Apartheid in Palestine : hard laws and harder experiences / Ghada Ageel, editor.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

"Of all the crimes to which Palestinians have been subjected through a century of bitter tragedy, perhaps none are more cruel than the silencing of their voices. The suffering has been most extreme, criminal, and grotesque in Gaza, where Ghada Ageel was one of the victims from childhood. This collection of essays is a poignant cry for justice, far too long delayed." --Noam ChomskyThere are more than two sides to the conflict between Palestine and Israel. There are millions. Millions of lives, voices, and stories behind the enduring struggle in Israel and Palestine. Yet, the easy binary of Palestine vs. Israel on which the media so often relies for context effectively silences the lived experiences of people affected by the strife. Ghada Ageel sought leading experts--Palestinian and Israeli, academic and activist--to gather stories that humanize the historic processes of occupation, displacement, colonization, and, most controversially, apartheid. Historians, scholars and students of colonialism and Israel-Palestine studies, and anyone interested in more nuanced debate, will want to read this book. Foreword by Richard Falk. Contributors: Yasmeen Abu-Laban, Ghada Ageel, Huwaida Arraf, Abigail B. Bakan, Ramzy Baroud, Samar El-Bekai, James Cairns, Edward C. Corrigan, Susan Ferguson, Keith Hammond, Rela Mazali, Sherene Razack, Tali Shapiro, Reem Skeik, Rafeef Ziadah.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Over the last decade, a shift has begun in public perceptions of Palestinians. The contributors to this book provide a voice for that story. Divided into three sections, readers are introduced to Palestinian accounts of their families' experiences surrounding the Nakba; insights from on-the-ground activists; and academic analysis of the current situation. The decision to use "apartheid" in the title makes the political viewpoints of the book clear. Considering the lack of Palestinian voices and narratives in Western accounts, this can be a strong feature. However, it is not until the final chapter that the similarities (and differences) between Israeli policies and South African Apartheid are analyzed. The chapter also touches on the strong negative reactions Israel's supporters have to apartheid comparison, something that would have been valuable to see over the course of the book. In general, however, this book provides an accessible introduction to Palestinian perspectives and the challenges facing Israel and Palestine in the failure of Oslo. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. --Denise E. Jenison, Kent State University