Rating: 
Summary: Thorough and fair: if you want knowledge, then read this
Review: After my recent return from an extremely biased and pro-Israel High School program in Hod Hasharon, Israel, Benny Morrison's Righteous Victims helped me create a more rounded view of the conflict. I am a liberal American Jew trying to figure out my stance on the issues; I am struggling between my connection with Judaism/ the land and human rights violations. The whole mess is very confusing, yet Morris makes an incredible attempt to clarify it. He is thorough in his historical accounts and has a writing style that allows the reader to keep intense interest.
As a Jew I feel like I have my own biases, so while I was reading, I found some of his. In describing the casualties of Six-Day War, he lists the numbers of Jews dead and Arabs killed. Just the differentiation in the verbs makes me think that he has some sort of message that he is trying to convey to his readers. Also, occasionally I felt like he went farther into depth about Palestinian casualties than he did for the Jewish ones. Acts of Palestinian terrorism are not described with the gore that is used to describe such instances as Deir Yassin or Sabra Shatilla. Regardless of the slight bias, this book is a wonderful way to learn the detailed and mangled history of the Zionist and Arab conflict.
Rating: 
Summary: Get real
Review: Anita Shapira's New Republic essay, "The Past is Not a Foreign Country," (online) decimates this book. Adding to Efraim Karsh's 1996 study (Fabricating Israeli History), she reminds readers that Morris failed to reply. He ignored 50 Karsh references to his own work, Avi Shlaim, primary sources and major historical and journalistic studies.
In this work, Morris ironically refers to many of Karsh's sources, but nevertheless arrives at incorrect conclusions. The book is thus a politically charged revision of the Israeli-Arab conflict covering the pre-1948 through the history of Arab wars on Israel. The book shows culprits and casualties, and blames Arab regimes for violent incursions into Israel in the 1950s, for the secret war between Israel and terrorist groups, for Naser's threat to Israel before the Sinai and Six-Day wars, and for many Arab calls for Israel's destruction. Morris even notes that Israel's West Bank and Gaza rule "was never as restrictive or repressive as the Palestinians made out."
One big problem is Morris' large reliance on Israeli and secondary sources. He consults only a few primary Arab documents (and those, only in English translation), thus all but ignoring available Arab memoirs and state files. Oddly, Morris exploits every Israeli contingency plan and idea as conclusive evidence of Zionist expansionism, but ignores Arab plans for a "Greater Syria" as well as King Hussein's designs.
Another is Morris' exclusion of regional effects of the cold war, and Soviet arms that poured into Egypt, Lebanon, Syria and other Arab states, worsening Arab-Israeli relations from the 1950s on. In short, Morris ignores the fact that the opportunity for Arab-Israeli peace opened up only following the collapse of the Soviet Union, which left Arab hard-liners without support for their traditional rejections.
Worse, Morris misconstrues the notorious topic of " transfer," a term commonly used between the two world wars to describe population exchanges like that between Turkey and Greece in the 1920s. In his first work on that topic, Morris rightly concluded that the "Palestinian refugee problem was born of war, not by design, Jewish or Arab," but was (rather) a by-product of both people's fears and the protracted, bitter fighting of the first Arab-Israeli war. But that conclusion provoked attacks from Arab historians and Israeli revisionists.
Whatever the reason, Morris in this book reverses his earlier conclusion, standing history on its head. He makes effect into cause, and falsely translates the results of war into a paradigm for Arab-Jewish relations. He writes, "fear of territorial displacement and dispossession was to be the chief motor of Arab antagonism to Zionism down to 1948 (and indeed after 1967 as well)."
This reading libels Zionism and its foundations.
Actually, the Peel Commission first proposed, in 1937, to transfer the Arab minority from territory designated for the tiny Jewish state as part of a planned partition of western Palestine into Jewish and Arab states. Morris presumes that Zionist leaders "played a role in persuading the Peel Commission to adopt the transfer solution." But he provides zero proof.
In fact, Ben-Gurion welcomed the British idea only to persuade Zionists to accept a tiny Jewish state (and the proposed partition)--but also warned of its inherent dangers. Furthermore, Zionist leaders believed that a Jewish majority would come from massive immigration, and that Western Palestine could accommodate millions of Jews and Arabs. History proved them right on that score, although the peace they expected remains ever-elusive.
The Arabs initiated war in 1948 in preference to accepting a Jewish state--and thought they could win. And everywhere they prevailed, Arabs expelled every last Jew. Benny Morris should get real.
--Alyssa A. Lappen
Rating: 
Summary: liberal zionism
Review: Any book on the Arab Israeli conflict that is not 100% pro- Israel is labeled as objective, critical and balanced in the US. In his book, Benny Morris discusses some aspects of the Palestinian sufferings such as mass uprooting and deportations of the Palestinian people and to limited extent other forms collective punishments which makes his book a balanced book for the NY Times and the Washington Post. But as a Palestinian I do not see his book as objective but rather as an attempt to lay the blame squarely on the Palestinian people. He portrays the Palestinians as uncompromising, prone to violence, unsympathetic for the Jewish suffering and human suffering as well while the Israelis as the opposite: civilized, compromising, sympathetic to the Palestinian cause. He begins his book by stating that Muhammad, the Muslim prophet, had killed many Jews during his era. He states this without going into the context of those events. It is simply stated as to some how show that as the Europeans, the Muslims had forced the Jews to find a home land and the Palestinians being mostly Muslims are partly to blame for their own suffering. The overall tone of the book I thought was pro-Israel addressed to the liberal readers who are patient enough to read how Israel at times had to act inhumanely towards the Palestinians and commit acts that are not reflective of its "democratic" and "civilized" society but were forced to do so because the Palestinians forced them or gave them no other choice. His thesis is basically Israel had acknowledged the Palestinian problem and was willing to make "painful compromises" to find a resolution but the Palestinians refused because the prefer terrorism as a way of life. Anyone familiar with Palestinian history realizes that Palestinian are the ones who made the painful compromises by giving up 78% of their home land and seeking to establish a state on only 22%. Even before the current intifada, Israeli settlers and forces subjected Palestinians to the daily killings of women and children, home demolitions, land confiscations, economic constraints and all forms of abuse and humiliations. For the Palestinians to be "true peace seekers" they have to endure all this torture and watch the Israelis elect new leaders that scrap previous agreements at their whim and continue to expand the so called settlements which are in fact cities being built on the Palestinian homes and blood. Again very good read for the pro-Israel liberals that want a sophisticated way to blame the whole conflict on the Arabs and the Palestinians.
Rating: 
Summary: Good Overview, Questionable Sources
Review: Benny Morris "Righteous Victims" is a survey of the entire Arab-Israeli Conflict, a task that Morris admits is probably too large for any one Historian. Neverthless, Morris has produced an extremely well-written and gripping overview of the conflict. Morris' book is easy to read, a result of both his writing style and the periodization, which divides up the historical eras in a coherent fashion. Still, this book has taken much criticism, mostly as a result of some questionable materials that Morris uses for his sources. For example, Morris attributes a quote to Ben-Gurion, in which the Israeli leader states the Jews are the aggressor and the Arabs only defend themselves. This strange quote was taken from Simcha Flapan, a Zionist who worked with Ben-Gurion in the 1930's, and later turned on him, writing a book who sole purpose was to discredit Ben-Gurion. Needless to say, this should not be a primary source for information. Morris also makes some very questionable assertions, claiming that it was always the Jewish leaders' goal to transfer the Arabs out of Palestine, which they did not view as immoral. He also claims that the Peel Commissions discussion of transfer in 1937 made the actual transfer undertaken in the 1948 war easier. Despite these flaws, this remains a highly readable book, and for the most part it seems on target.
Rating:
Summary: Analysis from an Israeli academic that is free of bias
Review: Benny Morris is part of a group of Israeli academics often called the "new" historians, but what Morris examines in "Righteous Victims" is not new. Prof. Morris delves into the Zionist movement from its earliest inception in Europe down to present-day. He chides the Arab world for treating Jews as 2nd class citizens (and over time converting untold multitudes to Islam) who had to give up their religion to change their status. Such a choice is, of course, not an option for the Palestinians of today. Morris is a realist though. He eloquently expresses the suffering of the Jewish people over the centuries, but makes it clear that the Zionist movement was not a peaceful remedy. For the Jews to have their traditional homeland the Palestinians had to go. He discusses the efforts of Zionists to persuade the Ottoman Empire to give them a homeland and the beginnings of Jewish settlement. However, it was not until the British came that the Zionist movement gained momentum. Morris points to two types of Jews in Palestine: native Jews who spoke Arabic and were part of the landscape, and Zionist Jews from Europe who came as conquerors. The Jewish Arabs as a religious minority avoided confrontations with their fellow Muslim and Christian Arabs, but the Zionists displayed no fear of the Arabs and a great deal of arrogance and this vivid picture speaks volumes. Morris discusses the importance of the Balfour Declaration and later British moves that gave the Zionists a promise of a homeland and the right to arm themselves while the Arab majority was kept unarmed. Next, we are given an explanation of the events leading up to the birth of Israel. The UN granted a minority-run state for the Jews, while the Arabs continued to own most of the land and were still a slight majority, but had few political rights in the new order. Morris discusses what few Americans know, the violent aggression of Zionist terrorists such as the Irgun and Stern Gang who targeted civilians. We learn that most Arabs didn't leave of their own free will, but were driven out of Israel after hearing about massacres such as Deir Yassin perpetrated by the Irgun (led by none other than a young terrorist named Menachem Begin). Morris then continues to discuss how the war in 1956 happened and the opportunity it presented to the young Israeli state to weaken its most formidable foe, Egypt, with the help of resurgent imperialists Britain and France until the Americans and Soviets intervened. The most interesting section is about the 1967 war. Were the Israelis really under some threat of attack from the Arab states as they claimed (the 2nd time they attacked their neighbors)? According to Morris the Egyptians, Syrians, and Jordanians didn't plan an attack upon Israel for various reasons. They had remained wary of Israel's military might and Israel's attack came due to hysteria whipped up by expansionists and bad information from Israeli intelligence. Morris also discusses the refugee crisis that Israel created and refused to address. The Israeli official line was to act as if the refugees did not exist and this group of Palestinians in Diaspora (eerily similar to the fate suffered by Jews), in turn, felt that Israel had no right to exist. From this mutual animosity came the PLO and Fatah (the two groups would merge later and Arafat would become its head). Morris discusses the reasons for Palestinian unrest and we get an intriguing behind the scenes negotiation before the 1973 war between Moshe Dayan of Israel and Sadat of Egypt along with Yitzhak Rabin. We learn that Golda Meir was far more of a hawk than the American media ever reported her to be. She wanted to keep the option of reoccupying the Sinai open to Israel and she wanted to keep Gaza. Sadat rejected this outright as the Egyptians prepared for a war to take back the Sinai. We also get some interesting information about how Sadat favored military yes men, rather than people like Egyptian war minister Gen. Ahmad Sadek who wanted to wait until Egypt had a stronger air force to match the Israelis. We learn that the 1973 war very nearly ended in a disastrous defeat for Israel and only an American airlift saved them, but still left them in a precarious position as their forces had crossed the Suez, but Egyptian forces had also made it into the Sinai. The later peace deal came because both countries could deal on some equal footing. Morris continues with a discussion of the invasion of Lebanon, which Israel conducted by breaking int'l law and in order to pursue terrorists stemming from refugee camps that they claimed didn't exist. With the invasion, the civil war heated up and the Israelis added to the bloodshed by killing thousands of civilians while pursuing armed militants. Lastly, we get a rundown of the peace process and how the settlements remained a sore point. Morris also discusses Rabin's efforts and early skepticism at prospects for peace during the 1st Intifada. Morris discusses how the PLO came to be the head of the Palestinian people as it was favored by the masses. He also makes it clear as part of his conclusion that many of the things the Zionists did they had to do to create Israel. He doesn't pass judgment upon them, but merely explains what Israel's supporters don't want to hear. The Zionist movement was the vanguard of an invasion force, which disenfranchised the Palestinian people and drove them to the heights of despair, desperation, and terrorism by some extremist groups. We get a real sense of what was going on through the minds of the major players and what Morris has written is a definitive and thorough history which his detractors can only nit-pick at, but cannot deny his analysis, facts, and conclusions. Highly recommended for those willing to look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with an open mind.
Rating: 
Summary: Thorough, interesting, and well researched
Review: Benny Morris represents a new, modern strand of Israeli historians who do not shrink from presenting their nation's history as it occured. His prose is lucid, flowing and fascinating as he brings the reader from the Zionist colonization process in the 19th and early 20th centuries all the way into the present. The depth and breadth of his research are simply unassailable - which, I suspect, is one of the greatest irritants to his critics, of which there are many.
History is inseparable from political implication, and for that reason, almost any honest historical work will be labelled "unfair" or "biased" by someone - just ask Howard Zinn. But do not shrink from this book because some criticize it. In fact, a good sign that you've found a solid piece of research is that it has been reviled by those who criticize historians for not being "patriotic" enough.
Personally, I disagree with some of Morris's conclusions (I think he's far too easy on the Zionist project), but I must agree that he's written a solid book here. If you're looking for a good primer or refresher piece on Israeli history, you've found it.
Rating:
Summary: A Relatively Unbiased Depiction That Delves In Controversy
Review: Commencing from the roots of zionism and continuing through the downward spiral of peaceful relations between the settlers (Jews) and the occupants (Palestinians), "Righteous Victims" attempts to clarify the historical realities of the Middle East. In just under 700 pages its author, Benny Morris, accurately details a large portion of the history of one of the most conflicted lands in the world.
As a professor at Ben-Gurion University, Morris, puts his occupational status on the line with his depictions of traditionally well-acclaimed Israeli leaders and events of the past. Although unnecessarily wordy at times, the work accomplishes its goal of giving a two-sided evaluation of the conflicts. With this in mind, it is imperative to impress the point that no work is commpletely unbiased. This is quite obvious through portions of the text in which Morris overtly focuses on unnecessary IDF (Israeli) aggression.
The most conclusive portion of the text, appropriately, gives a final "so what" evaluation of the complexities at hand. With most of the text focusing on wars and conflicts, Morris leaves his audience with emphasis on the need for peace in the region. Along with receiving a comprehensive historical text, the reader of "Righteous Victims" will gain an appreciation for communication, tolerance and respect among all people with the ultimate goal of preventing more violence in the name of vengeance.
Rating:
Summary: A Relatively Unbiased Depiction That Delves In Controversy
Review: Commencing from the roots of zionism and continuing through the downward spiral of peaceful relations between the settlers (Jews) and the occupants (Palestinians), "Righteous Victims" attempts to clarify the historical realities of the Middle East. In just under 700 pages its author, Benny Morris, accurately details a large portion of the history of one of the most conflicted lands in the world.
As a professor at Ben-Gurion University, Morris, puts his occupational status on the line with his depictions of traditionally well-acclaimed Israeli leaders and events of the past. Although unnecessarily wordy at times, the work accomplishes its goal of giving a two-sided evaluation of the conflicts. With this in mind, it is imperative to impress the point that no work is commpletely unbiased. This is quite obvious through portions of the text in which Morris overtly focuses on unnecessary IDF (Israeli) aggression.
The most conclusive portion of the text, appropriately, gives a final "so what" evaluation of the complexities at hand. With most of the text focusing on wars and conflicts, Morris leaves his audience with emphasis on the need for peace in the region. Along with receiving a comprehensive historical text, the reader of "Righteous Victims" will gain an appreciation for communication, tolerance and respect among all people with the ultimate goal of preventing more violence in the name of vengeance.
Rating:
Summary: Fair and Ballanced Survey
Review: Do not believe the charges of anti-semitism. This book is critical of both sides but based on exhaustive research into primary sources: the files of the Israeli government and army. If you only want to hear the propaganda from one side or another, avoid this book. I would criticize the maps as inadequate, a detailed map of the region in the endpaper would have been just the thing. Also, the author assumes a familiarity with people and events in the area
which went well beyond my knowledge, until I read the book. Update: 10 December 2002
Wow. I got a ton of "unhelpful" votes for the above review. My review was not particularly well written, nor spell checked (now corrected!), nor was it detailed. But 17 out of 85 unhelpful? I wonder, wonder what is going on.
Rating:
Summary: One of the best books i have ever read
Review: Honest, painful, raw... this author has incredible integrity. highly highly recommended reading about this complicated conflict I am a Palestinian. I am alive today and remember what happened.
The author documents everything perfectly.
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