Rating: 
Summary: Riveting, thought-provoking and fair
Review: Lozowick provides a riveting, concise history of the conflict, but more importantly, provides key context to explain choices made, and examines whether Israel and her neighbors made moral choices. Lozowick also explains why so many Europeans and journalists hold such hostile and unfair opinions of Israel. I highly recommend this book for novices as well as experts of the conflict.
Rating: 
Summary: Not quite a "No Spin Zone"
Review: Mr. Lozowick, along with all the hundreds (if not thousands) of other pundits, pols, propagandists, spinmeisters, and other assorted demagogues, can slice his particular form of baloney as thick or as thin as he wants, but after all the countless millions of words on the topic of modern Israel and Zionism have been poured forth, three simple facts remain:
1. The original Zionist Jews came from (mostly) Europe to Palestine with the stated aim of dispossessing the people who were already living there and establishing a Jewish state on the land.
2. The people who were already there refused to quietly go away and let the Zionist Jews have what they wanted without a fight.
3. The British, French and Americans have all been heavily complicit in furthering the aims of the Zionist Jews. For almost a century, major Western nations have helped to sell the Palestinian Arabs down the river - and we still expect the Arabs to LOVE us for doing it!
All else is mere commentary and window dressing.
Mr. Lozowick fails to convince me that Israel has any more right to exist than does any other artificially constructed modern nation such as Yugoslavia or Czechoslovakia or Taiwan. And two of these three are already gone from the Atlas in the forms in which they were created.
Just as I refuse to shed any tears over the Spanish Conquistadores or American settlers who came to the New World to dispossess and oppress the natives and who got themselves seriously dead for their temerity, so, too, do I refuse to shed any tears over any of the Zionist Jews who have become defunct while squatting on lands they have wrested from others by force and/or legalistic mumbo-jumbo.
And I equally refuse to demonize the Palestinians for fighting the foreign invaders with whatever means they have at their disposal. Wars for home and hearth are never pretty things.
There is NO moral high ground to be found under either side in this conflict.
Rating:
Summary: Making the Case for Israel's Morality
Review: The tiny, democratic, western industrialized nation of Israel has been under relentless attack, not just by its Arab enemies but by a growing class of haughty post-modern European elites. In their efforts to de-legitimize Israel, her enemies not only wrongly attack her present efforts to defend against a murderous onslaught but, in Orlwellian fashion, recreate history to create a phony justification for Israel's pariah status. Many of Israel's own defenders and supporters have fallen into a trap by accepting the premise that Israel is an immoral state, born in sin. As Yaacov, Lozowick, former Labour supporter, current Sharon voter, demonstrates in this excellent book, nothing could be farther from the truth. In presenting the moral case for Israel's actions to ensure its own survival, Lozowick makes no effort to cover up or exonerate Israel's wrongful actions, of which their are many. Indeed, he makes no excuses for the relatively rare number of atrocities committed by Jews against Arabs but simply points out how such actions are always rejected by Israeli society at large while the reverse is surely not true. Moreover, he is critical of numerous Israeli actions and policies that he thinks were wrong or incorrect but that don't really rise to the level of "atrocity", such as Israel's settlement policies or the Lebanon War. It is this willingness to criticize that which cannot be defended that strengthens his argument that Israel is a just society that fights wars in a just manner even while its enemies commit savage crimes against humanity.Lozowick's purpose here is not to write a history of Israel's wars but to set forth a moral justification for those wars. In this he fully succeeds merely by presenting the truth in a coherent manner. He succinctly examines the facts of each of Israel's wars and concludes, with the exception of the Lebanon war, that they are all justified under theories of just war, under international law and under the Geneva Convention while the reverse is clearly not the case. The bottom line of course is that Israel, a tiny country founded largely by peace desiring socialists, has been under attack from all of its neighbors since before its creation in 1948. Despite constant harassment and threat, which devolved into open warfare five separate times, Israel has almost always behaved in a scrupulously moral way, seeking to avoid harming civilians, offering to return its gains in exchange for a genuine peace. Even when misguided, such as in the relentless pursuit of settlements amidst hostile Arab populations, Israel's policies have always been for the pursuit of a secure relationship with her neighbors. In the last part of the book, Lozowick spends a good deal of space analyzing the Oslo years and the ensuing war which is still going on. While Lozowick was a supporter of Oslo, he now, looking back, acknowledges that he and people like him willfully deluded themselves that the Palestinians were prepared to end the conflict. The evidence shows him that no peace is possible and he expects it won't be for at least 150 years. I tend to agree with his assessment. In discussing Israel's response to the eruption of massive terrorism and the creation of a Palestinian death cult, cultivated and promoted by Arafat and his henchman, Lozowick makes a strong argument for Sharon's policy of proportionate military action designed to put things in a holding pattern until the Palestinians are genuinely willing to make peace. Like the majority of Israelis but unlike his former political allies, Lozowick does not see capitulation under fire as an option. This book is really an excellent read and I recommend it along with its cousin, Alan Dershowitz' "The Case for Israel" for any defenders of Israel as well as anyone interested in truth rather than propaganda.
Rating:
Summary: Passionate, moral evaluation of the facts re Mid-East.
Review: This absorbing, well written, impassioned study by a historian and director of Israel's Holocaust museum, is extremely well presented, providing what could be called a "moral evaluation" of the facts surrounding the historical context pertaining to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. A study which exposes how the present, "flawed" perception of the Arab-Israeli conflict permeating the International community is shown to have fanned the flames of an ever increasing hatred of the Jewish people and their nation. The book is quite powerful and transports the reader into the experience & world of the Jew with the sense of frustration being almost palpable from the text. A study that will hold the reader's attention throughout . The title of this work ("Right To Exist") speaks volumes in itself and is described as a damning indictment upon much of modern day society where many intellectuals & public figures (including University professors, media distorters, anti-Semites and alleged "peace activists") are said to have used their positions as platforms from which to unjustly vilify the State of Israel. The implications of their actions are discussed at various places in the text. The book in no way objects to criticism of the Jewish State as long as that analysis of Israel is "comparative, contextual, and fair". However the book contends strongly that the Jewish nation is the only one criticized for faults that are far worse among other nations and that this criticism crosses the line from being acceptable to blatantly anti-Semitic. The source of this work describes himself as a "lifelong liberal, peace activist and a seeker of justice", critical of some Israeli Government policies, but someone whose attitude changed following the increase of Palestinian terrorism etc. and who eventually found himself voting for the "hardline" Israeli leader Ariel Sharon. The book begins with a description of how many innocent Jewish civilians including women, children and the elderly are murdered by Palestinian terrorists whilst the Arab World responds with more cries of "death to the Jews" whilst the rest of the World simultaneously looks away or pretends not to hear. The resounding silence being described as endorsement and support for the killers of these Jews to continue with their murderous policies. The study proceeds to argue that there is no "cycle of violence" in the Middle East in which each side is morally culpable and moves to destroy what are described as numerous lies and myths about the history as well as the ongoing Arab-Israeli issue. The reader is provided with quite a detailed context surrounding the beginning of the "second intifada" in relation to the offers made by Israel at the Clinton/Barak/Arafat summit and also what are called the true facts surrounding the beginning of the ensuing violence. Another matter addressed is what is cited as the "impossible task" of appeasing the Palestinian populace. Reference provided as to how lightening restrictions upon Palestinian movement for security purposes has always been accompanied by a sharp rise in Palestinian attacks on Israeli civilians. The effects of all these issues on the writer are also presented together with some advice for those who consider that "peace" will result from Israel giving to the Arab world (Palestinians) the territories of the ancient Jewish homeland re-captured in 1967. The book traces the long struggle to establish and defend the Jewish State in the face of Arab resistance and International hostility arguing that it is impossible to understand the conflict in the Middle East without accepting the reality that from the very beginning the overt strategy of the Arab leadership has been to eliminate the existence of any Jewish state and to destroy the Jewish population. The text mirrors this International hatred with reference to the vast number of Arab/Muslim sponsored UN Resolutions against the Jewish State described as being out of all proportion to other nations and issues etc. and which has seen Israel uniquely singled out for censure, divestment and boycott . By way of comparison the reader is shown from the text that there existed a blatant disregard for any UN Resolutions within the Arab world whilst it pursued the genocide of the Jewish people from their midst during the Arab-Israeli wars which the writer proceeds to analyse in some depth throughout a large part of this study. The reader is shown how nations are often called upon to defend their policies, and sometimes even their history, but few if any need to actually justify their existence. A process which the book cites Israel as having been mired in through the past 55 years of Palestinian terrorism and Arab rejection with nearly all of the Arab world still refusing to recognise the mere right of Israel to even exist. As an evangelical Christian my own personal perspective in relation to the Jewish people and their Land differ somewhat from that described in this work . However, I have not allowed this to prejudice my review on this book which indeed contains a wealth of material bearing an enormous amount of merit which is worthy of reading irrespective of the individual's stance on the subjects covered. Thank you.
Rating:
Summary: In Defense of Apartheid
Review: This book seeks to defend racism by quoting historical "facts" that can be blown down with a morning yawn. This tactic is not new, of course. White south africa, white america, white expansionist europe. I applaud the self-loving whites/Jews who have the courage to uncover the lies. They love themselves and their people enough to say, "enough!" This book and its contents... not one of those courageous occasions.
We as human beings are able to forgive ourselves outrageous atrocities simply by believing our own lies. What I have seen with my own two eyes is not recognized in this book. What brown-skinned aboriginal Palestinians have experienced being oppressed by white-skinned Israeli colonizers and their brown-skinned recruits (like everywhere else they get put on the front lines) you don't want to hear. African-Americans want to hear, Native Americans want to hear, Black South Africans want to hear, Aborigines want to hear, because our stories are all the same. That's why we have supportive coalitions all over this globe, and have for many decades.
This is a sad book, a dangerous book, but not an unfamiliar book. Racism is unfortunately a pandemic among colonizers. How else could they do what they do?
Rating:
Summary: A superbly written account of the Arab - Israel conflict
Review: This excellent book presents a coherent and unified picture of the Arab fight against Israel. That is a big improvement over works that dryly list events without putting them in perspective or with works which are simply an unconvincing amalgam of anecdotes.
One praiseworthy aspect of the book is the way it shows the difference between incidents for which many Israelis would apportion significant blame to both sides and incidents for which very few Israelis would do so. An example of the former would be the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982. An example of the latter would be the Arab war against Israel in 2000 accompanied by outright Arab rejection of Israeli peace overtures. The book shows why the Arab initiation of this war, highlighted by a number of suicide bombings, is regarded as perfidious by most Israelis.
Rating:
Summary: Uncovering the New Antisemitism
Review: This wonderful read is a quick survey of Israels right to exist. A great assesment of both the negative and positive in Israeli politics. The author is quick to critisize Israel for heavy handedness in the 80s and mistakes made in dealing with the palistinians. Yet he is quick to show the hypocrisy and 'New anti-semitism' in the western media and England in general. He is qucik to show how western jurnalists who go to the middle east frequently do not speak arabic and only interview anti-israeli sources. THe author gives us a case study in the Jenin 'massacre'. This massacre was reported by the western media on no evidence except stories from palistinian 'survivors'. The media quickly said mass graves had been dug and hundreds or thousands killed. The western media hoped that like Sabra and Shatilla no one would investigate and the myth could remain. But the U.N and many others did investigate and it was found that only 30 or so palistinians had been killed mostly because they were shooting at the Israeli troops. But this author, a former liberal and someone who comes from Israels left, has finally put his foot down. He realizes that the internal critique of Israel only feeds the hate of the western press in places like the BBC where old fashioned 'blood libel' anti-semitism has been replaced by 'balanced' reports of the 'holocaust against the peaceloving palistinians'. THis author tells it like it is. He explains that for all its fault Israel is THE model democracy in the middle east, confronted by brutal fascist terrorists who make it a point to murder pregnant women and little children. He makes the stand for Israel. A 'right to exist'. This is something the BBC has finally proved it does not want. Uncovering the age old 'aristocratic' anti-semtisism of England the BBC secretly wants Israel whiped out and replaced by a lovable arab state that will go on to export terror the world over. The author explains how everytime we critisze Israel for defending itself we fuel the terrorist vehicle and embolden them to strike farthur and more brutally against israeli civilians. The author understands that the U.N and all its organs is the new anti-semitism and that now that Jews have a state its easier to hate 'israel' while pretending you dont hate 'Jews', when in reality most of these pro-palistinian voices are secretly nazi sympathizers who dont have the guts to say they beleive in the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. A wonderful book that explores Israel in its time of crises and shows emphatically that Israel has a right to exist free of terror.
Rating: 
Summary: An Impassioned Argument
Review: Those who disapprove of Israel will denounce this as a pack of lies (whether or not they've read the book), and some of Israel's most ardent supporters will complain that this book airs too much of the nation's dirty laundry. I found this book to be a remarkably well-argued and well-reasoned one that also is useful as a history of a nation and as a portrait of the people who inhabit Israel. You certainly don't have to agree with all or most of the author's points to find value in this book.
Rating:
Summary: Standing Tall
Review: Who better to bring us his clear-eyed perspective of the Jewish state than the director of archives at Israel's Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem. History can be our best teacher only if we are willing to learn and remember its often bitter lessons. The author's provocative title gives us all pause, a momentary intake of breath, and a profoundly sad testament to the current discourse round the world. This timely exploration by a former peace activist doesn't merely make an arid, historical or legal case, but rather brings to light and to life his most personal journey. Websters defines the word "exist" as "to cause to stand." This book stands as tall as its title suggests.
Rating:
Summary: As powerful as it is thoughtful
Review: With laser-like precision, the noted historian Yaacov Lozowick gets to the heart of the matter of the current vogue to attack the very legitimacy of the Jewish State. What makes his work more noteworthy and profound is that, more than a simple history, Lozowick's work is part memoir tracing his own path from an active and influential advocate for the Oslo peace process to a supporter of the current hawkish government. What brought about these dramatic shifts in this thoughtful and well informed analyst? Lozowick details the recent history and his own profound disappointment at the failure of the last peace process. Particularly incensing for him is the insistence of the so-called "peace camp" in Europe in particular an to a lesser extent North America to write lengthy apologies for the suicide bombers who regularly murder civilians and children. In the parlance of their European supporters, these acts of terrorism are more political statements then they are barbaric blood shed. However, the heart of this work a defense of Israel against the attacks against the state's very legitimacy. Here the author really shines. The author makes short work of argument such as the idea that Israel is a racist state. Lozowick points out that Arab citizens have all the rights and privileges of Jewish and Christian Israelis, moreover that they have a greater degree of political freedom and civil rights then citizens of any of the 22 Arab countries, including those living under Arafat's oppressive Palestinian Authority. Lozowick goes further detailing how Israel's strong sense of morality has caused it to limit its responses in the face of terror and how little recognition this willingness receives. For example, Palestinians in the first intifada had but did not use guns for fear that Israel would respond with the full force of its considerable military. Detailing Palestinian material he demonstrates how surprised Palestinians were when, in the current uprising, Israel responded with only a tiny portion of the force at its disposal. Indeed, this is one of the least discussed factors in the current conflict. While Israel is continually criticized for supposed excesses, Israel uses a tiny portion of its military capability. While Palestinian attacks are designed to maximize civilian casualties, Israeli attack on terrorists are focused on reducing them. The often overlooked fact, is that Israel could likely kill most of the population of the West Bank with little effort and make their citizens far safer. Less extreme, they could destroy whole villages which send suicide bombers to murder Israeli children. They do not take such extreme measures, though they are common place in the reason. Detractors of Israel say this is because of foreign pressure, though wonders how the Europeans and the UN could be more anti-Israel. The real reason is Israel's profoundly moral sense of itself. Where else can a country's sworn enemies get a hearing in a Supreme Court that then orders limits to be placed on a military in war time? Many other authors have written about the strange singling out of Israel among all the nations of the earth. How the UN focuses more attention on Israel's behavior then any other member state and how alone among the nations, Israel is barred from serving on the Security Council while model countries such as Syria and Iran are allowed to hold the rotating chair. Few writers, however, have achieved Lozowick's elegance in detailing the pernicious tendency to bend and twist facts, indeed the double standard created in order to condemn the Jewish State. Thoughtful readers should give Lozowick's work a careful reading. As for those who attack the Jewish State, he offers many challenges that they will need to answer if they wish to claim their position holds any legitimacy.
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