by Ilan Pappé
First published 1992
In 1948, the first Arab-Israeli war erupted, forever reshaping the Middle East. But the true origins of this conflict stretch back years before the first shots were fired. Integrating newly declassified archival material, historian Ilan Pappé pulls back the veil on the political maneuverings and backroom deals that set the stage for this fateful clash. As Pappé reveals, the outcomes were determined not on the battlefield, but in the halls of power - long before the fighting began. This comprehensive account lays bare the complex web of colonial interests, nationalist aspirations, and diplomatic failures that gave rise to one of the world's most enduring and intractable conflicts.
Genres: history, 20th-century, political-science, politics, middle-east, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: historical-fiction, political-thriller
Setting: Middle East
Period: 1947-1951
336 pages · Hardcover · I.B.Tauris