Jewish family, escaping the Holocaust. Everything changes when the Jewish family learns the truth about the beautiful home that was just given to them when they arrived in Israel. Lemons from the tree become a symbol for everything the Palestinian family lost but still dreams about. When they are gifted with a lemon from the tree their grandfather planted, they place it in their curio cabinet along with all their precious things.

Posted by Iris Keltz on 01/05/2009 @ 08:35PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Iris
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
I will add the book 'The Iron Wall' by historian Avi Schlaim, a well documented account of the history leading up to the war in 1948, with quotes from the Israeli power players that indicate a detailed plan not to accept the borders of the UN mandate, but pursue a policy of expansion and dispossession.

Posted by James Appleton on 02/18/2009 @ 05:07PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by James
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
Iris,

Yes! That books is amazing, at least it is as far as I have read. That's great that it is a film.

I must insist that Al Jazeerah should be added on this list. If you're going to make a list of strictly, only Jewish newspaper that you consider reliable, then Al Jazeerah is a reliable source as well.

Posted by Dina Yazdani on 05/10/2009 @ 05:27PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Dina
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Charles is a nonprofit professional with 20 years of experience working with nonprofit organizations in Israel, Palestine and the U.S. For the past few years, he's been specializing in online organizing.