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The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace Kindle Edition
by Adi Schwartz (Author), Einat Wilf (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars (457)
Two prominent Israeli liberals argue that for the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians to end with peace, Palestinians must come to terms with the fact that there will be no "right of return."
In 1948, seven hundred thousand Palestinians were forced out of their homes by the first Arab-Israeli War. More than seventy years later, most of their houses are long gone, but millions of their descendants are still registered as refugees, with many living in refugee camps. This group—unlike countless others that were displaced in the aftermath of World War II and other conflicts—has remained unsettled, demanding to settle in the state of Israel. Their belief in a "right of return" is one of the largest obstacles to successful diplomacy and lasting peace in the region.
In The War of Return, Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf—both liberal Israelis supportive of a two-state solution—reveal the origins of the idea of a right of return, and explain how UNRWA - the very agency charged with finding a solution for the refugees - gave in to Palestinian, Arab and international political pressure to create a permanent “refugee” problem. They argue that this Palestinian demand for a “right of return” has no legal or moral basis and make an impassioned plea for the US, the UN, and the EU to recognize this fact, for the good of Israelis and Palestinians alike.
A runaway bestseller in Israel, the first English translation of The War of Return is certain to spark lively debate throughout America and abroad.
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이 책은 앞서 보신 빌프 박사의 강연 속 분쟁관이 구체적인 정책 비판과 역사적 실증으로 확장된 핵심 저작입니다. 전체 분량은 약 1,000 단어이며, 세진님의 지침에 따라 본문은 <해라>체로 일관되게 작성했습니다 . 가독성을 방해하는 별표 기호는 배제하고 문맥 기호(< >)를 사용했습니다 [cite: 10-01, 2025-10-01].
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<귀환 전쟁> 요약: 서구의 탐닉과 난민 신화의 해체
아디 슈바르츠와 에이나트 빌프는 저서 <귀환 전쟁>을 통해 이스라엘-팔레스타인 분쟁이 수십 년간 해결되지 못한 채 교착 상태에 빠진 근본 원인을 추적한다. 저자들은 국경선 획정이나 영토 분할 같은 표면적 이슈 대신, 팔레스타인이 주장하는 '귀환권(Right of Return)'이라는 도그마와 이를 무비판적으로 지원해 온 서구 사회의 도덕적 맹목성을 분쟁의 핵심 장애물로 지목한다.
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1. 분쟁의 진정한 핵심: 귀환권이라는 이스라엘 말살 전략
저자들이 이 책에서 던지는 가장 도발적인 질문은 "왜 팔레스타인인들은 독립된 영토를 준다는 제안을 매번 거부했는가?"이다. 저자들은 이 현상을 이해하는 열쇠가 바로 <귀환권>에 있다고 본다.
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팔레스타인인들에게 평화의 조건은 자신들의 국가를 세우는 것에서 끝나지 않는다. 그들은 1948년 건국 당시 유대인들에게 빼앗겼다고 주장하는 '현재의 이스라엘 영토' 안으로 수백만 난민이 다시 돌아가야 한다고 요구한다. 저자들은 이를 단순한 인도주의적 열망이 아니라, 유대 주권 국가를 인구학적으로 붕괴시키고 궁극적으로 이스라엘을 지도에서 지워버리기 위해 정교하게 고안된 '정치적·전쟁적 도구'라고 규정한다. 팔레스타인이 요구하는 귀환이 실현되는 순간 이스라엘은 더 이상 유대 국가로 존재할 수 없기 때문이다.
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2. UNRWA의 죄책: 난민 지위의 세습과 영속화
책의 상당 부분은 유엔 팔레스타인 난민구호기구(UNRWA)의 구조적 모순을 폭로하는 데 할애된다. 저자들은 UNRWA가 일반적인 국제 난민기구(UNHCR)와 달리 전 세계에서 유일하게 '난민 지위의 세습'을 허용하는 비정상적인 기구라고 비판한다.
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1948년 당시 실제 고향을 잃은 난민은 약 70만 명 수준이었으나, UNRWA의 세습 인정 정책으로 인해 오늘날 그 숫자는 500만 명이 넘는 가상적 난민 집단으로 팽창했다. 저자들은 UNRWA가 팔레스타인인들을 재정착시키고 자립을 돕는 인도주의 단체가 아니라, 세대를 거듭하며 "우리는 언젠가 이스라엘 땅으로 돌아가야 한다"는 피해자 의식과 귀환의 꿈을 인위적으로 주입하고 유지하는 '정적 온상' 역할을 하고 있다고 논증한다. 즉, UNRWA 자체가 난민 문제를 해결하는 것이 아니라 난민 문제를 영속화함으로써 평화의 길을 가로막고 있다는 것이다.
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3. 서구의 책임: 선량한 의도가 낳은 비극 (Western Indulgence)
이 책의 부제이기도 한 <서구의 탐닉(Western Indulgence)>은 미국과 유럽 등 서방 국가들을 향한 날카로운 경고이다. UNRWA의 예산 대부분은 서구 자유주의 국가들의 원조로 충당된다.
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저자들은 서구 사회가 팔레스타인의 귀환권 주장을 '약자에 대한 인도주의적 수호'라는 도덕적 우월감으로 맹목적으로 후원해 왔다고 지적한다. 이러한 서구의 무조건적인 재정 지원과 공감은 결과적으로 팔레스타인 지도부와 대중에게 "현실을 타협하지 않고 버티면 언젠가 이스라엘을 해체하고 돌아갈 수 있다"는 허황된 환상을 심어주었다. 선량한 의도로 시작된 서구의 원조가 역설적으로 팔레스타인의 사상적 전향과 극단주의 탈피를 방해하며 분쟁을 무한히 연장하는 무기가 되었다는 것이 저자들의 비판이다.
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평론: 지오니즘적 현실주의의 정수와 점령 주체의 책임 회피
<귀환 전쟁>은 이스라엘 주류 엘리트들이 왜 팔레스타인과의 평화 협상에 환멸을 느끼고 우경화되었는지를 추적할 수 있는 가장 명확한 사상적 텍스트이다. 저자들은 난민 지위 세습의 제도적 모순과 국제기구의 비효율성을 날카롭게 해부하며 지오니즘적 현실주의의 정수를 보여준다. 그러나 이 책의 치명적인 한계는 자신들의 건국 서사를 정당화하기 위해 역사적 맥락을 철저히 선택적으로 가공했다는 점에 있다.
1. 역사적 가해성의 은폐와 나크바(Nakba)의 지우기
저자들은 1948년 난민 발생을 아랍 측이 전쟁을 일으켰다가 패배해 발생한 '자업자득'의 결과로 묘사하려는 경향을 보인다. 그러나 이는 일란 파페를 비롯한 이스라엘 신역사학자들이 실증했듯, 이스라엘 건국 과정에서 유대 군사조직이 자행한 조직적 아랍인 축출과 인종청소라는 범죄적 가해성을 고의로 은폐하는 처사이다. 팔레스타인인들에게 귀환권은 단순한 이스라엘 해체 전술이 아니라, 자신들의 삶과 역사가 송두리째 파괴당한 '나크바(대재앙)'라는 역사적 비극에 대한 최소한의 정의와 법적 권리 보장(유엔 결의안 194호) 요구이다. 저자들은 피해자의 정당한 법적 요구를 '존재론적 테러 서사'로 치환함으로써 도덕적 선후관계를 왜곡하고 있다.
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2. UNRWA에 대한 마녀사냥과 현재적 점령의 망각
저자들이 UNRWA를 평화의 파괴자로 규정하며 해체를 주장하는 논리는 대단히 위험하고 일방적이다. UNRWA가 존재하게 된 것은 이스라엘이 난민들의 귀환을 원천 봉쇄하고 그들에게 어떠한 영토적·재정적 보상도 지급하지 않았기 때문이다. 즉, 이스라엘이 만들어낸 거대한 인도주의적 진공 상태를 메우기 위해 국제사회가 유지해 온 기구를 두고, 분쟁의 원인 제공자인 이스라엘이 "너희 기구 때문에 평화가 안 된다"고 적반하장식 비난을 퍼붓는 격이다. 더욱이 이 책은 서안지구에서 매일같이 벌어지는 이스라엘의 불법 정착촌 확장과 가자지구 봉쇄 등 '현재 진행형인 이스라엘의 물리적 가해'는 철저히 침묵한 채, 팔레스타인의 사상적 환상만을 비난하는 불균형을 보인다.
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결론
<귀환 전쟁>은 서방 세계가 팔레스타인 난민 문제를 다룰 때 간과해 온 제도적 맹점(세습 난민)을 공론화했다는 점에서 전술적 가치가 있는 책이다. 하지만 분쟁의 원인을 전적으로 팔레스타인의 '사상적 완고함'과 서구의 '과잉 보호' 탓으로 돌림으로써, 정작 가장 큰 물리적 힘을 행사하며 땅을 점령 중인 이스라엘 자신의 책임은 완벽하게 세탁해 버린다. 결과적으로 이 책은 평화를 위한 건설적인 제안이라기보다, 이스라엘의 지속적인 군사 점령과 난민 배척을 도덕적으로 정당화하기 위해 쓰인 세련된 담론적 방패에 가깝다.
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How well received was this book in Britain and other Western countries?
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서구권에서의 수용 및 평가 개요
<귀환 전쟁>은 서구 자유주의 진영의 외교 정책과 인도주의적 원조 방향을 정면으로 비판한 만큼, 서방 국가들의 정계, 싱크탱크, 언론계에서 매우 양극화된 반응을 불러일으켰다
1. 주류 정계 및 보수·현실주의 성향 싱크탱크: <정책적 전환을 이끈 이정표>
미국과 영국의 보수주의 정파 및 친이스라엘 성향의 싱크탱크(예: 미국의 Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 영국의 양당 정계 내 친이스라엘 그룹)에서는 이 책을 대단히 높게 평가했다
정책적 정당성 제공: 특히 미국의 트럼프 행정부가 UNRWA에 대한 재정 지원을 전면 중단(2018년)하고, 이후 바이든 행정부 시절 및 영국 등 서방 국가들이 UNRWA 직원들의 의혹이 불거졌을 때 지원을 일시 중단했던 정책적 결정의 사상적 토대가 되었다는 평가를 받았다.
담론의 전환: 서구 외교가가 수십 년간 '두 국가 솔루션'이라는 영토적 접근법에만 매몰되어 정작 팔레스타인 내부의 사상적 기류를 읽지 못했다는 저자들의 지적은, 서방의 많은 현실주의 외교 전문가들 사이에서 설득력 있는 비판으로 수용되었다.
2. 진보 성향 언론 및 인권 단체: <군사 점령을 은폐하는 세련된 프로파간다>
반면 영국을 비롯한 서구의 진보적 지식인 사회, 주류 자유주의 언론(예: 영국의 가디언, 미국의 뉴욕타임스 등), 그리고 국제 인권 기구들은 이 책의 논리를 극도로 경계하고 비판했다.
인도주의적 재앙 초래 비판: UNRWA를 해체해야 한다는 저자들의 주장은 가자지구와 서안지구, 레바논 등지에 있는 수백만 난민들의 생존권(교육, 보건, 식량)을 실질적으로 위협하는 잔인한 발상이라는 비판이 주를 이뤘다.
역사적 왜곡 지적: 서구의 친팔레스타인계 학자들과 진보적 평론가들은 이 책이 이스라엘의 불법 정착촌 건설, 가자지구 봉쇄, 군사 점령이라는 '물리적 가해 사실'을 교묘하게 가리고, 모든 평화의 실패 책임을 피점령 민족의 정신적 영역(꿈과 환상)으로 돌리는 도덕적 타락을 보여준다고 강력히 비난했다.
3. 영국 내에서의 독특한 맥락: <대화와 토론의 중심화>
영국은 과거 팔레스타인 지역을 통치했던 위임통치령(Mandate)의 당사자국이라는 역사적 배경(본문 중 어니스트 베빈 외무장관의 일화 등)이 있어, 이 책의 발간 이후 런던을 중심으로 한 학계와 싱크탱크에서 격렬한 토론이 벌어졌다
앞서 언급된 Intelligence Squared 토론회처럼 에이나트 빌프와 일란 파페 같은 학자들이 영국의 지적 무대에서 정면충돌하는 계기를 제공했으며, 영국의 중동 정책이 팔레스타인의 인도주의적 구호에 치중하는 것이 옳은가에 대한 의회 내 논쟁에서 인용되기도 했다.
요약
결론적으로 <귀환 전쟁>은 서구권에서 "중동 평화 프로세스의 고질적인 실패 원인을 예리하게 해부한 필독서"라는 찬사와, "이스라엘의 지속적인 아파르트헤이트와 점령 체제를 영속화하기 위해 서구 독자층을 겨냥해 쓰인 세련된 변명 서적"이라는 혹평을 동시에 받으며, 서방 외교가 내에서 중동 분쟁을 바라보는 시각의 분열을 더욱 심화시킨 책으로 평가받고 있다.
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From Australia
Ben
5.0 out of 5 stars An essential persoective on the topic of the Israel-Palestine conflict
Reviewed in Australia on 29 July 2025
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
An essential, and well referenced perspective for anyone interested in understanding the Israel-Palestine conflict, and concerned with practical pathways to lasting peace.
The main argument is that the primary obstacle to peace is the centrality of the "right of return" to the Palestinian identity and nationalist movement, and how this is incompatible with a two state solution supporting a Jewish and Arab right to self determination in roughly equal parts of their homeland as per pre-1967 partition lines. It explores how this came to be the case, the legal, historic and moral validity of a "right of return", the West's role in the perpetuation of the conflict and maintenance of the parallel humanitarian framework with its own set of norms and processes separate to that of the standards applied globally, and pathing a path to lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
The authors make a very strong, thoroughly references, and in my opinion persuasive, argument.
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Adelaide lass
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent service
Reviewed in Australia on 10 July 2024
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
Once ordering the book, I was told of the longer delivery time but the new delivery time was clearly stated. The book arrived on time, in excellent condition and is a good read.
It is important to read well researched books about contested current events to make an informed opinion.
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5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking.
Reviewed in Australia on 17 June 2024
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Excellent record of the history of Israel's return to its homeland and the opposition till today to it's right to be there. Some thought provoking questions as to why Palestinians are still referred to as 'refugees' in its territory and abroad; and why there is a separate UN agency devoted to them since 1948.
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David M
4.0 out of 5 stars Why has the world not resettled the Palestinians like every other refugee group?
Reviewed in Australia on 6 April 2021
Format: Hardcover
The expulsion and dispossession of Palestinians from what has become Israel is tragic, but the events of 1948 should have been resolved by now.
In the aftermath of the Second World War, there massive population movements across Europe and Asia, involving millions of people, and accompanied in many cases by violence, rapine and pillage. Germans expelled from Eastern Europe, the entire population of the Crimea removed to Siberia, Poles, Ukrainians, Italians by the million were forced to move, and that is without considering the massive displacements in Asia in the wake of war and decolonisation.
In virtually every case, the lost and dispossessed peoples were eventually re-settled, sometimes scattered into lands with far different cultures and languages than they. Other times, they were re-assimilated back into the lands of their Great, Great Grandparents. Bitterness and resentment certainly remained in the first and second generations, but after that mostly dissipated....
Except for the Palestinians, who have mostly been refused resettlement, citizenship, or even education and employment opportunities from their Arab "brethren" who keep simmering flames of hatred smouldering across the Middle East. To what end? It fuels war, instability and extremism on all sides.
Madness!
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Richard
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a book that explains what has stopped the conflict being settled
Reviewed in Australia on 22 January 2022
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This should be compulsory reading for all those involved in diplomacy, politics, and the media, but also for all those that follow the conflict, and would like to finally see real peace between the sides, may that day come soon!
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Gordon Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars Useful historical insight
Reviewed in Australia on 5 November 2021
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Helpful background to world views on Palestinian Justice
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Valerie18
5.0 out of 5 stars Concise history of the so-called Palestinians
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 18 June 2025
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Easy to read history of the so-called Palestinians (Arabs from Israel) and their preceived claim on the ancient Land of Israel and the complicit UNWRA whose objective was to collect your charity donations to make an exception to the rules of laws of refugees creating forever refugees indoctrinated in a death cult ideology.
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DAVID
5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo libro
Reviewed in Italy on 18 June 2020
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Questo è un ottimo libro lo consiglio. Molto dettagliato e ricco di fonti. Scritto in maniera semplice e comprensibile. Davvero ottimo.
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Philip Myron
5.0 out of 5 stars Finally brief clear evidence based explanation.
Reviewed in Canada on 29 November 2025
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I’ve read many books on this subject. This work is probably the clearest and most illuminating explanation of why this conflict has remained so intractable. The arguments laid out in this book are backed up with irrefutable historical and empirical evidence. The writing style is clear and the data easily digested. If you read only one book on this seemingly endless conflict that supersedes all others in terms of international attention and Tik Tok tears shed, this is the one. Substantial enough for a serious student of history. Short, engaging and clear enough for a generation with the attention span of fruit flies. Read this book. A rare work of enlightenment on a subject fraught with misinformed passions and prejudices.
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Amazon Kunde
5.0 out of 5 stars Why there is no peace
Reviewed in Germany on 31 January 2026
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The book explains comprehensibly why there are still not 2 states.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars I had no idea about any of this
Reviewed in the United States on 1 November 2024
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This book was a gift. I've been trying to understand why the problems in the Middle East never seem to get solved. And my birthday came up and I got this book. And Wow. This is really something to think about. Almost every news article will.... well they don't contradict it, but they leave this part out, always. This lie of omission leads to an implication, several implications. And those implied assumptions have been floating around for so long, they're assumed to be true. But here's the only truth:
When a Palestinian says they are a "refugee" they mean they're waiting to return back to their ancestor's property. This is usually inside Israel. The Palestinian is usually a citizen already in some Western country like the US, going to the same schools and colleges, having the same jobs. But they are still a "refugee" in their eyes. Not really. They just say that. But what htey usually say is they have a "right of return" to Israel.
And this return is envisioned to happen after the fall of Israel, and departure of the Jews from the Middle East.
Yeah so this is the War of Return. The war that will not end. Israel is strong and well defended, therefore, the terrorism against it doesn't end, because the only satisfactory goal of the Palestinians, is the destruction of Israel and their return to the land that "was" Israel.
To make matters worse, as if the ideology wasn't enough. UNRWA is the administration of their identity, of their right of return paperwork (literally their "deed" ownership, not recognized by Israel), the school system that glorifies martyrs, and provides free food rations. But these aren't poor refugees, most are living in the west. Some are living in normal homes. Only a small portion are living in poverty. So the aid is redundant in many places and sold at markets. The money goes to terror groups, which they use to build infrastructure to attack Israel.
The final insult is that the US and EU have been largely footing the bill for UNRWA for decades, since the 1950s.
This is a well researched book, it tells stories from the perspective of the people involved, whenever possible or relevant. But it's not entirely political, it's mainly descriptive. Though it can hardly be neutral when it deals with corruption and terrorists.
I was riveted to the book. I kept looking things up, because it's like, "Why have I never heard of this before?" But everything I looked up checked out. It was really mind blowing.
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Amazon customer
5.0 out of 5 stars very good and informative
Reviewed in the United States on 23 March 2026
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very good and informative
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Peter Herold
4.0 out of 5 stars Shocking Palestinian "permanent, 'refugee' status with supposed right to return to Israel"
Reviewed in Germany on 24 December 2023
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This book explains very well why a supposed "right to return" - to where their ancestors lived 75 years ago in what is now Israel - passed down from one generation to the next for Palestinian "refugees" is inconsistent (1) with "the way things work for everyone else in history", (2) unique (and uniquely distorted) compared to treatment of refugees by UNHCR, (3) a major obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
As Bill Maher points out in "New Rule: From the River to the Sea | Real Time" on 16 December 2023, after wars in the 20th century were ended by peace treaties, many millions of people were or remained displaced, and with international support, e.g. from UNHCR after 1951, made new lives. They got on with things. This doesn't apply to the people displaced from what is now Israel. Neighboring Arab countries didn't want to accept the Palestinians and they (or more exactly their descendants) are still classed as "refugees", even if they live permanently in e.g. Jordan or the USA and hold citizenship of these countries. UNRWA gets funding from donors for all these "refugees", even if they have made new lives elsewhere. Instead of helping refugees integrate where they are living now, as UNHCR does, UNRWA works to reinforce this refugee mentality with a supposed (no basis in international law or UN resolutions) "right to return". The number of such "refugees" has increased from 700k in 1948 to 5,5 million today. This means more jobs for its Palestinian workforce, including for school education which reinforces the sense of refugee identity and hatred of Israel.
Even if you don't agree with the political positions, the fact that this unique "permanent, passed down to successive generations, 'refugee' status with right to return to Israel" exists and is promoted by UNRWA with Western donor funding should be a major wake-up call for all those interested in peace in the Middle East.
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Christopher Vandersteen
5.0 out of 5 stars Important Source of Education
Reviewed in Canada on 21 December 2025
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A very important read at a critical time in history. Too many pro-Palestinian supporters do not have the requisite background and understanding to have an opinion about anything.
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MR N W TRY
5.0 out of 5 stars A well researched book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 June 2025
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A highly insightful and well argued book with extensive references.
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Thomas Brasch
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive explanation - well-documented - historical without being dry academic read.
Reviewed in Canada on 12 November 2024
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I will no longer argue with anybody about the Middle East. I will only ask that they read this book and challenge them to find an equivalent well-documented and well-researched publication that tells a different interpretation of the historical facts. Twenty-five percent of the book is notes and a bibliography. Though written by Israeli academics, the book is an unbiased account that gets to the heart of the matter. It was never about the land - it's about the existence of Jews living on what is perceived as exclusively Arabic lands.
I can relate quite clearly to the Palestinian situation as my parents were ethnic Germans, two of twelve million, who were expelled from Eastern European countries and lost land, homes and businesses. However, although there was an equivalent Germanic movement, "Heimkehr," the notion of reclaiming your homeland, the Right of Return was quashed to keep the peace and avoid future conflict. Under a similar UNRWAS perception, I would still be considered a refugee with a claim to return to either Hungary and Czechia. In my mid-sixties, such a notion is ridiculous. My parents have moved on and I have moved on and have created a new life filled with accomplishments instead of languishing in thoughts of what would have been.
The factors which lead to the two different outcomes are indeed different and were influenced by factors of the Cold War initially. However, at the end of the day, the results must be the same. Palestinians will have to negotiate with Israelis in good faith in order to achieve permanent peace in a two-state solution. There is no right of return for any of the hundreds of millions of refugees throughout history. The Palestinians have no special exemption or extra privilege in this arena.
Anybody who thinks they know what Palestinians really want or seek during negotiations should check out the reference made by the authors of "west-splaining". Give them some credit. They know what they want but they cannot be humoured to think it's an all or nothing game.
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Gerry King
5.0 out of 5 stars Why there can be no One-State solution - I have added an addendum
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 January 2024
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After reading James Barr’s ‘A Line in the Sand’ which tells the shabby history of Anglo-French rivalry in the Middle East following the fall of the Ottoman Empire in WW1 a friend of mine who has worked in Gaza mentioned ‘The War of Return’. He found it unbearably one-sided. At times, I felt the same because the authors do not dwell on the horrors the Israelis have visited on the Palestinians.
Instead they painstakingly document (28% of the book is reference materials) the creation of the Palestinian Refugees as a result of Arab rejection of the 1947 UN plan to partition the British Mandate into two states and their subsequent defeat in the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Over 700,000 Palestinians fled the newly established State of Isreal to the lands of the defeated Arab nations (Eygpt, Trans-Jordan, Syria and Iraq). The authors do not muddy the waters by talking about the 800,000 Jews who fled Arab and Muslim countries.
Instead, they talk about the millions of refugees who were resettled in foreign lands after WW2 without a right to return; the tenants that guide the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) and the failure of UNRWA which was supposed to be a temporary agency solely concerned with Palestinian refugees. The UNHCR does not seek to return refugees to lands from where they were forcibly evicted or have fled in fear. Instead, they seek to help them resettle in so-called donor countries and get on with living.
UNRWA does nothing to dispel the Palestinian desire to return to a land that they and most Arabs seek to wipe off the face of the earth. Instead, they add more names to the list of Palestinian refugees many of whose parents and grandparents are citizens of other countries. In conclusion, the authors identify UNWRA as the problem and an obstacle to peace that needs to be disbanded before a Two-State solution can be implemented. After reading this book I agree.
Addendum:
And now it makes me wonder, was this book a propaganda exercise to shape the Israeli debate before the amazingly appalling failure of the Israeli intelligence services that "allowed" the 7th October slaughter to happen?
The same organisations that perpetrated such an effective attack on 17th September 2024 on Hezbollah that left 3,000 fighters without the use of their trigger fingers. Maimed but not killed, they are a drain on the organisation and morale.
Replace UNWRA with an international army of peace makers who will reclaim the Israeli occupied territories back to pre-1967 borders using the billions that are being poured into the IDF genocidal machine. No need to pay the settlers compensation; it's a quid pro quo.
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Shopping BUBBE
5.0 out of 5 stars Educational. A great read.
Reviewed in the United States on 26 November 2025
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This book gives a comprehensive overview of the war between Israel and Hamas.
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Daniel
4.0 out of 5 stars Intersting study of Unwra from Israeli perspective.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 25 June 2025
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Intersting study of Unwra, though in parts of the book, the authors make it too easy for themselves, or rather Israel, because just because wrong decisions were made, or people fled, does not mean that there can be no compromise on a partial return to some areas. But the authors still take apart some of the assumptions and the contradictorary and exceptional politics within Unwra.
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Peter
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative and interesting read
Reviewed in Canada on 15 April 2025
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Educational read with tons of footnotes to go online and drill down the various claims. Openly discusses about the elephant in the room.
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Norm
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent explanation of the Israeli/Palestinian conflict
Reviewed in the United States on 26 September 2025
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This is an excellent, objective explanation of why the Israeli - Palestinian conflict has lasted for over 70 years. Concrete solutions for a road to peace are offered.
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Laura
5.0 out of 5 stars Easy and interesting read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 22 December 2024
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Lots of interesting information- very quick to navigate through. Reading this makes you aware how much isn’t known about Israel in the west. A must read!
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Kerri M
5.0 out of 5 stars Crucial book on the history of the conflict
Reviewed in Canada on 18 June 2025
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This book is absolutely essential for anyone who wants to understand the history and origins of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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max druker
5.0 out of 5 stars Review and recommendation
Reviewed in Canada on 4 January 2022
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Excellent analysis and a significant clear contribution to an issue that will not go away.
Well written easily understood and strips away otherwise significant noise.
Highly recommend this book to anyone seeking objective clarity .
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Laura Magid
5.0 out of 5 stars Crucial book to understanding the Israeli-Arab conflict
Reviewed in the United States on 18 December 2023
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Especially these days, one can drown in narratives.
Tiktok, Instagram and Twitter can convince people that the barbaric atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7th were somehow an essential and expected response the Israel's actions...
This book, which was written a decade ago by two left wing writers, dug into the conflict in pursuit of an explanation to "what happened", or "what did Israel do wrong while seeking peace with the Palestinians".
They were surprised by what they found....
They found the root essence behind the chant "From the river to the sea..."
If you ever chanted that during a protest, this is a must have book.
If you're smart enough to understand that Tiktok and Instagram vids are trying to trick you, and you're smart enough to understand this is not something you can understand through a 30 second vid, this book is for you.
If you support Israel but can't understand "why can't they just agree to give the Palestinians what they want?", this book is for you.
Most important book you'll ever read about the conflict.
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L. M. Wald
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading about the central issue obstructing peace in the Middle East
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 May 2020
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This is the key to the Two-State solution. The in perpetuity right of return of 1948 Arab refugees to Haifa, like that of Jews to Hebron are incompatible with reaching a settlement. Yes, UNWRA, who has become the primary facilitator of this perception, needs to be wound down, but more so, world and Arab opinion have to take this on board. Attitudes in many Arab states are changing - there is hope.
The book makes many controversial assertions but they are all backed by seemingly solid references - I checked a number of them. The bibliography and notes take up more than 30% - impressive.
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Lance B
5.0 out of 5 stars Well written, informative.
Reviewed in the United States on 30 July 2025
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The War of Return by Schwartz and Wilf is informative, well organized, and well written. The authors describe themselves as former “left-wing” Israelis who have modified their political views over the years considering the realities of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. They cover the period from just prior to the establishment of Israel to the publication of the book (2020). Much of their focus is on the role of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which, they explain, has intensified and prolonged the conflict. Understanding the biases and workings of this agency is a critical aspect of understanding the present Israeli–Palestinian situation. The authors dedicate much of the last part of the book to explaining the commonsense steps that can be taken to end the negative influence of this agency, move beyond the problems it has enabled and solve the conflict for the benefit of all parties. I see myself as someone who is reasonably well informed about the history of the Mideast and the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but this book has added important information and clarity for me. I strongly recommend it.
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John K Hanlon
5.0 out of 5 stars This gives an honest appraisal of the conflict
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 30 March 2024
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In conjunction with her seminar booklet- The Arab-Israeli Conflict, Dr. Einat Wilf provides a great deal of information which facilitates a balanced appraisal of the politics and biased reporting to be found in the media.
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Hendrik van der Breggen
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book that should be in all Western university libraries
Reviewed in Canada on 22 April 2024
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Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf do an excellent job of showing that the so-called Palestinian "right to return" to Israel (after losing the 1948-1949 war which Palestinian Arabs started) is not a right and that pretending it is a right (with UNRWA's help) fuels the false Palestinian view that Israel is not a legitimate state. This book should be placed in universities throughout the West. (I've donated copies to a couple of my local libraries.)
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Alexandra
5.0 out of 5 stars Honest and informative
Reviewed in Canada on 16 September 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Brilliant analysis of the "conflict" based on the actions and motives of both sides. The authors extensively researched historical facts and have a deep knowledge of the present situation. There is a lot of information that is usually ignored or suppressed by politically motivated journalists and publishers. The book is very important for building a long-lasting peace in the Middle East.
The book was delivered fast and was not damaged.
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Liena
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in the United States on 14 October 2025
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This book provides a detailed historical timeline of events describing the complexity of the conflict in the Middle East. I have read a couple of authors on this subject throughout the years, and I must say this synopsis is one of the most comprehensive ones I came across. Definitely recommend to reading it for anyone who is genuinely interested to dive in and understand the dynamics of the region and specifically on this topic.
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David
5.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 February 2025
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An interesting book and even more relevant today given events in the Middle East
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Karen S. Robinette
5.0 out of 5 stars History of the geopolitics of the Israel-Palestinian conflict from the early 20th century to 2022.
Reviewed in the United States on 2 January 2025
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This book was fascinating from beginning to end. The authors detail the key events affecting this conflict including decisions made by the U.N., the U.S. government, Middle Eastern Arab governments, the Israeli government, Palestinian leaders, and UNRWA from the end of WWI through 2022. They cite hundreds of documents and quotations from all of the organizations and leaders involved while demonstrating that this conflict has never been about how to divide the land. It has been about Arab Muslim leaders unwillingness to allow any land in the Middle East to be under Jewish control. The authors also detail the role of U.N.R.W.A. and the U.N. in propagating the idea of a Palestinian people (non-existent before the formation of Israel) demanding a "right of return" as a tool for forcing Jews out of Israel.
I strongly recommend this book to anyone truly interested in understanding the history of this conflict or in making policies connected with it that might have any chance of success.
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Jeremy Topaz
5.0 out of 5 stars Very important book
Reviewed in the United States on 23 April 2025
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The book describes the basic problem that prevents the possibility of peace between Israel and the Arabs who call themselves Palestinians. Unlike refugees anywhere else in the world, they have a. Been prevented from settling in the countries they fled to, and b. Convinced that they can “return” to the country their grandparents etc. left, which is impossible. For 77 years they have been indoctrinated with this concept.
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B. Daryl
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding book that clarifies the situation in the Middle East
Reviewed in the United States on 20 October 2024
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I had been looking for a book that would clarify the complex situation in the Middle East and "how we got here." This book is outstanding, easy to read, well researched, and clarified the issues for me. Coverage in the news media (and social media) is usually biased and often simply incorrect. This book has helped me sort out truth from hyperbole. The only shortcoming is that the book was published in April of 2020 and therefore does not include Oct. 7 nor the resulting war. If the authors were to write a new chapter to elucidate the events since the first edition, I would enthusiastically read it.
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Jen Stark
5.0 out of 5 stars Reasonable and Thoughtful
Reviewed in the United States on 29 May 2020
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Based on history and events of the past, this book helps one understand why offers of land have not led to peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. Coming from the Left, Wilf was part of this process and apparently still hopes for a two-state solution. Yet, it is clear that "Return," in other words the dissolution of Israel, is prioritized over Statehood by the Palestinians, and that this fact is what is getting in the way of a path forward. As is often expressed by Palestinian leaders and civilians, that is the true message behind such statements as "Free Palestine" and "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free." As Wilf and Schwartz communicate, many millions of people displaced by war and the transition from empires to nation-states resettled and prospered. If Palestinians would accept the prospect of building a state in the West Bank and Gaza, and Israelis were to leave certain areas deemed essential to Palestinians or offer acceptable land swaps, peace could be within reach. The notion that millions of people and their children, born and raised as citizens of other countries, are still considered "Palestinian Refugees" is beyond unreasonable, and serves to maintain the culture of victimhood of Palestinians and the stagnation of the peace process.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars The most thoughtful takedown of UNRWA
Reviewed in the United States on 2 April 2025
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Excellent book. It gets progressively more interesting the farther along you read. Einat articulates each argument and point thoroughly and eloquently and even lists a plethora of sources in the bibliography. Truly an interesting and necessary read in these times.
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S Lamm
5.0 out of 5 stars This will make you an expert
Reviewed in the United States on 24 April 2025
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If you want an insightful, well written, deeply researched book to understand the intractable conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, you can do no better than to read this book. It is insightful and infuriating.
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Russell Gold
5.0 out of 5 stars An extremely informative book
Reviewed in the United States on 15 January 2025
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The authors provide a strong evidence based assessment of the Palestinian cause, and how the world allowed it to become simple destructive, while completely bypassing what the world seems to think they want - a home of their own. Sadly, their own actions demonstrate otherwise, and the world just ignores all of the evidence.
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Michelle D.
5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Read
Reviewed in the United States on 15 June 2025
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Well argued, timely, and incredibly powerful.
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Marshall Gittler
5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant book
Reviewed in the United States on 3 March 2025
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An excellent book that explains brilliantly the reasons for the long-running Palestinian problem and what's necessary to achieve a lasting peace.
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🐾 Milo the Amazoning Dog
5.0 out of 5 stars I Recommend the Text, not the Seller
Reviewed in the United States on 3 August 2024
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I bought two copies of this book because I appreciate the authors’ work.
I was really disappointed to receive two very dirty books, one that was black all over the cover and another that’s sticky.
I tried to reach out for a new book but I got the run around. 😕
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Barry Mandelker
5.0 out of 5 stars Informative
Reviewed in Canada on 11 May 2025
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Important book
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glen i.
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstandingly accurate
Reviewed in the United States on 10 April 2024
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This is an extremely well documented record of facts of a regional struggles that has at least twice brought the world to the brink of a much greater conflict. Kudos to the authors. Brilliantly researched and well documented positions. The origin of everything happening in Post 10-7-23 Israel can be understood by reading this.
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Phoenix Matarazzo
5.0 out of 5 stars book to understand how UNRWA perpetuates an ongoing conflict
Reviewed in the United States on 21 July 2024
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This book is a great read if you want to understand the history of UNRWA, and how the organization has perpetuated the conflict and obstructed a path to peace.
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I was surprised
5.0 out of 5 stars Clarifies thinking and reminds of documented history to cure refugee status
Reviewed in the United States on 5 June 2021
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This book adds lots of clarity to one’s thinking about the conflict. The authors trace the idea of millions of Palestinians deprived of their homeland and human rights in nuanced detail. There is cumulative and comparative analysis to all other refugee populations mostly in the 2nd half of the 20th century, and mostly as a result of the population movements resulting from WWII, as well as the mission goals, mandates, and tactical approaches to solutions for refugees worldwide of the two different world bodies each beginning with the symbols U. N.
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Bryan B
5.0 out of 5 stars Gets to the heart of the Arab-Israeli conflict
Reviewed in the United States on 31 July 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
If you want to read one book that will provide you with the history and the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict, read "War of Return." Outsiders see disagreements over final borders or the settlements (which sit on less than 2% of the West Bank) as the main stumbling blocks to resolving the conflict. As "War of Return" makes clear, the insistence on forcing Israel to give citizenship to thousands of Palestinian refugees and their millions of descendants (and considering Palestinians living in Palestinian territory or as citizens in other countries as refugees) is prolonging the conflict and derailing peace.
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NJ
5.0 out of 5 stars relatively even handed
Reviewed in the United States on 19 February 2024
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Makes a good case of pointing out that the right of return would mean elimination of Israel as a Jewish state. Which is its whole point.
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Chris Hansen
5.0 out of 5 stars Should Israel Exist?
Reviewed in the United States on 4 July 2024
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Absolutely positively essential reading if you want to Actually Understand what's going on over there.
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B. Levenson
5.0 out of 5 stars Timely book
Reviewed in the United States on 21 January 2024
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This is a very good read and timely book for those who want a deep understanding of the current conflict.
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Gabriel Stein
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliantly written, crucial reading
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 November 2020
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If there is to be peace, war must end.
This is the crucial conclusion of a brilliantly written book. Schwartz and Wilf show that contrary to western belief and to Palestinian ambiguous statements, the Palestinians have not given up their aim of returning to the land their ancestors left (regardless of how or why). As long as they maintain this stance, there will be no peace between Israelis and Palestinians since the Palestinian goal means the destruction of Israel.
Very simple to state, but seemingly impossible for outsiders to accept.
Read this book!
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Carol B
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read to help understand the conflict
Reviewed in the United States on 21 January 2024
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My book group read this and we all felt it was essential reading and well researched.
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Kathleen S.
5.0 out of 5 stars Very good and informative book about why there is a current war in Israel
Reviewed in the United States on 18 December 2023
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This book is insightful and very understandable concerning the current and past wars in Israel.
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Joseph Myren
5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME
Reviewed in Canada on 21 March 2024
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AWESOME
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Gisela G.
5.0 out of 5 stars Book
Reviewed in the United States on 2 December 2023
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Excellent, present liked
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A tremendous and thorough education
Reviewed in Canada on 27 January 2021
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Phenomenal book with tremendous detail, thorough walkthrough of the issue, and footnotes/sources that will keep you busy for hours doing additional research.
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LenS
5.0 out of 5 stars Very satisfied.
Reviewed in the United States on 20 June 2021
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Book arrived in excellent condition on the promised date. I would not hesitate to buy from this seller in the future.
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Scribbler
5.0 out of 5 stars Definitive argument
Reviewed in the United States on 12 July 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This book helps being clarity to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. A must read for anyone who wishes to see peace in the region.
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kcm
5.0 out of 5 stars Middle East Peace Process
Reviewed in the United States on 12 September 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
A very interesting and well-documented explanation for much of the difficulty that keeps leading to a failure of the "Two-State Solution".
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Guy P.
5.0 out of 5 stars The best summary of the Key roadblock to Israel/Palestine peace. A must read.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 13 July 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Very well written with an extensive amount of research summarised to only ~200 pages. Extremely enlightening for anyone that cares about Israel-Palestinians relations and the Middle East at large.
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Aventura Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars The Missing Piece for Peace
Reviewed in the United States on 15 May 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Very important book that is well written and clarifies the recipe and missing piece for that elusive peace. Must read to understand the Israeli-Palestinian challenge.
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent
Reviewed in the United States on 11 June 2020
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Rigouros, well documented, an eye opener. Explains a hard to explain situation, and which is more, suggests a real solution.
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Dave
5.0 out of 5 stars Must read to understand the true issue
Reviewed in the United States on 6 June 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Great book and sad to see how things developed - puts a new light on why we are where we are today.
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GMaier
5.0 out of 5 stars Best Explanation for failure of Palestinians to achieve peace with Israel
Reviewed in the United States on 5 November 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Finally a convincing explanation for the deadlocked peace process and why US Policy has been misgiuded
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!
Reviewed in the United States on 26 August 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
An excellent book about the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, backed by ample evidence and references.
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MSS
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent!!!
Reviewed in the United States on 21 September 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Explains the situation so that a layperson can understand the intricate details.
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Anonymous
1.0 out of 5 stars Bought a new book and it came with a marked up cover
Reviewed in the United States on 1 July 2025
Format: Mass Market PaperbackVerified Purchase
The cover of the book was marked up, I need to read it so don't have time to return it.
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Dori
5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant analysis
Reviewed in the United States on 14 July 2020
Format: HardcoverVerified Purchase
Excellent analysis of the issue
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