The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World

Written 10 years ago, but still probably the best book for understanding the background to the Gaza war— fair-minded, deeply insightful, well-written by an expert historian

I originally bought this book more than a year ago, but I put off reading it because it was published in 2000 which meant that it wouldn't discuss some of the extremely important events that have occurred in the last 9 to 10 years. So, I continued to put this book on the backburner while I read more recent works. What I found, though, was that more and more of these recent works quoted Avi Shlaim's account. The more and more I found this book to be referenced by historians of today, the harder it became for me to ignore this book. Last month I finally picked up this important book and began to read this author's preeminent account of Israeli history. I have been greatly awarded for my effort.It reaffirmed some of the conclusions I had come hold, while at the same time challenging others. This is the importance of this book. It doesn't take sides, and the author spreads the blame for the current (and the past) impasse on all sides. The fact is that there is more than enough blame to go around, but what was interesting was how so much of this conflict was due to nothing more than misunderstandings and each side's inability to view the situation from the other's perspective. So much of this conflict was perpetuated by nothing more than the ruling elites being forced into political and military blunders by domestic political situations. Whether it is Nasser's gross miscalculation in militarizing and closing off the Straits of Tiran to shore up his reputation in Egypt and the larger Arab world, or whether it was Peres' assassination of Yahya Ayyash to toughen up his reputation before Israeli elections, much of this conflict has its roots in bad decisions made by political elites in the hopes of retaining power.Another reason this book struck me was the inherent weakness when it comes to Democratic states and diplomacy. For the two main democratic states in this story, Israel and the U.S., their policies varied wildly from one election to the next. This is very well illustrated by the Carter to Reagan to Bush administrations in the U.S., and is equally illustrated by the Rabin to Peres to Netanyahu in Israel. This schizophrenic diplomacy pursued by the democracies contrasts amazingly with the consistency of the regimes of Jordan and Syria, and magnifies the problems in dealing consistently with states whose foreign policy can change so dramatically every few years. I found this contrast to be enlightening and very informative of how and why this conflict has seen so many ups and downs over the years.This is a very complex and convoluted issue, and any work that attempts to take an honest look at the issues and the history will be a help to any reader in making sense of this conflict. This book is that honest attempt, and that is why it is so important.

Avi Shlaim, The Iron Wall, Israel and the Arab World delves into the Arab-Israeli conflict from the assertion of Israeli independence, however it also breifly yet discriptively and informatively discusses the concept of Zionism and its rootsm including excerpts from Herzl and Jabotinsky. From its use of Jabotinsky early in the book, Avi Shlaim uses his essay discussing an Israeli Iron Wall of power superiority (generally hard power) throughout the whole book to essentially provide and analysis, analogy and comparison of Israeli policy towards its Arab neightbours, the broader Arab world and the international community itself.People may unfarily brandish Avi Shlaim as a revionist historian in a negative sense: I would argue the opposite. Yes he is a revionist historian but in a positive sense. His writings are neither ideological or partial towards the Arabs and emotional. This book is the work of a realist who is fair, concise and factual. He adresses longstanding propagandised facts by adhering to the use of largely primary sources. He dispels the notion of "There is no one for Israel to talk to on the Arab side", "Israel is a david state while the Arabs are goliath" and "Israel best serves its security interests in the contemparary geo-political situation by using raw power as its basis for negotians". Revisionism is often far more reliable then historians from the time: They do not have the emotional and political connection to politics of the period rendering them more so impartial and factual then others.Israel has a long history of creating facts on the ground to best suit the national interests of the Greater Israel ideolouge, however, Shlaim delves into the complezities of these factoids and discusses the power relationship between the Arabs and Israel in an inquisitive manner. He constantly brings up Israeli-American relations basing them on reality. American support for Israel is not 100%, as some will have you believe.Unfortunately the book didn't delve into the political situation between Israel and Clintons America to an extenet which was necassary. It would have been a good use of an aditional 6-7 pagse if he adressed Clintons extentsion of domestic politics to foregin policy, which allowe AIAPAC to infaltrate congress and his government increassing the support for Israeli policy towards Palestine and the Arabs.Altogether however it is one of the more interesting recollections and revisions of Israel history you will read- while at all time making good use of largely Israeli sources and primary sources.

As far as I can tell, one of the best summaries.Clear. Enlightening. Some chapters have to be read twice.

The logic and claritity of Avi Shlaim brings clarity to the current impasse between the Palestinians ANF Israel. Sadly it also means that there will be no negotiated outcome. Oslo was killed by Netanyahu, but even Rabin never supported Palestinian control of all of the West Bank. Now there will not be a Palestinian State, at best a series of enclaves of non-citizens controlled by an overbearing military occupation. Had there been courage after 67 and 73 it could have been so different...sad.

Strongly recommended by the spanish diplomat and former Ambassador to Israel Mr Jorge Dezcallar,It has somehow surprised me with news and details I could'nt expect

It's at last great to read the another side to the sad story. Well researched and well presented. A good but sad read.

This book cannot be recommended too highly. Like all books on the State of Isreal it is bound to be judged by one's preconceptions on the validity of the State of Isreal. For a committed Zionist this will not be easy reading, and I have no doubt they will discount it as 'anti-Semitic' - the common rebuke for anyone who criticises Isreal's appalling conduct. The author has lived in Isreal and has served in their armed forces. He is also a superb writer, producing a book which although dense in facts remains very readable. His references are clearly given, and many are official documents from the time and personal interviews with the people involved. He outlines the history and politics of the State of Isreal from its conception to around 2000. It does not make easy reading, as they have clearly abused the international agencies, reneged on all their agreements, prevaricated while building up strength for further offencive actions. They have let down their friends and trampled upon all opposition, including their own politicians if they appear to be becoming too 'soft'. Should the author provide another update from 2000 to the present, I have no doubt that the situation will be seen to be worsening, with the utter horrors of the Gaza massacres and their continuation of evicting rightful owners from their property in Jerusalem and the occupied East Bank. It is also clearly a policy decision to accuse all detractors from their activities as being anti-Semitic. The world can only fear the likely outcome of their policy - one day some idiot will destroy the Dome on the Rock, and the whole world will be dragged into the chaos. Isreal's actions will lead to disaster. Please read this book - it will be the best thing you ever did. Dr Ian Poole