Israel, Palestine and Peace: Essays

by Amos Oz

Book Overview

The haunting poetry of [Oz's] prose and the stunning logic of his testimony make a potent mixture." --Washington Post Book World

Amos Oz was one of the first voices of conscience to advocate for a two-state solution. As a founding member of the Peace Now movement, Oz has spent over thirty-five years speaking out on this issue, and these powerful essays and speeches span an important and formative period for understanding today's tension and...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0156001926
• ISBN13: 9780156001922
• Release Date: September 1995
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
• Length: 162 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Terrible symmetry -the unfairness of being too fair

The incredible literary power of Amoz Oz flashes forth from time to time in these essays. So too his admirable effort to understand what he calls the war of 'two rights' the right of the Jews of Israel to a state of their own in their own historical homeland and the right of the Palestinian Arabs to a state in a land where they have long lived. Oz' intense fairness aims at a balance and reasonableness which will convince both sides to abandon maximum claims and recognize part of the divided land as a state belonging to the other people. There is also something admirable in the Israeli Oz's effort to take the conflict out of the dimension of mutual accusation and blame. Nonetheless there are historical facts and a historical reality which Oz slurs over. And that is that the conflict throughout has been characterized by Arab intransigence. And that there have been five historical opportunities for the Palestinian Arabs to accept statehood and compromise- and they have rejected them all. There is another assymetry which is extremely important. It is in the level of humane relation to the other. The Israelis have on the whole been far more humane and decent than the Arabs have. The unspeakable acts of Terror against civilian populations which since the time of the writing of this book have taken on new and more cruel dimensions, of which suicide bombings against civilan populations is the most prominent, indicate a great between the sides in the value they give to human life and suffering. Oz in covering up the assymetry ingratiates himself to those who believe a 'studied neutrality' is the right attitude toward the conflict, and the only path to its possible solution. But in taking this position and winning many friends for himself especially among the Europeans he sacrifices something very dear indeed, the truth of the reality in question.

Amos Oz is always worth reading

These essays should read as dated. They do not. Though Oz' non-fiction tends to be uneven, as this collection is, they are amazingly rewarding reading. He's not only a wordsmith but a passionate writer who defends peace in the Middle East without ever becoming the least bit sentimental about how enemies must go about this. Now, when there is no peace, and none on the horizon, he is still well worth reading and re-reading. He knows whereof he speaks & writes--some of these essays were lectures he's given--and his energy is contagious. Good reading for writers and well as readers. Great reading for peace lovers who are, of necessity, confused during these darkening days.

Wonderful, Informative essays

Beautifully written essays that illustrate the problems of the Holy Lands frankly and passionately. Oz brings me my first real understanding of both sides of the struggle in Israel. He succeeds with the clarity that has alluded most news teams, and does it in a way that degrades no one. As always Oz's writing, is remarkable.