Cursed Victory: Israel and the Occupied Territories—a History

Bregman (Elusive Peace), a political scientist and IDF veteran, is now one of Israel’s most prominent refuseniks, well-known for his principled opposition to the occupation of Palestine. Here, he outlines the history of both military and diplomatic initiatives in the Middle East since 1948, arguing that Israeli obstinacy and caprice has repeatedly stymied the peace process. Bregman gives the Israelis the lion’s share of blame: the “wholesale shifting of people for colonial strategic ends was a prominent feature of the era that followed the 1967 war and the Israelis made no secret of their annoyance that their newly captured lands came complete with people already living there.” Bregman accuses the Israeli leadership of seeking armed conflict with the Palestinians, in which the Israelis enjoy overwhelming tactical superiority, rather than engaging in negotiations or collaborative efforts, where they feel off-balance. Describing the second intifada, he says the Israeli army’s heavy-handedness managed to gradually “transform the Palestinian uprising into an armed insurgency.” As the occupation enters its fifth decade, he also criticizes the Palestinians for being “too divided” and calls on the international community to put greater pressure on Israel. Bregman’s deep familiarity with the material and his stylistic clarity will appeal to readers seeking an overview of the Arab-Israeli conflict. Maps & illus. [em](May) [/em]