Overview
The Arab-Israeli conflict goes far beyond the wars waged in the Middle East. There is a war of narratives revolving around the two defining traumas of the conflict: the Holocaust and the Nakba. Middle East expert Gilbert Achcar critically assesses Arab attitudes to the Holocaust, which he argues are closely related to the dynamics of the Arab-Israeli conflict since 1948. From Hitler's rise to power up to the present day, he identifies a wide range of reactions among the Arab world's four main idealogical movements: pro-Western liberalism, pan-Arab nationalism, Islamic fundamentalism and Marxism. Based on a thorough examination of sources in several languages, including Arabic, English, French and German, ""The Arabs and the Holocaust"" is a major contribution to the discourse of the Arab-Israeli conflict. It is also groundbreaking in its effort to bridge the gap between the conflicting narratives and to promote mutual understanding.
Reviews
'The picture that emerges - is a complex and nuanced one that rewards careful reading - A refreshing and original study, showing clearly that Muslim anti-Semitism is neither universal, nor inevitable, nor subject to pat explanations.' The Economist 'A systematic and scholarly refutation of the simplistic myths that have arisen following the formation of Israel - The best book on the subject so far' Tariq Ali, Guardian 'A fascinating, subtle and original analysis of Israeli and Arab historical narratives' Simon Sebag Montefiore 'Lucid and penetrating' Stephen Howe, The Independent 'A standard reference for years to come. Scrupulous in its scholarship, firm in political principle, ruthless in exposure' Socialist Review '[Achcar] carefully examines the long history of Arab-Jewish conflict back through the 19th century, illuminating the range of opinions' The Washington Post 'Achcar offers a careful parsing of a most incendiary topic: the use of references to the Holocaust in the rhetoric of the Arab-Israeli conflict - Calm and judicious in tenor yet unyielding in its intellectual rigor, this selection may show the path out of a seemingly intractable dispute.' Booklist 'The Arabs and the Holocaust is a penetrating analysis of the multiplicity of attitudes and responses in the Arabic-speaking world toward Nazism, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust. The book effectively disproves simplistic notions of a single, monolithic, Holocaust-denying Arabic-speaking world driven by racist and neo-Nazi hatred of all Jews, and effectively demonstrates that there never has been one 'Arab' narrative on the Holocaust.A Francis R. Nicosia, author of Zionism and Anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany, and the Raul Hilberg Distinguished Professor of Holocaust Studies, University of Vermont
'The work of Gilbert Achcar has been immensely valuable. In many ways, Achcar's trajectory resembles that of another Arab intellectual, the late Edward Said.' Irish Left Review Praise for The Clash of Barbarisms (isbn:9780863569197) 'Sober, deeply informed and full of provocative insights and judicious analyses' Noam Chomsky 'Overturns the traditional perspective and opens up avenues of understanding' Howard Zinn The Arabs and the Holocaust is a penetrating analysis of the multiplicity of attitudes and responses in the Arabic-speaking world toward Nazism, anti-Semitism, and the Holocaust. The book effectively disproves simplistic notions of a single, monolithic, Holocaust-denying Arabic-speaking world driven by racist and neo-Nazi hatred of all Jews, and effectively demonstrates that there never has been one 'Arab' narrative on the Holocaust.A Francis R. Nicosia, author of Zionism and Anti-Semitism in Nazi Germany, and the Raul Hilberg Distinguished Professor of Holocaust Studies, University of Vermont
Author Information
Gilbert Achcar is Professor of Development Studies and International Relations at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. His previous books have been translated into more than fifteen languages. Author location London, UK Also by the same author The Clash of Barbarisms: The Making of the New World Disorder (2nd ed., Saqi, 2006) The 33-Day War: Israel's War on Hezbollah in Lebanon and its Consequences (Saqi, 2007)
