The author might want to do a bit of research and learn that "palestinian" was just a European colonialist invention before writing her book. Oops, too late!
This was an excellent read. It answers questions very matter-of-factly and to the point.
As it happens, the "Primer" is anything but, unless one loves terrorists and hates Israelis - which is the case with the author of this rather insignificant book. The 'badly invented people', a.
I'm in a constant search for an unbiased book about the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. This book is not it.
It's undeniable that this book offers an interesting and informative perspective, but that's just what it is: a perspective. I was looking for an unbiased book to inform me of both sides of the conflict, and what I found was a book bordering on yellow journalism that uses a combination of careful exemption of key information and tone words to slight the Israelis.
I would not recommend this book. After 60 pages I stopped reading it.
If you are only aware of the Pro-Israel side of this story or if you just want to read more Pro-Palestinian views, this is an interesting read. It is not, however, an objective "primer".
Required reading for my college history class. It was very interesting to read.
This book answers all the questions from a humanitarian and historical perspective. Easy Q & A format.
It does not present both sides fairly,it is heavily pro Palestinian and alsmost sounds like Hamas propaganda.
For a "primer" the author seems unaware of recent scholarship on the 1948 war, diplomatic history after 1967, the settlements, Oslo Accords, Camp David II, the Barrier, and the Al-Aqsa Intifada. The intentions (we historians are always cautious about professing certainty about intentions) of the Israelis are always to oppress Palestinians and seize their land.
In recent years Ms. Bennis has become a marginally successful professional denigrator of the United States and self-styled champion of "The Palestinian Cause".
This book is a concise, honest explanation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict from the beginning to the present. This conflict is complex and misunderstood.
Bennis gives the facts and answers the questions about the Palastinian-Israeli conflict.She unmasks the phony stoty that is fed to the American public.
