The Shortest History of Israel and Palestine

From Zionism to Intifadas and the Struggle for Peace

De: Michael Scott-Baumann

Narrado por: Eric Jason Martin

An accessible, balanced chronicle of how the Israel-Palestine conflict originated and developed over the past century. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced listen.

The ongoing struggle between Israel and Palestine is one of the most bitter conflicts in history, with profound global consequences. In this book, Middle East expert Michael Scott-Baumann succinctly describes its origins and charts its evolution from civil war to the present day. Each chapter offers a lucid explanation of the politics and ends with personal testimony from Palestinians and Israelis whose lives have been impacted by the dispute.

While presenting competing interpretations, Scott-Baumann examines the key flashpoints, including the early role of the British, the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, the Six Day War of 1967, and the Trump administration's peace plan, pitched as "the deal of the century," in 2020. He delineates both the nature of Israeli control over the Palestinian territories and Palestinian resistance—going to the heart of the clashes in recent decades. The result is an indispensable history, including a timeline, glossary, and analysis of why efforts to restore peace have continually failed and what it will take to succeed.

©2021 Michael Scott-Baumann (P)2023 Tantor

The Palestinian Viewpoint

I was looking for a brief, balanced history of the conflict. While this book met the first element (brief), it fell far short of the second (balanced). After finishing it, I feel like I need to go read/listen to a book that presents the Israeli viewpoint.

Most of the “personal insights” the author shares from primary sources (at the end of each chapter) are either from Palestinians discussing their maltreatment at the hands of the Israelis or from Israelis talking about how horribly the Palestinians were treated (this is only a slight exaggeration).

I’m sure the author believes they presented a balanced account of this complex history - but as a reader, it is obvious this book, while still a helpful introduction to the issues, leaves one wishing for an understanding of the Israeli point of view.

I’m not sure I recommend this book. Yes, it’s a quick read, but if you need a second book to fully understand both sides of the issues, then maybe one is better off finding one book that might be a bit longer but is a more complete presentation of the opposing viewpoints.

Great introduction to millennial of conflict

A seemingly balanced telling of the roots and perpetuation of the Palestinian and Israeli conflict. I am embarrassed to admit my lack of more than a surface level
understanding of the facts and events. This book has concisely remedied that. Thank you.

Great Til 1980’s

Took a while for the author to disclose that he volunteered with an anti settlement group (which I am personally). His history of the territory up til relatively modern times was unflinching and well written, but (more times than not) blatantly anti Israel. Great book to get you started and worth the credit - but don’t stop here. Or at least go in with a curious mindset. The word Holocaust was mentioned twice in the entire book, and Hezbollah’s ties to Iran were also ignored; to name just a few issues.

informative albeit biased

there is a lot of good information in this book
the problem is that the author is clearly biased in favor of the Palestinians so the information is presented to that end.

Well confensed

Overall good … but biased against Israel and pro Palestinian . Anti trump . Pro democratic . That said well done in terms of chronology

Decent but skewed

Decent book. very historical and will give the reader a good understanding of the creation of the Israeli Palestinian conflict. This book favors the Palestinian side very clearly and breezes over topics like Hamas. This book inconjuction with others can give a better understanding of the history and conflict.