Kurai Tsuki
17th March 2004, 01:59
Arabs and Israel for Beginners was the first progressive book that I ever read, and it still does not fail to impress me. At the time I read this book I knew that the American media's portrayal of Israel as an innocent country who only attacked Arab countries in reaction to a previous attack was a outright lie, and I knew about the high amount of aid that Israel received from American tax dollars, but I needed facts. That's exactly where this book came in.
In addition to learning the reality behind Israeli policy, its formation and the part America plays in it, I also learned about the history of the Arab people, my ancestors, who the original Arabs where, what they were like, and where they were located. The book gives a detailed history of both peoples, from ancient times to the present. The book is perfect for those who need an introductory reading on the Middle East and its history, as the name implies.
I can understand why Zionists and Right Wingers would be angry with this book; it presents a contradiction to their most fundamental beliefs about the Middle East. It was written at a time when the media whitewashed everything Israel did to make it seem like self defense, a time not very different from now. Although the book does not go into very much detail about the American interventions in the Arab world, that would have made the book much more informative.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the history of the Arab and Jewish world.
In addition to learning the reality behind Israeli policy, its formation and the part America plays in it, I also learned about the history of the Arab people, my ancestors, who the original Arabs where, what they were like, and where they were located. The book gives a detailed history of both peoples, from ancient times to the present. The book is perfect for those who need an introductory reading on the Middle East and its history, as the name implies.
I can understand why Zionists and Right Wingers would be angry with this book; it presents a contradiction to their most fundamental beliefs about the Middle East. It was written at a time when the media whitewashed everything Israel did to make it seem like self defense, a time not very different from now. Although the book does not go into very much detail about the American interventions in the Arab world, that would have made the book much more informative.
I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know the history of the Arab and Jewish world.