This book is undoubtedly a must reading for anyone interested not only in the history of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict but also specifically in what really happened in Jenin last year during the Israeli invasion of this martyred palestinian city by Sharon's army with its heavy tanks, missiles, Apache helicopters, bulldozers.

"Searching Jenin," an authoritative book which includes first hand testimonies from Palestinian victims and their relatives is the result of a collective effort of nearly 60 scholars, reporters, and activists, Palestinians, Israelis and Internationals, is edited by Ramzy Baroud, editor-in-chief of PalestineChronicle.com. The book includes a Forward by Noam Chomsky an honourable observer and critic of the pro-Israeli bias of US Middle East policy which has constituted a major obstacle to a peaceful solution of the conflict.

Many of the reporters commissioned for the book put their safety, and in some cases, their lives on the line to collect account after tragic account for this book. Because of their integrity and professionalism, they were able to interview many high profile figures that refused being interviewed by any other news agency."

Not only does the book include scores of telling accounts of residents who witnessed and survived the invasion, but it includes interviews with people such as the wife and the mother of Mahmud Tawalbe, the leader of the resistance in Jenin. Tawalbe was shot and killed by Israeli forces. The book also includes a detailed interview with the only eyewitness to the extra-judicial execution of Abu Jandal, the second in command of the Palestinian resistance in Jenin.

The courageous reporters who combed the streets of Jenin, interviewed medical personnel, resistance fighters, and even children, including an 8 year old girl named Rund, who complained that the army broke her only doll. Rund's father was later shot and killed by the army. They also interviewed an elderly widow who explained how she implored Israeli forces as they demolished her small home, burying her disabled son alive under the rubble. Her son's body was never recovered.

WARNING: This book is very disturbing, as it provides detailed, first-hand accounts of a truly horrible act of terror from the victims who have witnessed and suffered through it.

This book allows the reader to experience this event from the eyes of the Palestinians (and internationals). Many of these eyewitnesses have lost their homes, children, spouses, or other loved ones from direct fire by the Isreali army. This book will not answer the great question of how many casulties resulted from this attack, but through these first-hand accounts, it portrays the the terror, the absolute hatred, and the complete disregard for humanity that the IDF demonstrates towards the Palestinian people (and continues to demonstrate today). Most of these victims were just regular civilians who had no involvement in the uprising or the suicide bombings. This is required reading for anyone who possesses this unfounded illusion of the Isreali forces as heros who are simply defending their own people.

This is an excellent book which brings together some fresh thinking and reporting on a controversial subject matter. The massacre at Jenin has become the pawn of those playing politics, but this book tries to bring the reader back to the need to find the truth and to explore all aspects.

Ramzy Baroud is a well known columnist whose writings have explored many subjects that are often considered taboo by the mainstream "embedded" American media -- imagine the new ways that term will be used. I found the collection of essays to be a fascinating read that challenges the perceptions about what the Israeli military really did in Jenin and forces the reader to ask hard questions about the bigger picture of brutality and unfairness.

The goal is truth, not a political view. Ramzy Baroud's book helps to refocus the reader toward that goal and away from the partisan politics that plagues much of the writing that exists in other books.

Thanls Ray Hanania
www.hanania.com

As someone who has done alot of research on the middle east, having read countless books on the matter and journals, I can honestly say that no present account is better than Enderlin's account of the failed peace process. The main reason are his sources. Most of his sources are all the people involved, from Shimon Peres, to the european delegation, Palestinian ministers, transcripts between Clinton and the leaders, even transcripts of Syria's Assad! The book is very fair in the sense that it does not place an emotional blame, just describes what happened and who did what. If you want to understand where we are now and how the tragic mistakes of the past can be avoided, read this book. You will not regret it.

This book is most interesting as it shows you how each side ( US, Palestinian, Israel) approached the peace negotiations process and how misunderstandings, political pressures, fundamental policy differences, promises made by one & retracted by another, the lack of preparation and trust lead all contributed to the failure of the Clinton Peace talks.

It is truely a behind the scenes view of the entire process.

It also covers how each side, especially the Israelis, managed the peace process. The management of press reports(pages 215 to 217)is just one aspect that I found most enlightning.

I would make this book required reading for anyone engaged in the study/practice of international negotiations.

Charles Enderlin (a French journalist in Jerusalem) has done a great service not only to Israelis and Palestinians but also to American observers of the conflict. With his inside access to the negotiators, Enderlin gives the reader a vast amount of primary material.

What were the two sides discussing? How did the negotiations work? Why did the summit at Camp David fail? Did either side really want peace? Enderlin has his answers, but he also gives the reader the opportunity to make his/her own judgments.

As Beilin, Sher, Ben-Ami, Ross, and others publish accounts as participants in the process, it is very helpful to have Enderlin's book as a resource. For anyone interested in understanding the failed attempt to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, Enderlin's book will be essential reading.

This is by far the best photo book of Israel I have seen. It is worth every penny (or Shekel)!

Israel is probably the most beautifull country in the world and this book does it justice. The photos are truly spectacular. It almost makes you want to hop on a plane right away. It's a bit expensive but you do get your money's worth. If you've havent been to Israel this book will make you regret it.

I was looking for a picture book containing snapshots from all different parts of Israel. This book, shot by many Israeli photographers, captures the essence of the country by its photographs. In addition, it contains about 20 or so pages with informative history alongside the pictures. There are a variety of types of shots:numerous fold out pages, bird's eye views, and up-close pictures. I found Spectacular Israel to be a GREAT buy for the extensive collection of pictures. It is definately the best book out there for anyone looking to own a picture book on Israel.

This testimony to man's inhumanity to man is a welcome addition to Holocaust literature. Mr. Rosengarten's personal story is a tribute to the human spirit and the will to survive. Although the book was originally planned for his children, I appreciate the fact that he shared his experiences, his courage and love of family with the general public. Because this authentic and moving book made such a lasting impression on me, I wish to donate a copy to our library.

A truly haunting book in its simplicity. This is not high emotion, but an incredibly comprehensive recollection of life in various concentration camps. Israel Rosengarten conveys the true horror of the concentration camps via his narrative of the details and minutiae of day to day life. It is the very ordinariness of many of the details which jolts us and the capriciousness with which one either lived or died. Mr. Rosengarten's detailed memories of the routine of the camps 50 years after the events is what sets this book apart. It is this which conveys the true horror of the Holocaust and makes it a must read. It is a pity that the Publisher allowed such obviously poor translation and editing to be done of such an important work.

Survival: The Story of a Sixteen-Year-Old Jewish Boy begins with Israel J. Rosengarten's deportation in 1942 to the Belgian concentration camp of Breendonk at the age of sixteen and follows his movements through a series of camps until 1945. Survival is a compelling, personal account that concludes with the Auschwitz death march, liberation by the Americans, and Israel's return to Belgium -- only to discover that he was the lone survivor of a family of seven. This intimate story of what it was like to be a teenage boy in the concentration camps of the holocaust, of surviving almost 1,000 days of internment through a series of incredible coincidences, miracles, and a fierce struggle to stay alive against impossible odds. Survival is a welcome addition to the growing body of holocaust literature.

The long awaited sequel to "Torah Rediscovered - Challenging Centuries of Misinterpretation and Neglect". The Berkowitzes have done it again, with their gracious style of teaching and their loving approach, they demonstrate the beauty, symmetry, majesty and graciousness of the Torah, and then show the non-Jewish reader how they have Divine permission to embrace it for themselves, to become full participants in an inheritance with the Jewish people, Land and Scriptures. By the way, "Torah Rediscovered" is currently out of print, but it too is an absolutely must read book... Tremendous reading.

This an essential book for those amoung the church world to see how the Old Testament Sciptures, Covenants, Land, and people are still valid today. For Jews, this can show how Yeshua and his disciples didn't start a new religion or forsake the teachings of the Torah, but that He was the one to whom the Tanakh pointed to. The book deals mainly with Old Testament Law and Prophecy. (Which is good for Christians because when was the last time you studied books like Leviticus or Zechariah?) Towards the end, the book explains how to reconcile seemingly "contradictory" passages from the New Testament and gives a more scripturally cohesive interpretation. It may pop your Christain bubble and challenge your presuppositions, but it shows you a whole new way to read the Bible (as a whole, not divided)!

For those who wonder if the "Old Testament" is alive and well and relevant for modern Believers this is the book. Ariel & Dvorah Berkowitz have done a wonderful job of explaining why Gentiles can not only belong to the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob but also live happily with the teachings found in the Torah. Furthermore they examine a number of New Testament scriptures often used to "prove" the "Law" has been done away with. The authors, by the way, are wonderful people.

The future of Israel will depend to a large extent on how Israelis deal with the tensions and contradictions between the revolutionary ideals and traditions of Zionism and the aspiration to build a democratic and just society, author Bernard Avishai argues in his book, "The Tragedy of Zionism." Avishai defends the achievements of Labor Zionism and rightly insists that in the context of the period in which Labor Zionism emerged and flourished, it was both necessary, justified and successful, with its greatest triumph evident in the establishment of the state of Israel in May 1948. Following the emergence of Zionism in the late 19th century, Avishai traces its evolution, growth, and transformation from a political and ideological movement into the foundation of a state, and from fragile early statehood into local military power.

Avishai offers what has been described as a "post-Zionist" perspective on Israeli society and politics, and fears that the institutions and values of traditional Labor Zionism have become anachronistic and in some ways an obstacle to effective and democratic solutions to the problems facing Israel today. At the same time, he is critical of the "New Zionism" which is championed by Ariel Sharon and his Likudnik supporters, but notes the extent to which the rise of this movement has its roots not only in Vladimir Jabotinsky's "Revisionism" of the 1930s, but in the national security statism which emerged in the 1960s, associated with prominent figures like Moshe Dayan. Clearly the 1967 Six-Day War marked a watershed in the development of this movement, while the subsequent 1973 Yom Kippur War to a certain extent seemed to discredit the security policies of the old Labor establishment and, along with important demographic changes in Israel, opened the door to Begin's election in 1977.

Avishai rightly rejects the notion of Zionism as some kind of arm of a 20th century European or American colonial or neo-colonial project, and recognizes the legitimate security concerns created by Palestinian rejectionism, Arab hostility, and terrorism. At the same time, he raises serious concerns about the current settler movement, the moral and practical problems and costs raised for Israel by the ongoing occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, and the impact of the militarization of Israeli society on the future for Israeli democracy.

Avishai warmly embraces liberal democratic values, and hopes to see these values thrive in Israel. While it is true that Israel is the region's only democracy, he suggests a kind of fragility to this democracy, and worries over how easily terrorists in both the Israeli community(Dr. Baruch Goldstein, for example) and in the Palestinian community (a whole raft of suicide bombers) can subvert efforts by moderates on both sides to find peace. Ultimately, Avishai recognizes that the Israelis and Palestinians are bound to each other, and any effort to achieve a just peace must recognize the legitimate aspirations and rights of both sides. Avishai argues that Israel must address the question of equal rights for Arab Israelis, and defends the notion of a peace process, whatever the limitations of the Oslo effort in the 1990s.

Supporters of the Sharon government probably will find much to argue with in this book, but it would be wrong to say that Avishai is insensitive to the security issues for Israel created by Palestinian terror. Obviously, there can be no peace as long as terror bombers carry out their murderous plans. But just as the effort to make peace carries risks, so does the decision to resolve these problems through war (as was demonstrated by the fate of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon). Avishai offers a profound and thoughtful treatment of these issues and connects that debate to the larger history of the Zionist movement. His urgent concern for the future of Israeli democracy deserves the attention of all who care about the future of Israel, whatever they might think about the specifics of the positions that he takes.

Political Zionism's revolutionary past continues to haunt and effect Israeli democracy and struggles with its neighbors today. Chapters provide a history of Zionism, conflicts, and the underlying concepts which fostered its growth in the 1930s and threaten its continued existence today. The Tragedy Of Zionism, offers a thoughtful and thought-provoking coverage of a sensitive but timely issue bermane to Judaic and American support for the beleaguered Israeli people.

This a reprint with a new introduction of the 1985 book with its eloquent and penetrating discussion of Zionism and a democratic Israel, as topical now as it was when printed. Tracing the source of the current collisions, especially with respect to 1967, the account attempts to define a democratic context in relation to the extraordinary circumstance of Israel, and to point to the limitations of the Zionist revolutionary idea in this regard. Such a controversial subject is--your move. Nothing changes, and nothing seems to improve, and we see in one generation the poison well of a great tradition, the American government paralyzed, and critics classified as anti-semites. A tragedy includes its endgame, or finale. That has not happened yet. In fact, the tragic hero, wringing his hands in aesthetic torment, stands to reap a windfall, a most profitable comedy.
Exeunt omnes.

This book is an expose' of the hypocrisy that defines individuals and organizations that supposedly represent the Jewish communities of the world. Kahane, in his hallmark straighforwrd approach, uncovers with glaring clarity what should have been seen for decades.

This masterpiece takes a hard look at the demons that possesses the State of Israel, Zionism, and Word Jewry. Rabbi Kahane intelectually exposes the lies and fraud of the establishment that lays claim to the representation of Jews and Israel. Hard questions posed to them such as 'do the Arab citizens of Israel, under the current form of western democracy have the legal right under a majority to peacefully remove Jews from power by way of vote? And if so, does that not contradict the true ideals of Zionism (the right for Jews to establish a homeland in Israel)?' Is Israel a Jewish state or a state of Jews? Indeed, those contradictions as well as the the gripping tragedy of a bankrupt ideal which is secular Zionism which has caused urban strife, intermarriage, crime and worst of all..self hatred v.s. religious Zionism based on the everlasting, authentic ideals of the Torah are exposed to the max. It goes to the root of the problem and once exposed, he offers his soloution. Once the reader gets a clear insight to the tragic truth, and understands that the answers to these questions pose a direct threat to the power of the armchair establishment of Israel and American/World Jewry, then he understands why Rabbi Kahane was consistantly slandered and unjustifiably banned. Undoubtably the most misunderstood man of our time. This is a must read book for anyone who wishes to learn the truth and distinguish the lies.

This book gives you an idea of where the Jews are coming from, where they are, and where they should be...

I bought this book on a whim because it was very cheap, and then, although I wasn't very excited about it, I thought I should read it so as not to waste my money. I'm glad I did because it turned out to be one of the most fascinating books on the craft, one could even say the art, of diplomacy that I've ever read. Eban was at the center of most of the events that led to the creation of the state of Israel and participated in its early years as a Jewish state and homeland. Eban gives an exciting picture of those times. He shows that diplomacy is a game of give and take with high stakes, the negotiations of which depend as much on the personalities of the leaders and their diplomats as the political events themselves. After reading this book, I have a much greater appreciation for the courage of diplomats who have to know when to issue an ultimatum, when to stand firm, when to compromise, and when to leave the table altogether. The work of these individuals can literally make the difference between war and peace and affects the security of us all. The book is extremely well-written and reads almost like an adventure story. I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the history of Israel or the workings of government and diplomacy.

Abba Eban is a fascinating person and his autobiography is the most enjoyable autobiography I've ever read. Although the book may seem rather long and Abba Eban may seem like not the most prominent 20th century figure, I can propose three reasons to read this book:

First, this book is about much more than just the life of Abba Eban. Abba Eban embodies a significant portion of Israeli history. In his autobiography he relates this history in first person. The book is less abstractly intellectual than his book _My People: The Story of the Jews_. Instead, Eban's autobiography focusses largely on the personalities who helped create Israel as Mr. Eban knew them. This means that one of the most sweeping and dramatic events of the 20th century comes alive through the eyes of one of its central figures.

Second, aside from being at the heart of the establishment and nurturing of Israeli statehood, Mr. Eban is one of this centuries foremost diplomats. Anyone with an interest in diplomacy or international relations will be thrilled with the inside view and personal analysis Mr. Eban gives. Eban discusses how he dealt with the down to earth Harry Truman, the volatile David Ben Gurion, the stubborn Golda Meir, and many more.

Third, Abba Eban writes in an engaging and insightful manner. Eban is a great story teller, using stunning descriptive writing, clever analogies, and plenty of dry wit. This may sound like an excessively strong endorsement, but I think the point is that Mr. Eban's command of language makes the stories he relates, fascinating in their own right, all the more powerful.

In conclusion, if you would enjoy a well written book with unique insights into the establishment and development of the State of Israel from the perspective of Israel's foremost statesman, then I believe you won't be dissapointed by Mr. Eban's splendid autobiography.

After a shocking hiatus in which one of the great masterpieces of Holocaust literature -- indeed, literature in general -- has been out of print and unavailable in the United States, Adam Resurrected is finally back. We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to Grove Press, the publisher, who have also just published in hardcover the author's first foray into nonfiction, a passionate and powerful biography of the man responsible for illegally bringing thousands of immigrants to Palestine during the British Mandate. But the point of this review is simply to encourage as many people who have not discovered Kaniuk's voice to pick up a copy of Adam -- in its most attractive packaging yet, I would add. It's a harrowing, gripping, astonishing, amazing piece of fiction, and one that approached the Holocaust with dark, ironic, biting humor decades before this became "fashionable." Read it -- you'll never forget it.

The story of Adam takes you from post WW II germany to the land of Israel in a flash back & present telling tale of one man's journey back from the brink of self-destruction. A Famous Eurpean Clown forced to be a dog during the Holocaust, living by wit & his Commander's wims & then having to keep his commander alive after the war ended. Adam finds himself returning to Institution life, too smart to be cured and too scared to stay in the outside world. Adam terrorizes the staff, tantalizes his lover (the head Nurse) and mesmorizes all the other patients with his charm and wit. Adam finally begins to heal as he attempts to heal a young boy who thinks he's a dog.

This book is FINALLY back in print in the USA and for a very reasonable price! this is part of Eerdman's "Biblical Resource Series". "The purpose of The Biblical Resource Series is to bring back titles that the scholarly community regards as ESSENTIAL RESOURCES for the biblical thinker of today." This is well organzied so even the beginner can easily find information, and covers Nomadism, Family Institutions, Civil Institutions, Military Institutions, and Religious Institutions. An encyclopedia of sorts! Roland de Vaux (1903-1971) was esteemed both as a biblical historian and as an archaeologist. If you get this book, you also need to purchase Archaeology of the Land of the Bible by Amihai Mazar available here. Both will get you moving in the direction of biblical studies.

This is a indepth look at Ancient Israel, but not at all dry. The author has a dry wit and great enthusiasm for his subject. Although he uses alot of Hebrew language references, I was still able to understand his explanations. The author's personal faith in the Christian God is evident and refreshing. He is not out to tear apart the Old Testament, but to help other's better understand the life and times in which it was written. For anyone who has had questions after reading the Old Testament, I highly recommend this book. Submitted by Wendy Lang, Orillia, Canada