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Book Details
Abstract
There is no more compelling and dramatic unfolding story, with more profound international ramifications, than the conflict in the Middle East.
Sharing the Land of Canaan is a critical examination of the core issues of the conflict that dares to put forward a radical but logical solution: that a shared state is the best way to achieve justice and peace for Israelis and Palestinians. Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, offers an overview of the issues at stake, and outlines his vision for a lasting peace based on upholding the principles of human rights for all. Tackling taboo subjects, myths and obstacles, he argues convincingly that apartheid in the form of a two-state solution is no longer a feasible way to achieve enduring peace.
At this critical time, when the 'road map' to peace looks more uncertain than ever, this book provides a refreshing counterpoint to the failed strategies of the past. It is a direct and accessible account of the history - and mythology - of the fabled 'Land of Canaan', which lays out hopeful ideas for the future of this truly multiethnic and multicultural region.
'Brings to light many forgotten and wilfully buried facts about the origins of the Israel-Palestinian conflict'
Dr. Norman Finkelstein
'A tour-de-force by a brilliant scientist who debunks entrenched myths standing in the way of the only logical and compassionate peace'
Dr. Naseer Aruri, Professor Emeritus and author of Dishonest Broker
'An erudite work of extensive scholarship, enormous scope, searing honesty, and intellectual audacity'
Dr. Hanan Ashrawi
'Scholarly and thought-provoking new insights into the Israeli-Palestinian struggle. This book is 'must-reading' for those who are interested in the Arab-Israeli conflict'
Norton Mezvinsky, CSU University Professor, Central Connecticut State University, co-author of Jewish Fundamentalism in Israel
'Covering lots of ground concisely, this is a rewarding book for those trying to unravel the myths and misconceptions involved'
Beccy Reese, Bookmarks Review of Books
'A breath of fresh air. The author, a well-known human rights activist, defies all odds and proposes a scheme of coexistence'
Dr. Salman Abu Sitta
Table of Contents
| Section Title | Page | Action | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contents | v | ||
| 1. Introduction | 1 | ||
| 2. People and the Land | 5 | ||
| Ancient Peoples and Culture | 5 | ||
| The Nabateans | 9 | ||
| Cultural and Religious Symbiosis in Canaan | 11 | ||
| A 'Melting-Pot' Origin of Native People | 13 | ||
| Palestinians | 14 | ||
| 3. Biology and Ideology | 18 | ||
| Eugenics, Population Genetics, and Political Ideology | 20 | ||
| Genetics and the Bible | 24 | ||
| Genetics versus Zionist Mythology | 28 | ||
| 4. Palestinian Refugees and Their Right to Return | 31 | ||
| Early Proposals for Population Removal | 32 | ||
| Why Did the Palestinians Leave? | 35 | ||
| Intention, Rhetoric, and Reality | 39 | ||
| The Consequences of Al-Nakba | 41 | ||
| Continued Ethnic Cleansing versus Justice and Repatriation | 43 | ||
| The Desirability and Feasibility of Return | 46 | ||
| 5. Jerusalem (Ur-Salem, Jebus, Yerushalaym, Al-Qods): A Pluralistic City | 56 | ||
| Jebusites and Jerusalemites | 56 | ||
| Changing Powers, Eternal People | 58 | ||
| Jerusalem under Islamic Rule | 60 | ||
| Twentieth-century Nationalism | 61 | ||
| Reunification or Apartheid and Exclusion | 63 | ||
| The Future: A City of Peace | 65 | ||
| 6. Zionism | 67 | ||
| Christian Zionism and Colonialism | 67 | ||
| Zionism Taking Root among European Jewish Communities | 70 | ||
| Zionism after 1948 | 72 | ||
| Is Zionism the Mirror Image of Anti- Semitism? | 76 | ||
| A Post-Zionist Discourse | 81 | ||
| 7. Is Israel a Democracy? | 85 | ||
| A Basic Analysis of the 'Basic Laws' | 85 | ||
| The 'Absentee Laws' | 89 | ||
| Institutionalized Discrimination | 92 | ||
| 8. Violence and Terrorism | 97 | ||
| The Seeds and Roots of Terrorism | 97 | ||
| Fear | 100 | ||
| Terrorism in the Land of Canaan | 101 | ||
| Resistance versus Terrorism | 103 | ||
| Justice Brings Peace, Injustice Perpetuates Violence | 107 | ||
| 9. Human Rights | 113 | ||
| The Universal Declaration of Human Rights | 113 | ||
| Torture | 115 | ||
| Targeting Civilians | 117 | ||
| Human Rights as the Cornerstone for Peace | 118 | ||
| 10. The Conflict and Sustainable Development | 130 | ||
| The Palestinian and Israeli Economies and Societies: Separate and Unequal | 130 | ||
| Changes since 1991 | 133 | ||
| Water | 137 | ||
| Environmental Degradation | 139 | ||
| Prosperity with Equality and Sustainability | 141 | ||
| 11. The Political Context | 144 | ||
| Natives and Zionists: An Inevitable Clash? | 144 | ||
| Britain and France and the Zionist Program | 146 | ||
| Britain Hands the Torch to the US | 151 | ||
| Israeli Political Discourse | 153 | ||
| An Era of Peace? | 155 | ||
| Palestinian Political Discourse | 159 | ||
| The Oslo Accords | 161 | ||
| Might Makes Right? | 169 | ||
| 12. The International Context and International Law | 175 | ||
| Early International Failures | 175 | ||
| An Illegal Partition | 179 | ||
| The Fourth Geneva Convention | 182 | ||
| UNSC Resolutions 242, 338, and More | 185 | ||
| 13. Peace Can be Based on Human Rights and International Law | 191 | ||
| Zionist Discourse | 193 | ||
| Reality is not Conducive to a Two- State Solution | 197 | ||
| The Politics of Justice | 199 | ||
| Altruism is Pragmatic | 202 | ||
| We Have Been There, Done That | 204 | ||
| The Power of Coexistence and Non-violent Direct Action | 208 | ||
| Psychological and Physical Apartheid | 210 | ||
| An Inevitable Solution | 213 | ||
| Notes | 220 | ||
| Index | 233 |