Journalist Lynch's mission—to “unashamedly and sympathetically chronicle... the tragic Palestinian nation and its defiant, inspiring people”—is fulfilled in a heartrending account of the suffering of Palestinians under occupation. Lynch (Radical Politics in Modern Ireland
) has not only covered the big events but also lived in the West Bank, witnessing up close Israeli raids, checkpoint lines and agitated soldiers and the privations created by Israel's 250-mile-long security wall. He impressively and seamlessly combines storytelling with reportage and fact-finding. His failures are thus all the more unfortunate: the book's scarce sourcing ensures that only those with a background in the field can judge his findings, and in his efforts to validate the Palestinian narrative, he too easily dismisses the Israeli counterpart. While Lynch takes pains to acknowledge Israeli humanity, calling Zionism “a colonizing project like most others” might lose the book some readers who might have been open to broadening their understanding of the conflict.(Aug.)
