The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World

Front Cover
W. W. Norton & Company, 2000 - History - 670 pages
As it Celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, the State of Israel could count many important successes, but its conflict with the Palestinians and the Arab world at large casts a long shadow over its history. What was promulgated as an "iron-wall" strategy -- dealing with the Arabs from a position of unassailable strength -- was meant to yield to a further stage where Israel would be strong enough to negotiate a satisfactory peace with its neighbors. The goal remains elusive.

In this penetrating studv. Avi Shlaim examines how variations of the iron-wall philosophy have guided Israel's leaders; he finds that, white the strategy has been successful, opportunities have been lost to progress from military security to broader peace. The Iron Wall brilliantly illuminates past progress and future prospects for peace in the Middle East.

 

Contents

V
28
VI
54
VII
95
IX
143
X
186
XI
218
XII
283
XIII
325
XVII
424
XVIII
461
XIX
502
XX
546
XXI
564
XXIII
597
XXIV
611
XXV
633

XIV
352
XV
384

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Page 7 - His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
Page 3 - The aim of Zionism is to create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law.
Page 3 - Congress in a word — which I shall guard against pronouncing publicly — it would be this: At Basel I founded the Jewish State. If I said this out loud today, I would be answered by universal laughter. Perhaps in five years, and certainly in fifty, everyone will know it.

About the author (2000)

Avi Shlaim is professor of international relations at St. Antony's College, Oxford University.

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