Info Sources

Bibliography:

Below are some sources I consulted for info about the conflict. I’ll give a couple of recommendations for those interested in learning more on their own. For a specifically Christian point-of-view, I recommend the MCC publication, “What is Palestine/Israel?” It gives perspectives from Mennonite workers who have been in the area for years building relationships. It’s simple to use for a Sunday School or youth session, and it’s available from the Mennonite Publishing Network: www.mph.org/hp/books/whatisPalestineIsrael.htm

If you find it easier to read a story-based book, I recommend “The Lemon Tree” by Sandy Tolan. It avoids simplifying the issue and is quite easy to read. It tells the story of a friendship between an Arab and a Jew in Israel, and gives enough background to get an idea about the overall conflict. Pretty long, but worth it.

Another really simple place to begin would be the youth section of the library. I found a book, "Understanding the Holy Land" by Mitch Frank. It's written for youth, but that's just about the right level for a tenderfoot like me. It helped me get a basic overview of the situation historically and politically.

Jimmy Carter’s book provides a unique viewpoint – hearing him discuss the political leaders from his personal interactions with them is powerful. I have a lot of respect for Carter after working for Habitat for Humanity, and then seeing the Carter Center’s work in Atlanta.

For a great movie, watch “Promises.” It’s a documentary interviewing Arab and Israeli children talking about the conflict. It’s fun to watch and painful at the same time. I just fell in love with these kids.


Books

Jimmy Carter, Palestine, Peace Not Apartheid, Simon & Schuster, NY 2006.
Alan Derschowitz, The Case for Peace, John Wiley, NJ 2005.
Israel Shahak, Jewish History, Jewish Religion, Baruch Spinoza Press, NY 1994.
Amal Saad-Ghorayeb, Hizbu’llah, Politics & Religion, Pluto Press, VA 2002.
Ian Bickerton & Carla Klausner, A Concise History of the Arab-Israeli Conflict, Prentice Hall, NJ 2002.
Sonia Weaver, What is Palestine/Israel? Answers to Common Questions, Mennonite Central Committee, PA 2004.
Karen Armstrong, Islam, A Short History, Modern Library, NY 2000.
Sandy Tolan, The Lemon Tree; An Arab, A Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East, Bloomsbury, NY 2006.
Edward Said, Covering Islam; How the Media and the Experts Determine How We See the Rest of the World, Vintage Books, NY 1997.
Mitch Frank, Understanding the Holy Land, Viking, NY 2005.


Lectures/Classes
Norman Finkelstien lecture “What Americans Need to Know About Israel-Palestine,” University of Utah, 4/18/2007.
World Religions class, Dr. Terry Muck, Salt Lake Theological Seminary, Spring 2007.


Media Outlets - I checked both of these media outlets daily since March.
The Jerusalem Post online.
BBC online.


Newsletters
Corner Stone, the newsletter of Sabeel.
Getting in the Way, newsletter of CPT.


Movies
Promises, Justin Shapiro, B.Z. Goldberg and Carlos Bolado, New Yorker Video 2001/2004.