The Shortest History of Israel and Palestine: From Zionism to Intifadas and the Struggle for Peace

Written by Michael Scott-Baumann

Narrated by Eric Jason Martin

An accessible, balanced chronicle of how the Israel-Palestine conflict originated and developed over the past century. The Shortest History books deliver thousands of years of history in one riveting, fast-paced listen.

The ongoing struggle between Israel and Palestine is one of the most bitter conflicts in history, with profound global consequences. In this book, Middle East expert Michael Scott-Baumann succinctly describes its origins and charts its evolution from civil war to the present day. Each chapter offers a lucid explanation of the politics and ends with personal testimony from Palestinians and Israelis whose lives have been impacted by the dispute.

While presenting competing interpretations, Scott-Baumann examines the key flashpoints, including the early role of the British, the establishment of the state of Israel in 1948, the Six Day War of 1967, and the Trump administration's peace plan, pitched as "the deal of the century," in 2020. He delineates both the nature of Israeli control over the Palestinian territories and Palestinian resistance-going to the heart of the clashes in recent decades. The result is an indispensable history, including a timeline, glossary, and analysis of why efforts to restore peace have continually failed and what it will take to succeed.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tantor Media, Inc
• Release date: Apr 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350808506

Michael Scott-Baumann

Michael Scott-Baumann is a graduate of Cambridge University and has an MA from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London. He lives in Cheltenham and has thirty-five years’ experience as a teacher and lecturer in history.

Reviews for The Shortest History of Israel and Palestine

[Keren · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book gives you a solid framework of history. Gives resources in the end and also a section of notes in each chapter which is helpful when trying to cite. I was hoping it would talk more about Hamas and Fatah although in my eyes both groups exist because of the occupation. The author really does make you feel enraged and hopeless in the end, almost made my cry. Peace seems too distant but as a muslim i believe that the day of judgement is near and GOD is the most just.

[Brian D · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

No book on this topic can be can be completely objective. This one seems slanted against Israel but based on facts I believe to be mostly correct

[andrew · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Very informative and held my attention . Was a little hard to keep track of all the names but other that great book.

[JohnMartindale · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

There is no attempt at balance, it is thoroughly anti-Israel and pro-Palestinian. Without engaging in fact-checking, I cannot speak concerning the facts mentioned, but it is clear he is extremely selective in the facts shared, and his commentary on them is decidedly anti-Israel. He only focuses' on Zionist atrocities, and if he briefly mentions violence from Palestinians, he defends and justifies it. He is even an apologist for Hamas and Arafat.