I want to thank Yolanda Flanagan for buying me something from my Amazon Wish List. It was Edward Said's The Question of Palestine An excellent choice! So excellent that I want to encourage others to read it. Unfortunately, Yolanda's timing was most excellent because it now seems to be out of print and not available. Hopefully this is a temporary situation. There are always the used book stores.

Here his an Amazon review of the book.

Taking Sides

Does the fact that I am an Israeli Jew living in Israel mean that I should reject this book ? Does the fact that I think the book is crucially important mean that I am "taking sides" ?

I believe otherwise. I found this book to be very important, as it is an account of a Palestinian - an admittedly interested party in the conflict. Said knows about the Jews and Zionism much more than most Israeli Jews know about the Palestinians. But of course - Said is never "objective" - he himself is a refugee, who describes the side of Zionism as he and many others like him experienced.

Said shows surprising understanding of Zionism - he even says that one cannot compare the situation in Israel to that which existed in South Africa. He says that things here are more complicated. Said acknowledges the achievements of Zionism as far as Jews are concerned, another surprise.

I felt a deep passion for peace and compromise in this book - I believe that the author accepts the reality of a Jewish state in Israel. However, Said points out that no such peace can be achieved as long as Palestinian dreams are constantly shattered or ignored.

There are two sides to this story - I am on one and Said is on the other. Still, this book is important because it acknowledges the existance of two sides, and thus provides a road to conciliation that is so important to all of us.

I think every Jew and every Paelstinian should read this book, and so should evreybody with a serious interest in our troubled piece of land.

And don't forget, there are still 310 items left in my Amazon Wish List. They're not going fast, but don't wait!