Written by Edward Said, The Question of Palestine focuses on the tensions between Palestinians and Israelis, while showing how the conflict is perceived and reflected in the West. The book was originally written in 1979, but was updated in 1992 to reflect on how events such as the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Intifada and the Gulf War have impacted on the Palestinian struggle.
"The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine (2006)" Written by Israeli historian Ilan Pappe, the book details the 1948 Nakba, when hundreds of Palestinian towns and villages were destroyed and more than 700,000 Arabs forcibly displaced when the State of Israel was created.
"Six Days: How the 1967 War Shaped the Middle East (2003): A book by Jeremy Bowen , former BBC Middle East correspondent . As its title suggests, the book highlights the events leading up to and surrounding the war between Israel and several Arab countries in 1967. It breaks down the conflict hour by hour, examining the military decisions and tactics of Israel, Egypt, Jordan and Syria.
"The Iron Cage: The Story of the Palestinian Struggle for Statehood (2006)". Palestinian-American historian Rashid Khalidi explores the history of the Palestinian struggle for independence, from the aftermath of the Ottoman Empire, when British colonial forces took control of Palestine. Khalidi begins with the period of the British Mandate and the arrival of Jewish immigrants, through to the Nakba and the modern era.
"I Saw Ramallah (1997) An autobiographical work by Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti, "I Saw Ramallah" was first translated into English in 2000 by Egyptian novelist Ahdaf Soueif. It follows Barghouti's attempt to return to Palestine from Egypt after the 1967 war. He was refused entry. It took another 30 years before he was finally able to return to the town where he grew up. It's a vivid insight into the difficulties Palestinians face when trying to travel within or return to the country.
"In Search of Fatima (2002): Written by Ghada Karmi, this autobiography offers a first-hand account of the events of 1948. Born in Jerusalem in 1939, she moved to the UK after the Nakba, spending formative years in a Jewish suburb of London. The book is a poignant and moving read, exploring the effects of displacement as major events alter the political landscape in the Middle East.
'My Promised Land: the Triumph and Tragedy of Israel' (2013): Another book by an Israeli author draws on archive documents, interviews, as well as correspondence and private diaries. At its heart is the story of author Ari Shavit's family, starting with his great-grandfather, a British Jew who arrived in Palestine in 1897. The book develops the perspective of the Jewish people who arrived in Palestine at the turn of the century, and attempts to offer a multi-dimensional approach to the creation of Israel.
"The Hundred Years' War on Palestine: a history of colonialism and settler resistance, 1917-2017" (2020): Another book by Rashid Khalidi highlights a letter written in 1899 by the author's great-granduncle, Yusuf Diya al-Khalidi, mayor of Jerusalem. In the letter, al-Khalidi addresses Theodor Herzl, the founding father of the Zionist movement, when the mayor was surprised by Zionist calls to create a Jewish state in Palestine. The book as a whole brings to light a wealth of archival documents, personal letters and trans-generational reports to show the continuing challenges facing Palestinians under occupation.