Overview

Originally published in 1979, this book is a study of the roots of 20th century Israeli policy towards the Arabs. The point of departure is that Israeli political thinking was moulded during the pre-state period and in its crystallisation made a ritual of several basic concepts: (1) gradual build-up of an economic and military potential as the basis for achievement of political aims; (2) alliance with a great power external to the Middle East; (3) non-recognition of the existence of a Palestine national entity; (4) Zionism's civilising mission in an undeveloped area; (5) economic, social and cultural segregation as prerequisites for the renaissance of Jewish national life; (6) the concept of ‘peace from strength’. Part One of the book describes the attitudes of the Zionist leaders in the pre-state period 1917-48 towards the Arab National Movement in general and towards the Palestinian Arabs in particular; Part Two deals with the application of these attitudes in a number of critical situations which constituted turning points in Jewish-Arab relations: the Arab Revolt and the Zionist struggle for Partition in 1936-8; the ‘White Paper’ policy 1939-45; the 1948 war in Palestine. The focal point of the book is the attitude of the Zionist movement towards the Palestinian Arabs and their aspirations to national independence. The Zionist attitude towards the pan-Arab national movement has been the subject of many important studies. But little attention has been paid specifically to the Palestinian component of the problem which this book addresses.

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9781041261315

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Reviews

Original Review of Zionism and the Palestinians: ‘Flapan concentrates, with impressive originality and mastery of his sources on the shaping of Zionist attitudes and their impact on Zionist policies towards the Arabs of Palestine.’ N. Lucas, Journal of International Studies, Volume 8, Issue 2. ‘This is an interesting and original book…’ Joseph Nevo, Review of Middle East Studies, Volume 15, Issue 1 (1981).

Author Information

Simha Flapan (1911–1987) was an Israeli historian and politician and had a long and distinguished career as a writer, publisher, peace activist and educator. From 1954 to 1981 he was National Secretary of Israel's Mapam party and Director of its Arab Affairs department. He was founder and editor-in-chief of the Middle East monthly New Outlook, and founder and director of the Jewish-Arab Institute and the Israeli Peace Research Institute. He was aFellow at he Harvard University Center for International Affiars, a visiting scholar at the Harvard Center for Middle East Sutdies, and a Foreign Associate of the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London.

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