Ghosts of a Holy War
The 1929 Massacre in Palestine That Ignited the Arab-Israeli Conflict
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Ghosts of a Holy War
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Narrated by:
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Sharon Freedman
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By:
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Yardena Schwartz
About this listen
An award-winning journalist presents an even-handed, thoroughly researched examination of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and illustrates how a shocking yet little-known massacre one century ago in what was then Palestine became ground zero of a war that continues to devastate.
"[A] compelling story. . . . If you are going to read one book to help you understand the current Middle East tragedy, this is it."—Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute, and author of the New York Times bestseller Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor
In 1929, in the sacred city of Hebron—then governed by the British Mandate of Palestine—there was no occupation, state of Israel, or settlers. Jews and Muslims lived peacefully near the burial place of Abraham, patriarch of the Jewish and Arab nations, until one Saturday morning when nearly 70 Jewish men, women, and children were slaughtered by their Arab neighbors. The Hebron massacre was a seminal event in the Arab-Israeli conflict, key to understanding its complexities. The echoes of 1929 in Hamas’s massacre of October 7, 2023, illustrate how little has changed—and how much of our perspective must change if peace is ever to come to this tortured land and its people, who are destined to share it. Noted journalist Yardena Schwartz draws on her extensive research and wide-ranging interviews with both sides to tell a timely, eye-opening story. She expertly weaves the war between Israel and Hamas into a historical framework, demonstrating how the conflict today cannot be understood without the context of ground zero of this century-old war, which began long before the occupation, the settlements, or the state of Israel ever existed.
This meticulously researched and balanced examination of the Arab-Israeli conflict's origins interweaves historical analysis with contemporary insights, providing crucial context for understanding today's Middle East tensions. Perfect for anyone who has read Ilan Pappe, Noa Tishby, or Rashid Khalidi, Schwartz's work is a riveting exploration of the complex background of the Israel-Palestine conflict and the ongoing struggle for peace in the region.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.
©2024 Yardena Schwartz (P)2024 Oasis AudioListeners also enjoyed...
What listeners say about Ghosts of a Holy War
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Matthew Clark
- 30-01-25
Well-researched and informative
A well-written book that looks at the Israel-Palestine conflict through the lens of the 1929 Hebron massacre. The book is well researched, and the author has clearly taken the time to speak to people on both sides of the conflict with empathy. Offers valid criticism of both sides.
Whilst it is very difficult to avoid at least some bias when discussing this subject, I think the author has done their best, and individuals who are dogmatically-bound to either side will no doubt therefore describe it as biased against them. Previous review which describes book as ‘Israeli propaganda’ seems bizarre given the clear criticism of Netanyahu, the far-right fringe groups he has brought into government, the judicial reform and the religious settlers in more general terms (all of which pulls no punches). I would suggest they haven’t actually read (or listened to) this book, or are at the very least coming from a place of extreme bias themselves.
I would recommend for those who are interested in the conflict and are less familiar with the Hebron massacre. Whilst certainly far from the sole cause of the conflict, it’s an element that had a lasting impact and is oft-ignored.
Schwartz also gives an account of October 7th attack, which should be important reading for all, as unfortunately few have made themselves fully aware of the atrocities of that day, along with the aftermath.
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance2 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- miriam baidoun
- 15-01-25
Superficial research- don’t waste your time
Listening to this, it very much felt like the writer was driven by an ideological motive rather than being led by archival evidence or historical context. This was such a sensationalist account of one event - chosen because it was possible to evoke maximum shock and horror. The narration is full of ‘streets strewn with corpses, ‘spilt Jewish blood,’ ‘pelted with stones’, ‘shattered shop windows,’ demonising Arabs with little to no context beyond historical persecutions of Jewish people in Europe. It reads like a tabloid opinion piece - or even Israeli propaganda. You really do start to become aware that the author is trying to manipulate you emotionally perhaps because the wider context and academic rigour is lacking. There are so many better and more informative works out there on this subject. Don’t waste your time on this.
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2 people found this helpful