"From horror to fatigue to indifference, an important look forward and
back that provides a grass-roots sense... An honest and troubling
snapshot of Israel--both Palestinian and Israeli--that reveals the
creeping realization that a two-state solution may no longer be
possible."--Kirkus (starred review)
Throughout their youth Nir Baram's generation were bombarded with news
about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict--the injustices, the wrongdoings,
the killings. Over the decades, the horror and despair had become
habit--he noticed people had begun to give up on the possibility of
resolution. Yet, as Baram notes, 'the vast majority of Israelis--as well
as international onlookers-- know next to nothing about life on the West
Bank, the area at the heart of the conflict they have spent their adult
lives dissecting'. Most have never visited the occupied territories, and
thus 'the debate revolves around a theoretical, ill-defined area
sketched out in our political imagination.'
This book of reportage emerged from the author's realization that Israel
is separated from the West Bank not only by checkpoints but also, more
significantly, by a cognitive barrier. And so began his quest to
understand the occupation from both sides. The result is an essential
and nuanced journey through places and experiences that receive little
coverage.
Baram, widely considered one of the most important intellectual voices
in Israel today, faces painful challenges to his personal political
views and his hopes for a more peaceful future.
Nir Baram has worked as a journalist, editor, and advocate for
Palestinian rights. He is the author of five novels in Hebrew. In 2010
he received the Prime Minister's Award for Hebrew Literature.
