Jonathan

Some additional information for anyone planning to buy this book.

This is Figes motivation for the book and the lens through which she sees Edith's story:

"The main reason I’ve told this story now is basically because I am so utterly appalled by Israeli behaviour. I mean, it seems to me, they are like the Nazis. They don’t have gas chambers, but that’s largely because they’d be found out."

People will form their own view as to whether this is a "brave" view or something more sinister but some may care to know where she is coming from before buying.

Richard H

I too thought rather well, and romantically, of Israel until the six day war, when I began to look more seriously at what was really happening to the Palestinians. I have since taken the trouble to learn more about Herzl, Ben Gurion and the intentions of the founders of the state of Israel. Anyone whose mind is not already rigidly Zionist should read this book and that of Ilan Pappe on the 'Ethnic Cleansing of Israel'.

To Jonathan: I would say 'tell people to read as much as possible and form their own opinions'. After all, banning and burning books has a bad history.

I have to say that I have now reached the conclusion that the founding of Israel has done the greatest disservice to Jews all over the world since 1945. I believe there has been a rise in anti-semitism and most of this may be laid at the door of the Israeli government, and the tendency to respond to any criticism of the actions of the state of Israel with accusations of anti-semitism.

Richard H

I am afraid I made a stupid mistake in my post above; Ilan Pappe's book is, of course 'The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine'.

David

In a review essay of "The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine," Seth J. Frantzman calls Pappé's work "a cynical exercise in manipulating evidence to fit an implausible thesis." [29] Frantzman summarizes: "Pappé's book falls short, and it does so in a particularly damning way. He ignores context and draws far broader conclusions than evicence allows by cherry-picking some reports and ignoring other sources entirely."[30]

Jonathan

Richard H

Reading widely is always the right idea. However, there is an obvious difference between becoming aware of other ideas and financially supporting their authorship.

As it happens, I would be very wary of instructing anyone not to buy this (or any) book - that seems to me an impertinence. But I suspect some people may care to know Figes' world view before buying. If they regard it as irrelevant or support her views, I am sure they can ignore this post.

Richard H

Jonathan,

Sorry about a late response, I am a very occasional poster.

Your point is entirely fair, although I hope some will read her as well as other books expressing contrary opinions.

I did think, quite apart from the comments to which you objected, that there were several interesting historical points in the book. Much that was written about Berlin and Edith's survival during the war was fascinating, as was some of the comment about immediate post-war life in England. I remember it all too well.

Several other books also remark on the pressure that was often put upon European Jews to move to Israel at that time and I feel that it should be appreciated that such was the case.