5 books to read to understand the Israel-Palestine conflict

The world has been horrified by the escalating violence across Israel and Palestine. But as the headlines clamour to report from the front lines of various atrocities, it can often be difficult to unpick and understand the painful and knotted context of this crisis.

Here, we share five works which aim to elucidate the history of this conflict.

My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel, Ari Shavit

This extraordinary bestselling book from 2013 is a thought-provoking and thorough examination of the profound meaning of Israel to Jews, married with the nation's complex reality. Written by journalist Ari Shavit, it is both rigorously researched and powerfully personal.

In Search of Fatima: A Palestinian Story, Ghada Karmi

This widely acclaimed memoir draws you into the life of Ghada Karmi; a childhood spent in Palestine and a life of displacement and struggle in Britain. Here is the human cost of the loss of one's home and the reshaping of one's identity written with wit, humour, and often heartbreaking insight.

Arabs and Israelis: Conflict and Peacemaking in the Middle East, Abdel Monem Said Aly, Shai Feldman, Khalil Shikaki

Written by a collection of Israeli, Egyptian, and Palestinian scholars, this is a broad and brilliantly executed discussion on the topic. It provides a wider context to the situation in Gaza, situating it within the complex and ever-shifting world of Middle Eastern politics. Views are well-balanced and considered, making this an essential read for anyone new to the subject.

Six Days of War, Michael B.Oren

Written by historian and former Israeli ambassador to the United States Michael B Oren, this is a comprehensive guide to one of the most pivotal battles between Israel and Palestine. Oren has undertaken extensive and exhaustive research to write a truly gripping account of the six-day war, highlighting its long-term legacy.

On Palestine, Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé

This seminal book, co-authored by great American thinker, Noam Chomsky and Israeli historian and political activist Ilan Pappé, is an erudite and nuanced account of Palestine's history. First published in 2015, it is billed as an essential guide to understanding the shifting situation and is itself a sequel to their acclaimed book, Gaza in Crisis.

This piece originally appeared in Harper's Bazaar UK