Description
One of the "10 Must-Read Histories of the Palestine-Israel Conflict"
—Ian Black, Literary Hub, on the 100th anniversary of the Balfour Declaration
The new edition of the acclaimed text that explores the issues continuing to define the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Numerous instances of competing, sometimes incompatible narratives of controversial events are found throughout history. Perhaps the starkest example of such contradictory representations is the decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine. For over 140 years, Israelis, Palestinians, and scores of peacemakers have failed to establish a sustainable, mutually-acceptable solution. The Israel-Palestine Conflict introduces the historical basis of the dispute and explores both the tangible issues and intangible factors that have blocked a peaceful resolution. Author Neil Caplan helps readers understand the complexities and contradictions of the conflict and why the histories of Palestine and Israel are so fiercely contested.
Now in its second edition, this book has been thoroughly updated to reflect the events that have transpired since its original publication. Fresh insights consider the impact of current global and regional instability and violence on the prospects of peace and reconciliation. New discussions address recent debates over two-state versus one-state solutions, growing polarization in public discourse outside of the Middle East, the role of public intellectuals, and the growing trend of merging scholarship with advocacy. Part of the Wiley-Blackwell Contested Histories series, this clear and accessible volume:
- Offers a balanced, non-polemic approach to current academic discussions and political debates on the Israel-Palestine conflict
- Highlights eleven core arguments viewed by the author as unwinnable
- Encourages readers to go beyond simply assigning blame in the conflict
- Explores the major historiographical debates arising from the dispute
- Includes updated references and additional maps
Already a standard text for courses on the history and politics of the Middle East, The Israel-Palestine Conflict is an indispensable resource for students, scholars, and interested general readers.
Table of Contents
List of Maps xi
Preface to the First Edition xiii
Preface to the Second Edition xv
Abbreviations xvii
Note on Sources xix
Part I Introduction 1
1 Problems in Defining the Conflict 3
What’s in a Name? 4
Loaded Terminology 5
Maps 7
Dates and Periodization 10
An Ongoing Conflict: Tractable or Intractable? 13
Conflict Resolution or Conflict Management? 14
The “Other” Arab–Israeli Conflict 15
Advocacy and Censure 16
2 Defining the Conflict, Nevertheless 21
Who are the Conflicting Parties? 21
What are the Main Issues in Contention among the Parties to the Conflict? 25
Competing Narratives: Right versus Right, Victim versus Victim 33
Ways of Visualizing the Conflict 34
Analogies and Parables 36
The Conflict in Comparative Perspective: Three Paradigms 37
Part II Histories in Contention 43
3 Background to 1917: Origins of Conflict 45
Ancient Ties and Historical Memories 45
Early Encounters: 1880s–1914 48
An Unseen Question? 50
Colonialism and Nationalism 51
Victims versus Victims 55
4 Arabs and Jews under the British Mandate: Entrenching Positions, 1917–1928 61
Wartime Commitments: Palestine as the “Much Too Promised Land”? 61
Britain’s “Dual Obligation” 64
The Mandate and Its Implementation: Cycle of Protests and Inquiry Commissions 67
Clashes and Confrontations during the Early Years of the Mandate 70
Zionist Responses to Palestinian–Arab Opposition 71
“Making the Desert Bloom” 73
The Deceptive Lull 77
5 Collapse of the Mandate: Rebellion, Partition, White Paper, 1929–1939 83
Radicalization of Palestinian Politics 83
General Strike and Rebellion, 1936 86
Turning Point: The (Peel) Royal Commission 87
Retreat from Partition 91
The Resort to Force: Violence, Terrorism, and National Struggles 92
6 Shoah, Atzma’ut, Nakba: 1939–1949 105
The Holocaust and Jewish Immigration to Palestine 105
The Anglo–American Committee of Inquiry 110
UNSCOP and the Creation of Israel 111
War: Atzma’ut and Nakba 115
Nakba and Shoah: Victims versus Victims, Once Again 123
7 Israel and the Arab States, 1949–1973 133
The Palestinian Issue after 1949 133
From Armistice to Non‐Peace 136
Low‐Intensity Border Warfare, 1949–1956 139
From War to War, I (1949–1956) 142
From War to War, II (1957–1967) 145
From War to War, III (1967–1973) 150
8 Back to the Core: Israel and the Palestinians 163
Primal Fears, New Militancy 163
The Re‐Emergence of the Palestinian National Movement after 1967 165
The Palestine Question at the United Nations 171
9 From Camp David to the West Bank to Lebanon 181
Camp David and the Israel–Egypt Peace Process 181
The West Bank and Gaza after Camp David 184
Operation “Peace for Galilee”: Israel Invades Lebanon, 1982 188
Righteous Victimhood in the 1980s 189
10 From Mutual Boycott to Mutual Recognition, 1982–1995 199
Peace Plans and Planting Seeds 199
The First Intifada and the Gulf War, 1987–1991 201
Madrid and Oslo: A New Peace Process 206
11 From Breakthrough to Breakdown, 1995–2018 219
Continuing Diplomatic Efforts 220
The Al‐Aqsa Intifada 223
Changes in the Geo‐Strategic Environment 225
Three Gaza Wars, Three Blueprints for Peace 227
The Annapolis Process and Kerry’s Shuttle Diplomacy 230
Part III Towards a More Useful Discussion of the Arab–Israeli Conflict 243
12 Writing about the Conflict 245
On the Shortcomings of “Myths versus Facts” 246
Objectivity and Bias in Academe 248
Scholars and Activists 252
Israel’s “New Historians” 257
Missed Opportunities 259
Trends in Palestinian and Israeli Historiography 265
13 Grappling with the Obstacles 277
Issues versus Rights 277
The Shape of the Future: What “Solutions”? 279
Unwinnable Core Arguments 285
Righteous Victimhood 286
Imagining Dialogue 289
Reducing Some Obstacles to Understanding the Conflict 291
Telling It Like It Is 294
Chronology 305
Bibliography 319
Index 355
