Ghosts of a Holy War

The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict

De: Yardena Schwartz

Narrado por: Sharon Freedman

An award-winning journalist presents an even-handed, thoroughly researched examination of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and illustrates how a shocking yet little-known massacre one century ago in what was then Palestine became ground zero of a war that continues to devastate.

"[A] compelling story. . . . If you are going to read one book to help you understand the current Middle East tragedy, this is it."—Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute, and author of the New York Times bestseller Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor

In 1929, in the sacred city of Hebron—then governed by the British Mandate of Palestine—there was no occupation, state of Israel, or settlers. Jews and Muslims lived peacefully near the burial place of Abraham, patriarch of the Jewish and Arab nations, until one Saturday morning when nearly 70 Jewish men, women, and children were slaughtered by their Arab neighbors. The Hebron massacre was a seminal event in the Arab-Israeli conflict, key to understanding its complexities. The echoes of 1929 in Hamas’s massacre of October 7, 2023, illustrate how little has changed—and how much of our perspective must change if peace is ever to come to this tortured land and its people, who are destined to share it. Noted journalist Yardena Schwartz draws on her extensive research and wide-ranging interviews with both sides to tell a timely, eye-opening story. She expertly weaves the war between Israel and Hamas into a historical framework, demonstrating how the conflict today cannot be understood without the context of ground zero of this century-old war, which began long before the occupation, the settlements, or the state of Israel ever existed.

This meticulously researched and balanced examination of the Arab-Israeli conflict's origins interweaves historical analysis with contemporary insights, providing crucial context for understanding today's Middle East tensions. Perfect for anyone who has read Ilan Pappe, Noa Tishby, or Rashid Khalidi, Schwartz's work is a riveting exploration of the complex background of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the ongoing struggle for peace in the region.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2024 Yardena Schwartz (P)2024 Oasis Audio

Great overview of the legacy of the Hebron Massacre and its ongoing relevance and impact.

This is a wonderful book, but the mispronunciations and mistakes by the reader were distracting.
The worst being: “Galid Shalit” “Yaov Gallant” “Eretz Crossing.” I feel these errors risk diminishing the credibility of the book, which is really unfortunate because it’s so good.

History of Israel

Historical perspective was enlightening and helped me understand the roots of the Gaza war and Israel’s need to prosecute it

Fascinating, heartbreaking, fair

I highly recommend everybody touched by or interested in the tragic events of October 7 read this book for an in-depth historical background and an understanding of Israeli and Palestinian society today.