Ten Myths About Israel

Very well written. I would assume some would say it is written with bias. But this writer is an Israeli historian.

I consider Pappe to be a good representative of the Palestinian cause from the Israeli perspective. In this book he deals with the issue of Palestine from the perspective of an Israeli, and also from the perspective of dispelling myths that Israelis and Israeli sympathizers have. He called this book, “Ten Myths About Israel.” He brilliantly divides his book into three categories: the past Myths, the present ones, and the future ones. The first category deals with fallacies of the past. In this section, he discusses a number of myths, proving that Palestine was, indeed, a vibrant and very active place, comprised of both rural and urban communities, and with its own records, especially since it was under Ottoman rule. Palestine was also known to have a series of port cities that allowed for trade with Europe and other parts of the world. However, little did those Europeans know they were dealing with no one on the other side. He also discusses one of the most often repeated myths about Israel, which is that the Jewish people in Europe had no land. It stems from another myth, though, that the Jewish migrants from Europe were Jewish in ethnicity at all. They were not. Pappe states, “Arthur Koestler wrote The Thirteenth Tribe (1976), in which where advanced the theory that the Jewish settlers were descended from the Khazars, a Turkish nation of the Caucasus that converted to Judaism in the eighth century and was later forced to move westward.” This is a good summary of who the Jewish immigrants were. They were Europeans who wanted a moral justification for colonization. This brings us to the next point, which is that Zionism is a colonist project, not a religious one, aimed at exploitation of the land and resources of the Palestinians, all the while trying to establish their own government in that midst. He also discusses very important and relevant topics of today, such as whether or not Israel is truly a democracy. Here, he shows how the Israelis manipulate land and naturalization in order to manipulate elections. Further, he discusses the Oslo Accord and whether or not a two-state solution would work (hint: it would never work). All in all, I give the book a 9.5 out of 10, only because he could have combined a couple of chapters for readability. Buy this book and read it.

I learnt a lot of things I don't know about the history of Israel. I didn't know that the whole story went so far back. It makes me wonder whether there will ever be a solution to the situation that the Palestinians find themselves in.

Ilan Pappe’s books are always full of brain stimulating ideas; in these complicated and difficult days full of simplistic rhetoric, Pappe’s ideas help to put down the real underlying issues of a situation full of conflicting emotions. The myths are the representation of collective strong emotions which hinder the elaboration of possible solution; without recognizing them as such no real developments towards peace are possible. Ilan Pappe is not always very convincing (1967, Oslo Accord myths) sometimes look more elaborations of opinions than myths, sometimes he seems to insist in find the dark side of things even in the few moments of light which cross that tormented region. In any case a very interesting book.

Well written and documented. Nice to have a more rounded view on the issue.

The book as a whole provides a thought-provoking and well-argued (albeit one-sided, as would be expected from the work's title) insight into the tenuous historical underpinnings of the State of Israel, most notably the aggressive agenda of Zionism, as opposed to its being simply a land populated by a Jewish international diaspora. I'm now looking for a modern book (not the bible!) that posits the opposite viewpoint before coming to any balanced conclusions as to what might drive the myriad issues involving Israel's recent history.

Ilan Pappe is one of greatest scholars. This book is a must read for all. It reveals so much misinformation that western media delivers. Very eye opening and easy read.

Excellent book! A must read.

Ten Myths About Israel by renowned historian Ilan Pappé is a masterclass in intellectual bravery, scholarly precision, and moral clarity. With piercing insight and unflinching honesty, Pappé dismantles the foundational myths that have long shielded Israeli policies from scrutiny and distorted the narrative surrounding Palestine. Through ten accessible yet deeply researched chapters, Pappé confronts some of the most persistent falsehoods — from the idea that Palestine was "a land without a people" to the claim that Israel is the “only democracy in the Middle East.” Each myth is unpacked with rigorous historical evidence, compelling arguments, and a profound sense of justice. What makes this book especially powerful is its refusal to sanitise history for comfort. Pappé dares to name what so many others avoid: the Nakba was not a tragic accident of war, but a deliberate campaign of ethnic cleansing. His writing cuts through the fog of propaganda and reminds readers that truth-telling is an essential act of resistance. This book is a beacon for anyone seeking clarity amid the noise, a vital tool for educators, students, activists, and anyone who refuses to be complicit in silence. With elegance and urgency, Ten Myths About Israel calls us not only to rethink what we’ve been told, but to stand firmly on the side of truth and human dignity.

short, easy to read, and challenges assumptions most people take for granted. A must-read for everyone.

Ten Myths

It is essential to know the history of the Palestine-Israel conflict and the many different points of view that obscure the truth.

Very interesting