Books

Recommended reading list for those new to the subject:

(If you have limited time for reading, choose the first three. The links point you to Amazon, or purchase at your local book store...)

1. Witness in Palestine: a Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories by Anna Baltzer

   Perfect for beginners and experts alike, easy to read, gives a very clear picture of what it is like to live under occupation. Complete with many references and an abundance of photographs. A wealth of information.

2. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappe

   Excellent book, written straight from Ben Gurion's diaries and the IDF archives by an Israeli historian. Brilliant and very courageous man. Definitely one of the best books with which to start.

3. In Search of Fatima by Ghada Karmi

   One woman's description of what happened to her in 1948, and the huge difficulties of being a refugee in a far away land. Beautifully written.

4. Letters from Palestine - Palestinians Speak Out about Their Lives, Their Country, and the Power of Nonviolence by Prof. Kenneth Ring and Ghassan Abdullah

   Many books have dealt with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from the Israeli perspective. However, few reflect the Palestinian point of view. Letters from Palestine offers an American audience a rare opportunity to listen to actual Palestinian people as they describe what it is like to live in the occupied territories of the West Bank or Gaza, or to grow up as a Palestinian in the U.S. Their accounts are lively, poignant, searing, and tragic, yet often laced with touches of surreal humor. By showing Palestinians in all their humanity, Letters from Palestine enables American readers to see beyond the usual stereotypes.

5. One Country: A Bold Proposal to End the Israeli-Palestinian Impasse by Ali Abunimah

   Much recent commentary on the stalled Middle East peace process has focused on ways to redirect Israelis and Palestinians toward the "road map for peace," which aims to end hostilities by gradually establishing an independent Palestinian state that would exist alongside, albeit entwined with, the Israeli state. With this book, an outspoken advocate for the Palestinian cause argues that peace in the region can be better achieved by establishing a single, united, democratic state.

6. Zionism, the real enemy of the Jews by Alan Hart

   Alan Hart's brilliant book, "Zionism, the real enemy of the Jews", hitherto only available from the UK in hard cover, is now available in the USA in paperback in three volumes (Vol 1, Vol 2, Vol 3). This is great news - the book is a treasure trove of information.

7. When the Birds Stopped Singing by Raja Shehadeh.

   One man's account of life under curfew. Gives an idea of what it is like to live under Occupation - total powerlessness of the people. Every aspect of their lives is controlled by the occupying power.

8. Sharon and my Mother-in-law by Suad Amiry.

   One woman's curfew experience - both poignant and humorous.

9. A Little Piece of Ground by Elizabeth Laird.

   This book is a story written for middle school students; on life as a child living under the Occupation. Should be read by every adult.

10. The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy by Mearsheimer and Walt.

    For those interested in the political side, and the USA involvement.

11. The Great War for Civilisation; the Conquest of the Middle East, by award-winning journalist Robert Fisk.

    Brilliant book that covers not only the Palestine/Israel conflict, but also Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, the Holocaust of the Armenians, Algeria, Kuwait, Jordan, Syria, and Libya, and the business of selling weapons. (Fisk's writings on Lebanon are covered in a separate book.)