Books for Prep | |
 - What happened in one Palestinian villageThis writer was already reknowned when he wrote this book - his novel "The Days of Ziklag" was greeted as a masterpiece when it came out. This book is a small vignette in sparkling language both Biblical and demotic. The author voices his doubts and foreboding, not about the lofty notions of Zionism but how the taking of the land actually was carried out. He also speaks lyrically of the beauty of the land. He makes it clear that the soldiers look down on the people they are displacing, but otherwise it would be unbearable to carry out their orders. They disdain the Palestinian villagers for not fighting back; ironically this same disdain was displayed toward those who survived the concentration camps who came to replace those villagers. It is interesting to note that this book, very popular when it came out, was high school reading in Israel beginning in 1964. However, this history seems less familiar to many Americans. Rating: - Humanity amid CrueltyA touching account of the Israeli ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the 1948 war by an Israeli soldier whose conscience was at odds with what he had to do. Also, a contemporary account of Israeli peace advocates protecting Palestinians from Israeli settlers trying to force them of their land. One can only hope that this appeal to humanity and justice will one day guide Israeli policy. Rating: - PenetratingThis is a trgaic story, beautifully written and translated. It would be easy to confine this book to the history of tradgedy, but David Shulman's Afterword draws a direct parallel to the present day and Israel's current occupations. With few words Yizhar paints a vivid picture of the Palestinian landscape and the figures within it. He is able to contrast the beauty with the hatefulness of the soldiers, often in the very same sentence. He brings to life that which has been buried and covered up. Perhaps it is no surprise that Yizhar wrote this in 1949 immediatly following the events, or similar events, that the story describes. The story prophetically anticipates the future also, yet it has an immediacy and a finality. A brilliant story and a great partner to Kressmann Taylor's Address Unknown. page 1 of 1
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