Bøger udgivet af Richard Bass

The land of Israel-Palestine has figured large in human consciousness since the beginning of civilized life on earth. It remains central, sacred to half the peoples of the world, and the subject of strong territorial passions. Consideration of its long and intricate history, from ancient roots to the present day, is the key to grasping the challenges that confront this region. And it is the key to appraising the possible solutions. Israel-Palestine for Critical Thinkers tells the story of this land and its peoples-a story now 4,000 years old-in a clear, and concise way.

A thorough, engaging account of Israel's crucial role in 4,000 years of world history, ideology, religion, and politics, Israel in World Relations provides one of the most thorough and balanced resources now available for understanding the issues in the Middle East today. With its emphasis on critical thinking, respect for fact, and logical thought, it encourages readers to consider what qualifies as truth, and it shows them how to apply those criteria to the complicated and often emotional topic of Israel. Among the challenging questions it addresses are the following: What counts as history? Is the Jewish claim that there was a Temple in Jerusalem objectively justifiable? Is there such a thing as a "Jewish people"? Are today's Jewish people connected to the ancient Israelites? What is democracy? Can a Jewish state be democratic? Why has peace been so elusive between Israel and its neighbors? What does international law say about sovereignty over Jerusalem? Are the land-for-peace and two-state solutions practical strategies for peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority? What is a just war? Was Israel's incursion into Gaza in 2009 "just"? What is the real Israel-human rights abuser or humanitarian nation? The book shows why the answers to these questions are relevant to our understanding of world relations and to our own personal identity.