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The Arabs and the Holocaust

The Arab–Israeli War of Narratives

Gilbert Achcar author G M Goshgarian translator

Format:Paperback

Publisher:Saqi Books

Publishing:27th Mar '25

£18.99

This title is due to be published on 27th March, and will be despatched as soon as possible.

The Arabs and the Holocaust cover

The Arab–Israeli conflict goes far beyond the wars waged on Middle Eastern battlefields. There is also a war of narratives revolving around the two defining traumas of the conflict: the Holocaust and the Nakba. One side is charged with Holocaust denial, the other with exploiting a tragedy while denying the tragedies of others. In this path-breaking book, eminent political scientist Gilbert Achcar explores these competing narratives and considers their role in the context of the Middle East today. He analyses the various Arab responses to the Holocaust, from the earliest intimations of the genocide, to the creation of the state of Israel and the occupation of Palestine. The Arabs and the Holocaust traces these narratives to the present day, critically assessing the political and historical context of these responses. Achcar provides a unique ideological and psychological map of the Arab world in all its complexity. In the process he defuses the war of propaganda that has in itself become a major stumbling block to the path of Arab–Western understanding.

'A fascinating, subtle and original analysis of Israeli and Arab historical narratives' -- Simon Sebag Montefiore
'An erudite, perceptive, and highly original study' -- Avi Shlaim
'A systematic and scholarly refutation of the simplistic myths that have arisen following the formation of Israel - The best book on the subject so far' -- Tariq Ali, The Guardian
'[Achcar] carefully examines the long history of Arab-Jewish conflict back through the 19th century, illuminating the range of opinions' -- The Washington Post
'Achcar offers a careful parsing of a most incendiary topic: the use of references to the Holocaust in the rhetoric of the Arab-Israeli conflict - Calm and judicious in tenor yet unyielding in its intellectual rigor, this selection may show the path out of a seemingly intractable dispute.' Booklist -- Booklist
'Lucid and penetrating' Stephen Howe, The Independent 'Excellent' The New Statesman 'A standard reference for years to come. Scrupulous in its scholarship, firm in political principle, ruthless in exposure' Socialist Review '[The Arabs and the Holocaust is] of tremendous historical importance' Robert Fisk, The Independent

ISBN: 9781849250795

Dimensions: 234mm x 156mm x 300mm

Weight: 480g

400 pages

2nd New edition