The Arab-Israeli Conflict: The Palestine War 1948 (Essential Histories)

I read this for the purpose of getting some background to the on-going conflict, which is notoriously steeped in bias. To this extent, this introduction was very helpful. Photos and diagrams were interspersed at regular intervals and this helped considerably.

Having read no other opinion on this conflict, it would be unfair of me to say whether I feel this account is biased. I can however hint that the portrayal of this conflict in this book may not prove particularly satisfying reading within palestinian/arabic circles.

Besides outlining the relevant events in this war, the book finished with an interesting take on human nature; the willpower to survive. One of the ending conclusions was despite the inferior numbers, the israeli people were more united and perceived the war as an all out battle for survival. In contrast, the palestinean people are depicted as not willing to fight to the last man, preferring to vacate mixed settlements, concede territory and leave the combat to the six armies.

I might not ever know the truth of this matter, but this book which took a morning to read made me feel I have a grasp of the basics.

Informative (8/9 people found this helpful)

This book tells the story of the Israel war of independence in 1948 .Against all odds and attacked in all fronts by large Arab armies ,the small Israeli forces managed somehow to turn the tide and hold on to a territory which become the State of Israel.

The parts delaying with the Arab attacks to the isolated Kibbutz are very good but too short .

Illustrated with useful maps and with two interesting chapters to offer insight in 2 personal perspectives , one Arab and one Israeli , this book is easy to read and provides and introduction to the most important conflict fought in the middle East in the last century.

For anyone wanted to expand more I would recommend Chaim Hergod ( Arab Israeli wars ) or Larry Collins Oh Jerusalem.

Disappointing (6/11 people found this helpful)

A well presented book that includes some interesting pictures and diagrams, but that sadly suffers from an inherent bias. This includes a largely irrelevant description of Sharon's war heroics, and a one sided view of the contested Palestinian refugee problem and the reasons why the Arab states fought so badly. A frustrating book for anyone seeking a balanced overview of the events.

Priceless, concise study of the Middle East conflict. (15/28 people found this helpful)

An absolutely compelling read on the Middle East by Efraim Karsh, the Head of Mediterranean Studies at Kings College, University of London.

This is an essential reference for any student of the Middle East and will hold the reader's attention from beginning to end. The reader cannot fail to be impressed at the scholarly manner in which this subject is addressed.

Examined in detail are the origins and progressions of the conflict between the Jewish & Arab populations of 'British' Mandatory Palestine, prior to the re-birth of the Jewish state in 1948, together with an in-depth study of the subsequent Arab invasion of Israel by the armies of Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Saudi Arabia.

This study describes the latter invasion of the Jewish state following an Arab decision to reject the UN Resolution calling for the partition of 'Palestine' into two independent states, (one Arab & one Jewish with Jerusalem as an 'international' city, with all citizens having the right of either Jewish or Arab citizenship).

Efraim Karsh provides excellent background material so relevant to any serious or sincere understanding of this time in history. He makes an essential reference to a direct quotation at the time of the public declaration of Jamal Al-Hussein, the Vice-president of the A.H.C. (Arab High Committee - the effective Palestinian-Arab 'government');-

"We are sadly and PERMANENTLY determined to fight to the last man against the existence in our country of ANY Jewish state, no matter how small it is..."

Karsh also quotes with similar relevancy the chilling indictment of the prevalent hatred towards the Jews, still so soon after the Holocaust, when he makes reference to the general public circular of the same Arab High Committee which publicly declared;-

"The Arabs have taken into their own hands, the FINAL SOLUTION of the Jewish problem. The problem will be solved only in blood and fire. The Jews will be driven out."

The book illustrates the subsequent ensuing conflict as being clearly based upon an intended genocide and which resulted in the loss of some 1% of the fledgling Jewish states' population.

In further illustration of the context of the struggles in this land, Karsh proceeds to illustrate that the roots of this conflict and unrest stretch way back to the Roman destruction of Jewish statehood in the Land that subsequently became known later as 'Palestine'.

Karsh declares that, despite having had a continuous presence in their own homeland without at any time having this presence severed, the Jews became a numerical minority under a long succession of foreign occupiers during the next 1,900 years or so. Such foreign occupiers including the Byzantines, the Seljuk Turks, Crusaders, Mamluks, Ottoman Turks, the British and the Arabs. Highlighted is the fact that, despite these periods of foreign occupation, the Jews never gave up their claim/right to their homeland. Facts illustrated by Karsh by long forgotten or sidestepped by the international community.

Returning to the time of the British Mandate, Karsh also documents the Jewish immigration into Palestine and the treatment of what the British classed as 'illegal immigrants' by the British forces occupying Palestine at that time. The provision of British concentration camps on Cyprus for those Jews 'caught' and the Arab-Jewish-British struggles in the Land also being demonstrated.

Details and maps and plentifully provided and commendable detail is included relating to both sides in the conflict, plus the inevitable consequences & conclusions pertaining to the conflict itself are studied.

Karsh shows another oft-forgotten factor in that around the time of the Balfour Declaration in 1917, which supported a Jewish homeland in then Palestine, resident Arabs actually welcomed the moves. Palestinian Arab residents having been recently subject to Ottoman rule and most of these Arab residents viewed themselves as subjects of the Ottoman empire and were themselves totally impervious to the nationalistic tendencies of small 'extremist' groups. Hence the increasing Jewish presence of the post First World War years encountered little widespread opposition.

Of course events rapidly changed and Karsh documents these commendably, including how Britain (granted the League of Nations Mandate at San Remo in 1920) reneged on it's agreement to establish a Jewish state in Palestine. Britain, with a stroke of a pen, giving the huge majority of then Palestine to the formation of the Hashemite Kingdom of Transjordan. Britain, in furtherance of it's policy of Arab appeasement, proceeding to greatly restrict further Jewish immigration into the remnant of Palestine....the rest is history.

This is highly recommended, essential reading on the Palestinian-Israeli issue and is a priceless addition to anyone's library.

Approaching only 100 pages or so, this study is precise, concise and provides easy reference to those who do not wish to delve through enormous lengthy studies.

As one of a relatively new series of books, I can only recommend and encourage Karsh and other authors to publish additional such precise studies in this same series on the just as relevant issues surrounding the 1967 Six Day War, 1973 Yom Kippur War, 1982 Lebanon conflict, plus the Palestinian intifadas and parallel issues.

The Arab-Israeli Conflict: The Palestine War 1948 (Essential Histories)

Efraim Karsh

Reader Reviews:

solid introduction (0/0 people found this helpful)

Informative (8/9 people found this helpful)

Disappointing (6/11 people found this helpful)

Priceless, concise study of the Middle East conflict. (15/28 people found this helpful)

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