Can anyone recommend good books re: the origins of modern Israel, and

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

the rest of the modern Middle East countries?

That is, the political deals that created Israel, Iraq, etc., who the big postwar geopolitical players were, and what their stakes were in the way it was carved up...

[cdsilv]

1. Seven Pillars of Wisdom? and some of Herman Wouk books?

Don't know if they are accurate, but they are a good read....

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

2. I think I'd skip any fictional books...

[KaryninMiami]

3. From Beirut to Jerusalem, by Thomas Friedman

I agree with Seymour Hersh --"If you're only going to read one book on the Middle East, this is it."

From Beirut to Jerusalem, winner of the 1989 National Book Award for nonfiction, is the startling, intense and thought-provoking account of Thomas L. Friedman's decade of reporting in the strife-ridden Middle East.

Thomas L. Friedman has won two Pulitzer Prizes -- one for his reporting in Beirut and one for reporting in Jerusalem, the two cities at the center of the Arab-Israeli conflict. No two cities have received more headline coverage, nor been more hotly debated, and no reporter has covered them more in depth than Friedman. in his journey from Beirut to Jerusalem, Friedman gives us a panoramic view of both the political and personal conflicts.

As a reporter for UPI and The New York Times, he was stationed in Beirut from 1979 to 1984, and in Lebanon from 1984 to 1989. He describes with intense vividness the sometimes horrifying, sometimes wondrous cities, for which, he says, nothing in his life had prepared him.

http://www.thomaslfriedman.com/beirut.htm

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[Mayberry Machiavelli]

5. I'm more interested in the original postwar deals.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. I'm not certain, but how about "Constantine's Sword"?

I stand corrected. Not on the topic, not even tangental. The book deals The Church and the Jews, not Israel. Sorry.

[Glorfindel]

6. Nonfiction: "O Jerusalem" by Larry Collins & Dominique LaPierre

Fiction: "Exodus" by Leon Uris

[QuestionAll...]

7. the Origin of the Palestine-Israel Conflict

http://www.ifamericansknew.org/history/origin.html

excerpts from many books there:
Edward Said, “The Question of Palestine.”
Noam Chomsky, “The Fateful Triangle.”
etc.

[jonnyblitz]

12. good choices...

I just bought "the fateful triangle" yesterday.

[Malikshah]

8. Avi Shlaim's Iron Wall, Charles Smith's the History of the Arab-Israeli

Conflict with Documents.

Smith's is more of a text book, Shlaim is arguing a thesis concerning the history of Israeli foreign policy with the Arab world--it covers the mandate period as well, though.

[Neecy]

9. I'd start here...

Israeli diplomat Abba Eban's autobiography was not only fascinating but extremely well-written. It gives a good overview of the the people/events in play at the time of Israel's creation - highly recommended.

[Misskittycat]

10. David Fromkin, A Peace to End All Peace.

Scholarly, historical explanation (not boring though) focusing on the creation of the modern Middle East (including lots of artificial "states" like Irag, Jordan, etc.) in and just after the First World War. The Ottoman Empire -- which had controlled the Middle East for centuries was defeated, and the Allies divided the former Ottoman Empire.

This is a good place to start to understand the incredible complexities of the Middle East. It is available in used paperback (1989 edition; 2001 edition) on ebay and at amazon.com

As good as this book is, it is only a start. To even begin to know and understand the history, a lot of research and reading is needed. Unfortunately, there is no quick fix; no Middle East for Dummies.

[Marie26]

11. Actually...

There's a "Idiot's Guide to the Middle East"! Maybe that wouldn't be a bad choice - you've got to start somewhere.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. This sounds like the kind of thing I'm looking for.

[dorktv]

14. I am getting this book soon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195181581/sr=8-1/qid=1153457910/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-0554255-1373441?redirect=true&ie=UTF8

Scars of War, Wounds of Peace by Shlomo Ben-Ami