Books:
Ateek, Naim. Justice and Only Justice: An Application of Liberation Theology to the present conditions of Palestinians living under occupation by the founder and director of Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center in Jerusalem.
Ateek, Naim. A Palestinian Christian Cry for Reconciliation (2008). A valuable sequel to the Rev. Ateek’s first book. It is recommended to read the books in the order published.
Baltzer, Anna. Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories (2007). The narrative, richly illustrated by the Baltzer’s photographs, of the author’s living and working for eight months over a four year period with farmers, Palestinian and Israeli peace with justice activists, and families of political prisoners. Cf. the DVD listed below covering the same material.
Bennis, Phyllis. Understanding the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict: A Primer (2009). Notes forthcoming
Braverman, Mark. Fatal Embrace (2010). Braverman’s book is not only a thoughtful discussion of the seemingly intractable conflict in Palestine/Israel, but a prophetic voice who offers a challenge to that “fatal embrace” that we have all come to know. Mark traces his own family history and that of U.S. and Israeli policies which have kept the fires of conflict aflame.
Carter, Jimmy. Peace Not Apartheid. Jimmy Carter has been roundly criticized for using the word “apartheid” to describe Israel’s occupation. He is far from the first, however, to use the word in this way. Desmond Tutu and several prominent Israelis have described the situation as apartheid for several years. Carter’s book provides an excellent, brief history of the conflict since its beginnings in the late nineteenth century.
Chacour, Elias. Blood Brothers. Abuna Elias Chacour is a Melkite Priest whose family village in Galilee was destroyed in 1948; he is the founder of the Mar Elias Schools and winner of the Japanese Peace Prize.
Chacour, Elias. We Belong to the Land. Archbishop Chacour demonstrates the steadfastness of Palestinians and manages, despite much harassment from the Israeli government, to create major religious and educational institutions in Galilee.
Forer, Richard. Breakthrough – Transforming Fear into Compassion, A New Perspective on the Israel-Palestine Conflict by Richard Forer, Insight Press, 2010. This is the story of a very pro-Zionist non religious American Jew who was prodded by friends to engage in an intensive study of Israel and its treatment of the Palestinians. This was the beginning of a crisis of identity originating in unexamined beliefs which were overturned when Forer committed himself to truly trying to understand the situation with compassion, beginning with reading Norman Finkelstein’s book Beyond Chutzpah. Breakthrough is the story of his research and new understanding and provides a very good introduction to the “facts on the ground” today. It is also a good critique of the standard AIPAC/American Zionist views on Israel and Palestine.
Halper, Jeff. Obstacles to Peace. Halper is founder and director of the Israeli Committee against Home Demolition and one of the most astute analysts of the current situation.
Mearsheimer, John J. and Walt, Stephen M. The Israeli Lobby and US Foreign Policy (2007). This book, which first appeared as an article in the London Review of Books in briefer form, has attracted considerable attention and controversy.
Nusseibeh, Sari. Once Upon a Country (2007). This is the story of Palestine/Israel and the autobiography of Oxford-Harvard educated Sari Nesseibeh, now president of Al Quds University in Jerusalem. Nusseibeh shows the embattled life of a Palestinian facing conflicts, barricades, settlements, corruption, and suffering on all sides. Nusseibeh’s authenticity is grounded in his family’s history, which dates from the twelfth century in Palestine.
Pappe, Ilan. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine (2006). This is an incredibly well documented history, based on recently declassified Israeli archival materials, of the Zionist plan to ethnically cleanse historic Palestine of Palestinians. The detail and thoroughness of the plan, relentlessly executed for over 60 years, makes chilling reading. Pappe is a “new” Israeli historian.
Said, Edward. Question of Palestine. Comments forthcoming
Tolan, Sandy. The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East. If you are just beginning to learn about this conflict, The Lemon Tree is a wonderful place to start. In a moving narrative, Tolan records the history of the conflict and helps us understand its very personal dimensions. It tells the story of two families who claimed the same house: a prominent Palestinian family and a Bulgarian Jewish refugee family.
Williams, Emma. It’s Easier to Reach Heaven than the End of the Street – A Jerusalem Memoir (2010). Emma Williams is the wife of a U.N. diplomat stationed in Jerusalem and a pediatrician and mother of four children, one born is Bethlehem. Her family moved from New York City to Jerusalem in 2000, just in time for the start of the second intifada, and lived there until the invasion of Iraq began in 2003. They lived in East Jerusalem, their children went to school in West Jerusalem, and she worked, when she could get there, in the West Bank on maternal and child health. She is an accomplished and insightful writer and gives the reader a good understanding of both Israeli and Palestinian views and reactions to the “situation.”
Zaru, Jean. Occupied with Nonviolence. This is a recently published book by a Palestinian Christian (Quaker) living in Ramallah whose very personal story and profound theological grounding explore the only practical path to peace in her troubled land.
Films:
Budrus (78 minutes) 2009. Budrus is a good follow-up to Little Town of Bethlehem, listed below, as it deals with the story of a small West Bank farming village which uses nonviolent resistance to get the route of the Israeli Wall changed. The DVD documents what many people believe to be unlikely, if not impossible: the bringing together of various, often contentious, ideological camps, including Fatah and Hamas; engaging Israeli supporters and welcoming them as they crossed into Palestinian territory to join the effort ; and encouraging leadership by women. Website: http://www.justvision.org/en/budrus
Encounter Point (85 minutes) 2006. This is a documentary fill that follows a former Israeli settler, a Palestinian ex-prisoner, a bereaved Israeli mother and a wounded Palestinian bereaved brother who risk their lives and public standing to promote a nonviolent end to the conflict. Their journeys lead them to the unlikeliest places to confront hatred within their communities. The film explores what drives them and thousands of other like-minded civilians to overcome anger and grief to work for grassroots solutions. Website: http://www.justvision.org/encounterpoint
Life in Occupied Palestine: Eyewitness Stories and Photos (59 minutes) 2008. Anna Baltzer is a Jewish American Columbia University graduate, Fulbright Scholar, and granddaughter of Holocaust refugees who has lived and worked in the West Bank. In this video she documents human rights abuses in the West Bank and advocates support for the nonviolent movement against Occupation. Website: www.AnnaInTheMiddleEast.com
Little Town of Bethlehem (77 minutes) 2010. This is a good film to use as an introduction and overview of issues in Palestine/Israel, as the documentary follows the story of three men – one Christian, one Muslim, and one Jew—and each man’s choice of nonviolent action amid the presence of overwhelming violence. Their three stories are interwoven through major events of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Website: http://littletownofbethlehem.org/
Occupation 101 (90 minutes) 2007. This is a powerful documentary on current and historical root causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It includes a comprehensive analysis of the facts and “hidden truths” surrounding the never ending controversy and addresses many long-perceived myths and misconceptions. Website: http://www.occupation101.com/
Websites:
Anna Baltzer (www.annainthemiddleeast.com). This remarkable young Jewish American woman who has spent extensive time in the Middle East has produced excellent material to learn about the struggle for a just peace in Palestine/Israel.
Bitter Lemons Newsletter (www.bitterlemons.org). This is a particularly interesting website featuring weekly updates and commentary by both Palestinian and Israeli writers.
Electronic Intifada (http://electronicintifada.net/). Ali Abunimah and his team provides comprehensive analysis and coverage of current issues, public education on all dimensions of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
International Middle East Media Coverage (www.imemc.org). This website provides news updates several times each day of events unfolding in Palestine/Israel. You can make this your home page!
Palestine Monitor, the Voice of Civil Society (www.palestinemonitor.org). Provides fact sheets, reports from the ground, and media watch.
Two Peoples One Future (http://www.twopeoplesonefuture.org/) This is a well-researched and documented educational resource on many aspects of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict created by Committee for a Just Peace in Israel/Palestine (http://www.cjpip.org/) for its 2010 Chicago media campaign on two CTA L lines.
United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) (www.ochaopt.org). Provides updates and maps on the current situation, including closures, settlements, and by-pass roads.
US Campaign to End the Occupation (www.endtheoccupation.org). This is an umbrella organization seeking an end to the Occupation.
Christian Groups:
American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (www.afedj.org). This organization maintains a humanitarian focus through financial support of hospitals, schools, and parishes of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. The website of the Diocese of Jerusalem describes current mission and ministry initiatives (www.j-diocese.org).
Churches for Middle East Peace (www.cmep.org). CMEP is the major Washington-based organization lobbying the U.S. government on behalf of the Episcopal Church and most other major denominations. A source of e-mail alerts.
Israel Palestine Mission Network (http://israelpalestinemissionnetwork.org/main/). This is the very informative website of the major Presbyterian body working on this issue which has had a powerful impact on this denomination.
Peace Not Walls (http://www2.elca.org/peacenotwalls/). This the ELCA’s program on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It provides educational materials and information on actions our Lutheran colleagues are commending.
Sabeel Palestinian Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center (www.sabeel.org). Sabeel offers news of Palestinian and interfaith peace efforts, worship resources, and newsletters; it advocates non-violent resistance to the Occupation, a just peace, and reconciliation among former enemies. The Friends of Sabeel, North America (www.fosna.org) sponsors regional conferences and excellent witness trips to Palestine/ Israel.
Jewish Groups:
B’Tselem Israeli Human Rights Organization (www.btselem.org). Provides papers and statistics on a wide variety of human rights issues.
Gush Shalom (www.gush-shalom.org). A peace voice in Israel and commentary by Uri Avnery.
Ha’aretz newspaper (www.haaretz.com). Provides daily coverage of ongoing events. The most “liberal” major news source.
Israeli Committee against House Demolitions (www.icahd.org). Seeks to prevent destruction of homes and olive groves as well as to rebuild demolished homes.
J Street (www.jstreet.org). This is a recently formed Jewish lobby, distinctly different from AIPAC, with a moderate stance and a positive initiative toward the creation of a just peace in Palestine/Israel.
Jewish Voice for Peace (www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org). This organization, one of many Jewish American groups, reports on conflict and advocates for an end to the Occupation and the creation of a just peace.
