Rating: 
Summary: a controversial issue
Review: The Isreal Palestine issue is comlex. Some people believe that isreal has a right to occupation in the middle east. Other people believe that the nation of Israel does not have such a right. this is definitely a complex situation and different people have different beliefs about it.
Rating: 
Summary: When it comes to Jews/Israel facts are not relevant
Review: France had intervened 47 times with military force in Africa without ever seeking a UN resolution. France brutally suppressed the independence movements in New Caledonia during the 1980s and early 1990s. While France can get away with murder, Israel will be penalized for jaywalking. Over the centuries most nations, except America, took whatever the Jews owned, including their lands, their homes, the paintings on their walls, the gold from their teeth - and even their lives. These days Israel is a modern and vibrant state. Is it any wonder that they want it? The Muslim world today resembles Germany of the 1930s - a time when state-sponsored anti-Semitism, insults, caricatures, conspiracy theories and sporadic violence prepared Germans for the mass murder of the Jews. As in the 1930s, the world at large - including the U.S. government - again seems not to note the deadliness now underway. Anti-Jewish rhetoric and violence are decried with little sense of urgency. In his recent address to the 57 Islamic nations the PM of Malaysia presented a plan how to destroy Jews/Israel through the use of brains as well as brawn just as was done by prophet Muhammad with the Jews of Medina. Israel is their focus but their target is the Jewish population of Argentina, Canada, and Russia or wherever the Jews may live. Alan Dershowitz presented the facts. However, when it comes to Jews/Israel the facts and truth are not relevant. The enemies of Israel hate this book because they hate the Jews and Israel.
Rating: 
Summary: A solid but not deep legal brief for Israel
Review: Alan Dershowitz is not one of my favorite people, but he presents a solid review of the charges against Israel and his refutation of those charges. Dershowitz's "case" offers two main themes: 1) as to every well-worn attack on Israel, whether it be human rights, the occupied territories, the Jewish presence in pre-Balfour Palestine, or the recent "massacre" at Jenin, the facts are far from clear; 2) Israel's critics apply a double-standard to Israel; one that is not applied to any other Middle-Eastern or African country, and never to a country that is under seige by terrorists. To make the first point, Dershowitz's approach is to rely on anti-Israeli sources so as to pre-refute any claim of bias. His primary foil is the cunning linguist Noam Chomsky, who comes off as the self-loathing professor he is. It is pretty hard to argue with Dershowitz's point that a double-standard is applied to Israel. Whether that is the result of anti-semitism, anti-Americanism, or something else is debatable, but there is definitely fervent anti-Israelism in much of the world. I also looked closely at the assertion of plagarism and found it was with regard to points so minute and inconsequential to the book that they would have gone completely unnoticed without the hulabaloo. I suspect the plagarism allegations are being made against AD to avoid taking on the merits of his arguments. You can disagree with Dershowitz but you'd better be armed with facts.
Rating:
Summary: Read this book if you are neutral
Review: In The Case for Israel, Alan Dershowitz addresses the numerous accusations made against Israel, and responds with facts and context. He shows that many of Israel's opponents who "can see no right on the side of Israel and no wrong on the side of those who would seek to destroy the Jewish state" are either ignorant of the Middle East or malevolent in their intentions. The theme pervading throughout this book is introduced on page 11: Israel is subject to a unique double standard of judgment and criticism for its actions in defending its very existence. If the Jewish state were judged by the same standard as every other nation, Israel would be at or near the top of the list in terms of civil liberties, human rights, and every other test of morality and justice. One example of this double-standard is the inordinate scrutiny by the United Nations regarding Israeli control of the West Bank and Gaza. The Tibetans, the Kurds, the Basques, and dozens of other stateless peoples have much stronger claims to statehood than do the Palestinians. The Tibetans and Kurds have been treated far more brutally by their occupiers than have the Palestinians. The Tibetans have never resorted to terrorism. The UN has never condemned China or recognized the rights of Tibetans, Kurds, Basques, or the others. Only the Palestinians have resorted to terrorism as a primary method for seeking independence. Only the Palestinians have been offered a state (three times) and only the Palestinians have rejected a state (three times). Dershowitz provides extensive documentation for the facts, with over 500 footnotes - many of them from pro-Palestinian and other Arab sources, or American and international media sources. One of the subjects that I wished Dershowitz had addressed is the security barrier being built in the West Bank. Also the United Nations bias against Israel, a bias discussed in various sections, would seem to merit its own chapter. Some of the chapters are quite short, although the short replies may be necessary since the book covers so many issues. Most readers agree that Israel's supporters will enjoy this book. Far more important, I believe, is that if you are neutral to the Israeli-Arab conflict, if you have little background in the Middle East, then you owe it to yourself to read this book in order to understand the reasons why Jews, Christians, and every American President has and continues to support the only democracy in the Middle East and the only Jewish state in the world.
Rating:
Summary: Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Review: In this brilliant work, Professor Doctor Dershowitz makes the case for Israel (as if one needed to be made!) and makes it beyond a reasonable doubt. Reading some of the absurd critical reviews, one can not help but conclude that there is a concerted effort on the part of the enemy to discredit this work. Unfortunately for the enemy, the book is so well written as to defy criticism! Thank you Professor Dershowitz for setting the world straight!
Rating: 
Summary: The Glove Does Fit!
Review: This book is likely to make unconditional supporters of Israel happy yet it's cheap propaganda. Dershowitz extensively borrows from Joan Peters' "From Time Immemorial", a discredited work. He also borrows from AIPAC a well known pro-Israel lobby. He even refers to a Sony movie to make his case.
Dershowitz presents his case as if he were the defense lawyer of Israel in a public trial knowing well that his client is guilty. The evidence is compelling.
Israel's violation of human rights is so well documented that only those who blindly support it can ignore them. Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Israeli Human Right groups (Betselem), all documented Israel's human rights violations. Even Israel's closest ally the United States knows the extent of these violations and the Department of State regularly reports them in its annual report. Israel is in violation of more UN resolutions than any other country on earth. It would have been in violation of many more if the US didn't use its veto more than 30 times, damaging its credibility and weakening the UN.
The book is full of fallacies, myths, distortions to such an extent that it becomes ridiculous. This is not a book recommanded for anyone who wants to understand what's going on in the Holy Land. Israel has many great scholars who write about its conflict with the Palestinians. Some good authors to check would be Avi Shlaim, Benny Morris, Amira Hass, Gideon Levy... These are real historians with first hand experience of the conflict and access to primary documents, declassified material and witnesses.
In conclusion this book is recommended for unconditional supporters of Israel only.
Rating:
Summary: Written in desperation
Review: As a Jew, I find Dershowitz one of the most embarassing people to talk about with friends in society. He flaunts his arguments and takes pride in the amount of controversy he creates.
Why did he write this book now? Because world opinion turned against Israel last year. Why do you think we soon after saw the page long advertisements in the New York Times advertising the plight of Israel? The fact that he scurried off to pen this latest controversial work shows how desperate his position has become. Are we so stupid as to believe his lists of "facts" which gives Israel the right to do what it does?
Rating:
Summary: thank you professor dershowitz!
Review: Just what was needed at this historical moment--a fiery, brilliant, fearless, and relentless defender of an inherently decent (often exemplary) country which the news media distort beyond recognition. "Not only is Israel innocent of the charges leveled against it," Dershowitz writes, "but ...no other nation in history faced with comparable challenges has ever adhered to a higher standard of human rights, been more sensitive to the safety of innocent civilians, tried harder to operate under the rule of law, or been willing to take more risks for peace." Then he supports this assertion, often by using material from the files of anti-Israel activists and pundits! Brilliant lawyering! Non-fiction books of history or political argument usually put me to sleep, but there has been so much uninformed rubbish put out by the news media lately that I simply had to buy this book. I'm glad I did. Dershowitz's eloquence and command of facts raised my spirits and I learned a lot of new stuff along the way. With defenders such as this, I have to believe Israel can survive for another fifty years.
Rating:
Summary: He's got it almost right.
Review: Dershowitz's succinct prose lays out the case for Israel in an organized fashion. His claim that Egypt and Jordan have accepted Israel is a case of wishful thinking. Egypt is the source of the most vicious anti-semitism, much of it originating in the tightly controlled official government press. Examples are a recent series on TV presenting the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion' and another 2 programs presenting the blood libel against the Jews, which was rejected by the Pope in the 12th century. He should have devoted more space to the biggest secret in recent Mid-East history ie the fact that one million Jews were driven out of their homes in
Arab and Moslem (Iran) countries since the establishment of Israel. Please take note you reviewers, who point out the ratio of Jews to Arabs in the Holy Land at the advent of the 20th century.
Rating:
Summary: Top-Notch, Easy to Read Book of Truth
Review: Alan Dershowitz has presented, in this book, a great and easy to read structure on the many myths or legends concerning the conflict in the Middle East. Alan is a fair, unbiased author who admits that he does not always agree with Israel and he does not always oppose Palestine...but at the same time he opposes propoganda that turns Israelis into villains. ... Every chapter is dedicated to such lies, such as that Israel is a racist state, or that the Israelis of today are just as bad as the Nazis of the 30's and 40's. It also goes into detail about the birth of Israel and shows how the Jews offered every thing from sharing Israel with the Arabs to giving up 70% of the Holy Land (including Jerusalem) to the Arabs...and the Arabs simply said no. It is also a recent book, much up to date, and therefore is an important work for people to read, especially now with the issue of Yasser Arafat and the groundworks for peace in the Middle East being decided. A good book that presents the Middle Eastern situation for the every-day-man to understand. If you're just getting into the conflict, this is definately a book you should read.
| 
