Arabs and Israel for Beginners

Arabs and Israel for Beginners, Ron David, Writers and Readers Publishing, 1993

The author does a wonderful job at taking a complicated, emotional subject like the Middle East conflict, and explaining it in clear terms that anyone can understand. There were no preconceived notions beforehand; the author let the research lead him to a conclusion.

This book starts in ancient times, and is full of facts that will be eye-openers to most Americans. For example, the PLO offered Israel a full peace treaty, including renunciation of violence and recognition of Israel, in the late 1970's; Israel rejected it. In 1954, the Israeli Air Force hijacked a Syrian airliner to get hostages to exchange for Israeli soldiers, 20 years before the PLO started hijacking planes. During World War II, the US government passed laws to make it harder for European Jews to emigrate to the US, under pressure from Zionists. If European Jews got the idea that they could go to America, few would willingly go to Israel.

This book is incredible. As mentioned, it is full of easy to understand facts that never made it into the US media, like 17 years of Arab peace offers. If I could, I would give this book three thumbs up.