Rating: 
Summary: Excellent book and historical overview.
Review: Excellent novel on the origins of the Israeli/Arab conflict, bends over backward to portray the Arabs in as positive a light as history will allow. It's unfortunate that a few reviewers here feel compelled to lie about history and Uris because he doesn't echo the Arab line on the Mid-East conflict. For example, one of the negative reviews claimed that Uris is Israeli. Sorry, but the truth is, he is an American. Ironically, these lies about "THE HAJ" reminds me of those episodes in the book itself, when Arabs are confronted with a truth they feel uncomfortable with. They concoct a version of events that makes them look better and even they themselves start believing their own invention. Take these emotional reviews with a grain of salt. Especially those claiming to be coming from Jews. Any reading of history will support the facts that Uris has based his novel on. A great read. Get a copy and read it today. It will help further understanding of today's struggles.
Rating:
Summary: Now is the time
Review: Now is the time to read 'The Haj'.
This is a bit long so have patience...
Now that more and more people are hearing daily on the news: 'Middle East Crisis', 'Israel', 'Palestinians', 'Suicide bombings', 'Terrorism', 'Fundamental Islamic groups', etc. this book can give a detailed "Big Picture" of the mess that is the Middle-East. It is not enough but a very good introduction.
I am an Israeli Jew living in Jerusalem, but first and foremost dear reader, like you - I am a Human Being.
Like others living in this country, I see (and feel) what others only see and hear on the news channels (which are always inclined to show what makes good rating). I try my best to understand what it feels like to be not only an Israeli Jew but also an Arab (especially Palestinian) and Moslem, as well as a Christian. While I agree the book is fiction, many details are fact. How do I know? If you lived and studied here for 33 years, if your grandparents were Holocaust victims, if your father fought in all the wars of Israel and if you yourself were a soldier at 18, serving in Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank and many of the places mentioned in the book, you too would have a pretty good Idea. It is too easy to judge from the comfort of your living room.
Having said that, I have Palestinian friends and am fully aware of both their plight and Israel's partial blame for this. However, I have no doubt that the Arab leaders as well as the coruupt Palestinian Authority are 99% to be blamed. They have used (and continue using) the poor Palestinian refugees for their "Jihad" ("Holy War") on Israel and the Jews (p.s. What is so Holy about War?) They incite hatred in the media, on the streets and in mosques (creating a bad name for Islam) and they continue to justify brainwashing young boys and girls that they will become martyrs if they blow up Jewish children their own age! How can you reach heaven if you turn other people's lives into hell? How can anyone justify blowing yourself up along with innocent women, children, and elderly people (some of the victims in Netanya were Holocaust survivors)?!
The Saudi leaders alone have Billions of dollars in Oil money. If they care so much then why are the Palestinians destitue? Because this is the way the Arab leaders want them - miserable and brainwashed, to be used against Israelis and Jews.
Back to the book...
In my opinion this is an excellent book and much of it is based on historical and cultural facts. I stress that there are also beautiful and gentle sides to Arab cultures (yes cultures, not just one culture), which are not depicted here.
Israel is portayed very bad on the media. How many people realise Israel has a special relationship with the bedouins? How many remember Israeli aid workers in Gaza, Turkey and elsewhere after an earthquake? Israeli doctors and relief workers in Rwanda, India and just about everywhere else? How many see Arabs and Israelis working together in Hospitals, Universities and other institutions? Can an Israeli or a Jew or even an arab expect the same in any Arab or Moslem country?!
As for Islam, I believe that like all faiths, it is a religion of peace, not war, hatred and prejudice. There is however a growing fear that those who would twist religion to their own ends, are going to bring about a catastrophe in the near future. 11th of September was a grim slap in the face showing the world that this fear is not fictional. We get that kind of a reminder daily in Israel. It is time for moderate Muslims to step up and condemn these acts in the name of their faith. Their voice is not heard loud enough. It is also time for Europeans to aknowledge their despicable recent past and stop acts of Antisemmitism as well as acts of hatred towards immigrants, especially Arabs. As a human being and a Jew I condemn this. Stop your biased policies for your short-term benefits and start taking responsibility towards the Jewish people as well as the Palestinian people.
To conclude: An excellent read, biased towards the Israeli and Jewish view point but also showing a good understanding of the plight of the Palestinians and the complexities of the region.
Udi
Rating: 
Summary: Sound, Informative, Enjoyable
Review: In my opinion, The Haj was an excellent read. Mr. Uris successfully couples history with fiction in an astonishingly informative and entertaining way. This marriage of character and authenticity truly lends itself to an entirely enjoyable book, despite what others have stated, for whatever reasons, throughout this string. For instance, some of the reviews express a certain disappointment with what they describe as an 'abrupt' ending. I submit to you that the book closes with the most succinct amount of information on the characters. To write (or print) more might lead in to some expectation of a sequel; and, believe me, this book requires no sequel. Certain people seek to point out their perception of 'pro-israeli' bias--I hold that the characters in this book were made as ugly as they were beautiful; I loved each of them for this very reason. The Haj himself is not a likeable man by western standards, but I defy anyone to read the book and not admire the character. At any rate, do yourself a favor and read this book. It is truly good.
Rating:
Summary: Compassionate Portrayal
Review: Whether Uris depiction of life in the Palestinian Arab world is totally correct, it is among the few we have. I thought it very courageous for a Jew to try to write about an Arab family and I think he would have to bend over backward to be fair. I don't see how anyone could have been more objective since most of what he writes is public and historic record. And since he wrote it in 1984 and very little has changed,how far off the mark can he be? What I found most valuable about the book was that I came away with a far greater sense of compassion for Arabs. Such is Uris' power that at times I felt myself rooting for the Haj. Cruel and vengeful as he was, he was still the best of the Arab leaders around him. It seems to me that the theme of the book was that Haj and the Jews might have worked out a peaceable agreement had they been left alone to do so. It demonstates that where the voices of reason are allowed to prevail, the madness of war can be avoided. The book may not hold up a flattering portrait of Arab life, and it has been accused of oversimplification, but in a world as complex as this any simplification at all should be welcome. It certainly helped me to form a compassionate view of a world that was beyond my comprehension before. As far as I can see, things have not gotten a lot better for women in most Arab countries, peace is nowhere nearer, Arab nations are no more friendly with each other than they were in 1960, and the frustrated militant youth of 1984 are the Tabliban and terrorists of today. If Uris was wrong in his portrayal, where can I find a better one? I read the book in 1984 and again in 2001. The second reading reminded me again that confusing as the Arab world is, it is nevertheless not a faceless multitude, but made up of families still living in fear and poverty and still at war. My personal belief is that what is wrong with the Arab rulership is that it is a political world where the voiced of women are almost totally silenced. Who knows that might happen if Moslem women were given an education and a voice. Why they are not is shown all too vividly in THE HAJ. Louise
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book !!! But biased......
Review: I picked up this book after reading Exodus & Mila 18 by the same author. In The Haj i hoped to get the Arab point of view on Arab-Israeli conflict. But this book simply portrays Jewish viewpoint of this conflict from Arab eyes. Ibrahim the father of the hero of this book is damn sure that Jews are gonna win on the partition night (well i'll give ya a 100 bucks if u show me an Arab who thot he was gonna lose). Deir Yassin for instance the author tells the village was very much anti-Jew and many of the Hussieni's warriors were from that village. But infact Deir Yassin was a neutral village. This book demonises A.K Husseini & Abdullah while glorifies Yishuv. The book fails to show tha Arabs too did have their own victories while at one point of time Arabs had more or less successfully screwed the Jews in Jerusalem... Read O Jerusalem for a neutral view
Rating:
Summary: Behind the Headlines
Review: Open up your newspaper. Suicide bomber kills ten! Where? Israel. Iraq. Turkey. Day after day, it seems the violence in this area of the world never ends. We read of seemingly endless peace proposals whose terms towards the Palestinians look generous that are rejected out of hand. And we wonder: why? How can this situation be changed? Can Arab and Jew ever find a solution they both can live with? In The Haj, Uris has attempted to show some of the reasons behind today's problems. Told from the Arab viewpoint, within its fictional confines it details some of the historical events of this area from just before World War I to the 1956 Arab-Israeli conflict. As Uris is well known for portraying Jews in a very favorable light, the immediate question springs to mind of just how unbiased he could be with this portrayal, an item that should probably be kept in the back of your mind while reading this, and further reading from other sources should be used to confirm the historical facts presented here. But the picture Uris paints of the Arab culture and history rings with veracity. The story follows the family of Haj Ibrahim, mainly concentrating on the father himself and his son Ishmael. Haj Ibrahim is the leader of the small village of Tabah, a position he obtained by force over his older brother. The depiction of Haj as patriarch, whose word within the family is absolute law, who as leader must never show cowardice or lose face, is striking. The position of women within the Arab society, the importance of the teachings of the Q'uran to their daily lives, the relative value of a 'book' education, are all shown within the dynamics of this family. It is this portrait of the culture, steeped in a history going back 3,000 years, that is the fundamental lynch-pin of this story, as Uris shows just how the culture and its expectations for individual behavior shape the events of history. His portrait of the British exercise of the Palestinian Mandate is damning, but is placed side-by-side with the internal squabbling of the various Arab tribes, and even the Jewish Haganah comes in for some harsh words. But most relevant to today's situation are the events that followed immediately after the 1948 declaration of independence of the Israeli state, when Haj and his entire village evacuate in anticipation of the invasion of Arab armies. Here is the genesis of the Palestinian problem, as the thousands of Arab refugees are forcibly contained in various camps, with no resources, no facilities, and aid packages from foreign countries are systematically confiscated by the Arab 'governments' (often shown as merely the latest strong man who has managed to briefly seize power). But worse is the fact that, contrary to their heritage, within these camps Arab would not help Arab, no single leader would be accepted, no efforts were made by their inhabitants to improve conditions, as the camps were temporary, surely soon the Arab world would drive the Jews into the sea and they could return to their homes. It is from these conditions, along with constant hate-filled rhetoric from various Arab leaders, that the terrorist groups of today were formed. The story Uris tells is powerful, its illumination of the reasons for today's conditions brilliant. It does not have quite the emotional power of his Exodus or Mila-18, nor yet the sweeping portrayal of the thousands of years of history of the area so well portrayed by Michener's The Source, but it will leave you with a better understanding of a culture and people who are shaking many of the events of today. --- Reviewed by Patrick Shepherd (hyperpat)
Rating:
Summary: Worth Revisiting Given World Events
Review: Writing a historical novel about any period of time can be quite a challenge. It requires a balance of facts with the need to tell a compelling story that catches a reader's attention much like any other novel. Usually what happens is that historical novels fall somewhere within the truth/entertainment continuum and will either get criticized for being too factual and boring or on the other hand it gets blasted for playing to fast and loose with historical facts. The stakes get higher if the historical novel takes on something that is particularly controversial or still in the news. Leon Uris' Haj is a perfect example. Take a look at all of the reviews from other readers. There are those who blast Uris for being pro-Israel. These people claim that the novel is historically inaccurate and hateful towards Arabs. (Most of these reviews are penned by people who refer to themselves as an Amazon.com customer and refuse to identify where they reside. I'll be the first to admit that this should not be the only book that you should read about the Middle East, but it should be one of the first. First off, eliminate the politics and read this for the great story. There are vivid characters in this book which begin with Haj Ibrahim and the countless others he encounters in his life. Along the way you get a lit bit of everything you would ever want in a novel including love, treachery, suspense and conflict. Along the way you also learn a great deal about the Middle East. Sure some of it is bound to be controversial but that's especially important in the post September 11 world we inhabit. This book is set in the late 1940's but how much has really changed. How many people have died and continue to die on a daily basis because of these religions that are yoked with every sort of prejudice known to man? There is no doubt that some of the positions espoused by some of the characters in this book will offend some people and brings smiles to others. Regardless of your political position, it will make you think. Given the importance of the topic, can there be a better endorsement? More importantly, once you get away from the big world political issues in the book, you will find that its an easy book to read. The 500+ pages fly by quickly and you soon find that the characters such as Haj Ibrahim, his sons, daughter and Israeli Counterpart Gideon Asch come to life. Here is where it is important to remember that the book is a work of fiction and a well-written book of fiction too. Finally, I would reject some of the criticism that has been leveled against this book's ending. I won't give it away but the ending is appropriate for the culture of the area and the story itself. Mr. Uris recently passed away so now is a good time to reflect on his accomplishments and revisit his work if you read it a few years ago. If you haven't read Uris in the past, now is the perfect time to get acquainted.
Rating:
Summary: One of the more shocking books I've read
Review: I have just finished The Haj and let me say that the book was EXCELLENT!!----up until the last few pages. Why did it have to end the way it did? I wont give anything away, but it leaves me with the feeling that Uris just wanted to finish up what had to have been years in the making of this great book.
I have always been curious what the big deal was about- why SO many people have fought and died over the lands in the Middle East and this book explains it all.
The Arabs are an intersting culture, it only makes me so thankful to be living as a free person in the United States of America. What a sad poor life to have lead as a woman in that part of the world and in that time period.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who has ever wondered why with so much money and potential power in thier hands, do you see Palastinians living in a Third World manner. The Caste System mixed with racism and pure hatred is truely a terrible way of life to behold, yet they chose this because that is what thier religion dictates. How sad.
Rating:
Summary: WELL CRAFTED AND INTERESTING
Review: Before I began this novel I had to remember two things: one, it is a fictionalized account of a Palestinian family in the 1940's, and two, it was written by someone of Jewish heritage and could be biased. So, should I be lead to believe that this was objectively written? My answer to that question is a resounding yes! I loved The Haj so much, it really opened my eyes to the inner workings of the Palestinian life style. I can honestly see how the Palestinians anger is brought about, but it is not solely derived from the Israeli side that many think. Some will say Leon Uris is not objective in this novel and he paints the Jews as the "good guys", but this is not the truth. He is only showing behavior in the region and tries to show how this behavior can impact the process of peace.
I also don't think a person like Uris, with such a good reputation would risk his credibility and write something that is filled with one-sided observations. He was brave to tackle such a controversial subject and make it entertaining, exciting, historical and educational. I can really admit that after I read the novel I knew a lot more than before about Palestine, and I won't watch reports on the Middle East the same way again.
I recommend this novel to anyone who wants to learn more about the Arab/Israeli conflict. I love Uris's writing style it is quick paced; yet heavy enough not to rot your brain with aimless junk. My only objection to The Haj was the last 10 pages, it was summed up to quickly and a little bit of a cop out, but the book as a whole is great, and I would love to see it continued from 1955 to the present. So come on Leon, continue this one, from where it left off and bring it to the present.
Rating:
Summary: Bitter Medicine for the Arabs
Review: "The Haj" by Leon Uris is an important book (in print or audio form) for understanding the negative aspects of Arab culture and little known aspects of the Arab-Israeli conflict that the great majority of the media won't share with us. Specifically, "The Haj" is historical fiction about a Palestinian-Arab family before and after the 1948 War for Israeli independence (From about 1922 to sometime around the 1960's or 1970's). Leon Uris wrote this about the book (in the beginning of "The Haj"): "Many of the events in The Haj are a matter of history and public record. Many of the scenes were created around historical incidents and used as a backdrop for the purpose of fiction. There may be persons alive who took part in events similar to those described in the book. It is possible therefore, that some may be mistaken for characters in the novel. Let me emphasize that all of the characters in the Haj are the complete creation of the author, and entirely fictional. The exceptions, of course, are the recognizable public figures who were associated historically with this period, such as David Ben-Gurion, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Abdullah, Yigal Allon, and others." There is no question that this book is fiction regarding the details its' story tells, but the story itself is a real one. Arab refugees did stream out of Israel during the 1948 war and Arab leaders telling them to do so (there are taped broadcasts of these calls) was definitely one of the major causes of the plight of the Palestinian-Arab refugees. There was also very definitely a very active terrorist movement among the Arabs in the Middle East, which survives to the present day (witness groups like Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hizbollah, the PLO / Palestinian authority, and others). The Palestinian-Arabs continue to suffer under poor leadership that represses their rights (witness many human rights organizations' reports of extrajudicial killings by the Palestinian Authority, the same autocratic leader, Yassir Arafat, who refuses to transfer the reins of power, and other facts). It is also a well-documented fact that the Mufti of Jerusalem was an ally and guest of Hitler during WWII. These things are facts and are indisputable. "The Haj" tells a story using the device of historical fiction to relay the often-ugly facts of life for the regular "fellah" (sometimes translated as peasant) in the land the British called Palestine and is now known again as Israel. The book is well written (good grammar, punctuation, style, etc.) and the story flows. I enjoyed reading about the characters of the story, but often wanted to cry for them. Some of the most poignant moments of "The Haj" occur during the flight of the Haj's (the main character is Haj Ibrahim and the book is the story of him and his family) family during the 1948 war and in refugee camps in Jordan. It was very sad to see how members of the same culture (the Arab culture) and most of the time the same religion (Islam) can be so cruel to each other. This is still an endemic problem in the Arab world (witness how the Arab governments squabble among each other and often fight and kill one another). Some of the depictions of the relations between the largely city-dwelling Palestinian-Arabs and the nomadic Bedouin are among the saddest. There is still a strong hatred between these groups to the present day. Why read "The Haj?" Read "The Haj" because this is real information presented in a novel format that you can no longer get from most university classes about the Middle East. Read it to learn what AP and Reuters news services constantly gloss over in their writings used by newspapers around the world. Most of all, read "The Haj" to understand that one of the fundamental truths about problems in the Middle East is that the problems have less to do with Israel and Jews than cultural, political, and even religious problems and divisions in the Arab world. Israel is really a side issue at best (and excuse used by the Arab governments to cover their faults). Autocratic tyrannies (or gangster governments like Yassir Arafat's Palestinian Authority) are the true source of unhappiness in the Arab world. It's easy to understand that truth after reading "The Haj." You can get this same information from a pile full of academic texts (and I do recommend reading more research about the Middle East after reading "The Haj"), but this is the easiest and quickest way to introduce yourself to the bitter realities of politics in the Middle East. I highly recommend "The Haj." Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan
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