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Rating: 
Summary: Eyewitness history of Palestine/Israel conflict
Review: Alfred Lilienthal has been involved with seeking solutions to the Middle East conflict for over 50 years. Amazingly he is still alive and yet was present in 1947 for the UN partition vote that paved the way for the state of Israel. He was a Jewish American who represented the anti-Zionist American Council for Judaism at the UN discussions. The Council was against a Jewish state and favored a modern democratic state not based on race or religion. Contrary to what a previous reviewer implied, Lilienthal has of course never been against rights for Jews. He was and is against unequal rights for all involved and has always humanized both Palestinian Muslims and Christians rather than demonizing them in his writings.
Here in his own words from the book is his true position: "In fact, I lobbied against the Partition Resolution 181 because it was our belief that the creation of a "Jewish only" Zionist enclave in that region could lead to insecurity and war which would endanger the lives of Arabs and Jews alike. Finally, as patriotic Americans, we believed this did not serve the long-term interests of the United States. A state based upon religious or racial exclusivity could, I argued, result in what actually has happened these last fifty-six years: misery for all peoples in the area and American involvement in the on-going conflict in ways that has undermined our own democratic principles and national security. We foresaw that the price of Israel would indeed be high."
I read a tattered old copy of the 1953 book about a dozen years ago. It is great to now have a brand new copy updated with a substantial new introduction that deals with current events and even the neo-conservative influences on President Bush and their tie-in with the policies of Israeli Prime Minister Sharon that have only fomented more conflict, hatred, and death. Lilienthal points out what he believes must be a gradual start to a true peace process: "It is Washington that will be the principal ideological battleground where the crucial showdown will take place over whether there will or will not be a successful "Road Map" leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state to exist and flourish side by side with the existing state of Israel. If a real and lasting solution is to evolve, the voice of positive opposition in the United States-both Jews and Christians-as well as Arab Americans-along with secular groups right and left and in between-must be molded into a unified political force.The Zionist lobby, the many spineless politicians, and the biased media have to date had the final and decisive say as to the possibility of Middle East peace. They can similarly block any current or future peace plan as they have so successfully done other peace efforts in the past-the list would be a long one! Change will not be easy against such entrenched forces, but it is up to the increasing number of supporters of peace with justice to move forward with courage and determination."
This book provides the factual historical background often so unknown amongst many Americans. His sources are the original ones at the time over a half century ago. He explains the true meaning of the Balfour Declaration, why Truman changed his mind about not favoring a Jewish state since his original position of one democratic state for Arabs and Jews both had been in 1945 the same as the American Council for Judaism, the behind the scenes pressures on the UN representatives to vote for partition often against their own conscience, and the desire of the many Arab leaders who Lilienthal met in person to have a positive relationship with the United States. He quotes from a letter that John F. Kennedy sent to him in 1960: "Dear Alfred...I wholly agree that American partisanship in the Arab-Israel conflict is dangerous to both the United States and the Free World. My program merely calls for using the power of the President to bring the parties themselves to an agreement. For too long a time, this dispute has been a bitter cause of friction between the Arab nations and Israel. I would hope that both would be friends of the United States." It is unfortunate that Kennedy did not live long enough to attempt to carry out this more "even-handed" position that may have prevented the present clash of civilizations that now endangers the entire world. So unnecessary if Lilienthal and others like him had been heeded over 50 years ago!
Rating:
Summary: Essential reading on the Israel/Palestinian conflict
Review: Anyone who wants to learn the true cause of the conflict between the state of Israel and the Palestinians should read What Price Israel by Dr. Alfred Lilienthal. It lays out a well documented history of Canaan/Palestine and the founding of the Jewish State therein. Dr. Lilienthal is one of the first American Jewish intellectuals to have had the courage and moral integrity to oppose the creation of Israel and condemn its premeditated expulsion of the Palestinians from the lands they and their ancestors have inhabited continuously for 9000 years. While I am sure most readers will welcome the insights and facts Dr. Lilienthal provides, others will find it difficult to admit to themselves that what they have hitherto believed to be the truth is far from it.
Rating:
Summary: Essential reading on the Israel/Palestinian conflict
Review: Anyone who wants to learn the true cause of the conflict between the state of Israel and the Palestinians should read What Price Israel by Dr. Alfred Lilienthal. It lays out a well documented history of Canaan/Palestine and the founding of the Jewish State therein. Dr. Lilienthal is one of the first American Jewish intellectuals to have had the courage and moral integrity to oppose the creation of Israel and condemn its premeditated expulsion of the Palestinians from the lands they and their ancestors have inhabited continuously for 9000 years. While I am sure most readers will welcome the insights and facts Dr. Lilienthal provides, others will find it difficult to admit to themselves that what they have hitherto believed to be the truth is far from it.
Rating:
Summary: You can save the world. Do it.
Review: Fifty years ago, Alfred Lilienthal asked the question: What Price Israel? Today, the world is marching and catastrophe is the answer. You owe it to yourself - and to everyone you know and love - to find out why. You can do something. Do it: read, think, act.
Rating: 
Summary: Will getting rid of human rights for Jews save the world?
Review: We're not seeing anything new here. There have been plenty of antizionist books in the past, by Alfred Lilienthal and others, and there will be more in the future. Nazi attacks on Jews in the 1930s and 1940s did not save the world then, and Arab attacks on Israel won't save it today. Quite the contrary. Such attacks set a precedent for violence and destruction.
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