Ben-Gurion and the Palestinian Arabs: From Peace to War

by Shabtai Teveth

Book Overview

Translated and condensed from an acclaimed Hebrew study, this is a major revisionist work by one of Israel's leading journalists and author of a multivolume biography of David Ben-Gurion. In the 42 years between 1921 and 1963--during which he served as labor leader, Zionist statesman, and Prime Minister of an independent Israel--Ben-Gurion's influence grew to have a decisive effect upon Jewish policy. Israel came to view the Arabs, to a great extent,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195035623
• ISBN13: 9780195035629
• Release Date: May 1985
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 234 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great Work

Shabtai Teveth (Weizmann Institute, Tel-Aviv University) is one of the few official Ben-Gurion's biographers. Teveth made a great effort in researching the evolution of Ben-Gurion's mindset (based on declassified behind close door transcripts and personal dairy) regarding the "Arab question." The book focuses on Ben-Gurion's limited contacts with the Palestinian Arab leaders, and clearly paints a different picture than then one usually available for public consumption. Surprisingly, Ben-Gurion displayed a pragmatic understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, which publicly has been suppressed for propaganda purposes. From my point of view, this book is a must read book.