Good references on the Arab-Israeli conflict

[Yaakov Mendel]

I listened to ASK JTF 06/28 yesterday (as always, thank you Chaim for your excellent program) and I was thinking about a question asked by Bryan which was approximately : what should you tell people who are too influenced by the constant anti-Israel brainwashing and who always look at Israel with negative stereotypes ? As I understand, he was referring especially to non-Jewish audiences or non-religious audiences (whether Jews or not) in the West, that is, the vast majority of Western societies, whose opinions are, unfortunately, shaped by all the lies, distortions and simplifications spread by mainstream media outlets. Chaim gave a very simple and cogent answer that is easily understandable by anyone, even if they know very little about the history and the politics of the Middle East.

Now, as a slight generalization, I would like to give a few references that I think are particularly suitable if you want quick facts and figures to back up your points when arguing about the Israeli-Arab conflict. Of course, there is a vast literature, so I am just focusing on references that are : (i) clear and easy, (ii) suitable for very large audiences, (iii) but at the same time accurate and rigorous. The one book that comes to my mind that would meet the previous criteria is :

Myths and Facts, A Guide to the Arab-Israeli Conflict, by Mitchell G.Bard, American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise

This book debunks the most common anti-Israel stereotypes. It is short, very clear and very conveniently organised, allowing quick and easy access. It is secular but it does not judge in any way the religious perspective. It does not develop a Kahanist agenda but it is not liberally skewed either. It is basically about facts and figures and, as such, it is quite indisputable.

Otherwise, on the Web, the following site is not bad : http://www.peacefaq.com/ , although less comprehensive and less precise than the book by Mitchell G.Bard.

Lastly, for daily updated facts and links about the war of Islam against civilization , I advise everyone, as usual, to go to : http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/

[Ari Ben-Canaan]

For Israeli conflict:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths/

^I think this might be Bard's book online.  He is the director of this whole site.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/mbbio.html

^Bio and links.


For Islam:

http://prophetofdoom.net/
^Craig Winn's site.
http://www.jihadwatch.org/
^Robert Spencer's site.
http://www.answering-islam.org/Index/index.html
^I have used this site before.
http://www.answering-islam.org/Terrorism/index.html
^Here is the part on Terrorism.

[Yaakov Mendel]

For Israeli conflict:

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths/

^I think this might be Bard's book online.  He is the director of this whole site.

Thanks Ari for your links. The one I quote is indeed Bard's book online. I didn't know there was an online version.