Books: Non-Fiction

Understanding Palestine & Israel

Book — Non-fiction. By Phyllis Bennis. 2025. 240 pages.
Answers to commonly asked questions about Palestine and Israel, written in popularly accessible language.

Time Periods: 1945
Themes: Wars & Related Anti-War Movements, World History/Global Studies

People watched in horror as Israel responded to the terrible acts of October 7, 2023 with a brutal war against the people of Gaza. They demanded a ceasefire and protested the U.S. government financing, arming, and protecting Israel’s war. A key question was when to start the clock — because none of those events actually began on October 7; all had their origins in events many years earlier.

In straightforward, accessible language Phyllis Bennis takes on that question — and more — providing answers to many questions about this ongoing confict. What is the Balfour Declaration? What are the Occupied Territories? What is Zionism — and do all Jews support it? Does Israel have the right of self-defense? What were conditions like in Gaza before October 7? [Adapted from publisher’s description.]

ISBN: 9781623716479 | Olive Branch Press

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