Palestinian lawyer and human rights activist Shehadeh (
We Could Have Been Friends, My Father and I) argues that Palestinians have not successfully told their stories about events for over a century, starting with the Balfour Declaration in 1917. He poses two questions: why hasn’t the Israeli government worked to usher in a lasting peace, and why do many encourage a two-state solution but do nothing to help it come to fruition? He asserts that Israel refuses to recognize Palestine and its people as a nation and successfully wages public battles that undermine both perception and memory. He also alleges that Western media doesn’t adequately acknowledge or accurately depict the Palestinian narrative about current events. The book points fingers at the U.S. for sending arms and other materials to support Israel’s military despite the International Court of Justice charging Israel with repeatedly violating international law.
VERDICT This short, personal volume gives historical and political context to Israeli and Palestinian relations, but only from the perspective of a Palestinian writer. A hard-hitting and necessary conversation.
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