Morris, Benny. Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-2001. (New York: Vintage, 2001)
Benny Morris’ Righteous Victims: A History of the Zionist-Arab Conflict, 1881-2001 (2001) is perhaps the most acclaimed work coming from the New Israeli Historians. It is a sad irony that, aside from Israeli specialists and Israeli nationals, very few contemporary students of the Middle East are taught anything of the history of Israel outside of a narrow acquaintance with its regional political stances and treatment of the Palestinians. The study of Israeli culture and internal politics is not required for many degree programs. Morris’ book represented a daring move away from an Israeli internal national narrative that lauded early founders and avoided narrativizing the morally complex or dubious elements of the Israeli past. It was met with skepticism and outrage from some quarters. Nevertheless, it remains one of the more balanced elucidations of twentieth century Israeli history, adding the Arab element to Lacqueur’s narrative and explaining not only the historical context of the Zionist-Arab conflict, but the ways in which it is understood and interpreted within Israeli nationalist narratives.
No comments:
Post a Comment