Shortlisted for the NSW Premier's Literary Awards 2007.

The undeclared war in the Middle East is the abiding conflict of our era, with little apparent hope of resolution despite years of peace talks. The futile 2006 Lebanon war merely heightened this sense of hopelessness. On one side of the conflict, Israel asserts the right of the Jewish state to exist in Palestine. On the other, the Palestinian people struggle for survival. Far beyond Israel's disputed borders, the conflict is replayed around the world in passionate public discussion.

Written by an Australian Jew, My Israel Question was published in 2006 amidst a storm of controversy, critical praise and robust public debate. The Israel-Palestine conflict had rarely been discussed as frankly, an indication that decades-old silencing of dissenting views was coming to an end. Loewenstein's searching discussion continues here in this fully updated and expanded new edition. His is a significant voice in one of the most important debates of our time.

Bookray participants:
alice2623663 (NSW)
FreePages (ACT)
BellaMack (Tas)
KLL (WA)
Closed ...

Beginning it's journey today ... enjoy!

Arrived today, thanks.

I've read about 50 pages and I can't read this anymore. Sorry, when I signed up for the bookring I didn't realise what this book was, my mistake. I'll pm the next reader now and send the book on next week.

Just received this book, someone was kind enough to pick up my mail from the post office box. I'll try to get to this soon, overrun with bookrings and eventhough I am in hospital, I have to try to fit my reading in between 5 hours of physio. The book does look interesting though.

Well, I have got part way through this book so far and I am hugely embarrased that I have had it so long. I'm afraid it arrived just at a time when I had a life changing event and it is such a weighty book that I have had trouble getting to it. Well worth the effort tho'. I have learnt a great deal about Israel and Palestine's history and present day situation. Thanks to everyone for being so patient with me and allowing me to keep this book this long. I have PMed BellaMac and it will be on it's way to her in a couple of weeks and when I have received her address.

1 Nov 2008 BellaMac has asked to be skipped so I'm PMing KLL

POSTED TO KLL on 12 Nov 2008

Received in the post yesterday. I've heard Anthony Lowenstein talk about this book on John Safran's radio show 'Sunday Night Safran' and am looking forward to reading something a bit different to what I normally read. I'm afraid I can't promise a super quick turn around time, thanks to a pile of other bookrings I need to read first, but I'm hoping to start on it by the end of the year. Thanks to everyone for sending it along!! :-)

I've finally read this! I have to say I did put it off because it looked like such a thick, non-fiction tome. However, once I finally started reading it, I found Lowenstein's writing very accessible and very interesting. My knowledge of the Israel-Palestinian conflict was pretty scarce before reading the book, so it's really opened my eyes to the conflict. Having jewish friends who love debating and arguing issues, I think the most scandalous part of the book for me were how jewish lobbies try to intimidate and direct policy and the media - I think to the ultimate detriment of Israel.

So... thanks very much to astro2480 for starting the bookring - I really enjoyed it (and I shoudl prboaby try some more non-fiction too). I'll contact you now to see what you want done with the book.

astro2480 has very kindly left the book with me to do with as I please. I learnt today that one of my colleagues is travelling to Israel in July and so I'm lending it to him to read before his trip!

Hehe. Some 2.5 years later, my colleague unexpectedly gave me the book back! (I'd assumed it was long gone...) So today I took it to a meetup at the Wild Poppy Cafe in Fremantle. Enjoy!