Palestinians: The Making of a People

The conflict between Israelis and Palestines cannot be resolved unless there is some agreement about its origins. This book traces the history of the Palestinians from the Ottoman Empire to the present and argues that anti-Zionism fused the Palestinians into a nation, and nationality and hostility have long been inextricably linked. The book traces the fortunes of the people of Palestine during the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire, the trauma of World War I, the transfer to British authority, the growth in Jewish immigration and finally the creation of the Jewish National State. It was in response to these violent upheavals and threats that the Palestinians, once a disparate group of peasant farmers began to develop a strong national consciousness. That consciousness was born out of anti-Zionism and thus made acceptance of the Jewish presence a denial of Palestinian nationhood. However, the authors sense that a new generation of Palestinian leader may be more willing to come to terms with Israel.