Overview

The conflict between Palestine and Israel is one of the most highly publicized and bitter struggles in history. In this accessible and stimulating Very Short Introduction, Martin Bunton clearly explains the history of the problem, reducing it to its very essence - a modern territorial contest between two nations and one geographical territory. Adopting a fresh and original approach, each section covers a twenty-year span, to highlight the historical complexity of the conflict throughout successive decades. Each chapter starts with an examination of the relationships among people and events that marked particular years as historical moments in the evolution of the conflict, including the 1897 Basle Congress; the 1917 Balfour Declaration and British occupation of Palestine; and the 1947 UN Partition Plan and the war for Palestine. Providing a clear and fair exploration of the main issues, Bunton explores not only the historical basis of the conflict, but also looks at how and why partition has been so difficult and how efforts to restore peace continue today. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

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9780199603930

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Reviews

The book brings forward a short (but not shallow), balanced, factual and easily read review of the topic. If other booklets in this series - on issues ranging from musicology to biology - are as practical as this one, the publishers should be thanked for providing a good platform for distributing and diseminating scientific knowledge beyond the walls of academia. * Dan Tamir, Political Studies Review *

[Bunton] demolishes various myths, starting with the ahistorical idea that this is an ancient and religious conflict, showing rather that it is one between two peoples claiming the same land...The inclusion of key documents and useful maps helps make this perhaps the best volume to recommend to nonspecialists at all levels, including advanced scholars in other fields. --CHOICE

The book brings forward a short (but not shallow), balanced, factual and easily read review of the topic. If other booklets in this series - on issues ranging from musicology to biology - are as practical as this one, the publishers should be thanked for providing a good platform for distributing and diseminating scientific knowledge beyond the walls of academia. Dan Tamir, Political Studies Review

Author Information

Professor Martin Bunton is Assistant Professor at the University of Victoria, Canada. His teaching and research focuses on the field of modern Middle Eastern history and history of the region in its global context. He is the author of several books, including A History of the Modern Middle East, 4th edition (Westview Press, 2008).

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