Currently Reading: The War of Return

The War of Return: How Western Indulgence of the Palestinian Dream Has Obstructed the Path to Peace, by Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf.

From the book jacket…

In 1948, seven hundred thousand Palestinians were forced out of their homes by the first Arab-Israeli war. More than seventy years later, most of their houses are long gone, but millions of their descendents are still registered as refugees, with many living in refugee camps. This group — unlike countless others that were displaced in the aftermath of World War II and other conflicts — has remained unsettled, demanding to return to the State of Israel. Their belief in a “right of return” is one of the largest obstacles to successful diplomacy and lasting peace in the region.

In The War of Return, Adi Schwartz and Einat Wilf — both liberal Israelis supportive of a two-state solution — reveal the origins of the idea of a right of return, and explain how UNRWA — the very agency charged with finding a solution for the refugees — gave in to Palestinian, Arab, and international political pressure to create a permanent “refugee” problem. The authors argue that the Palestinians’ demand has no legal or moral basis, and make an impassioned plea for the United States, the United Nations, and the European Union to recognize this fact, for the good of Israelis and Palestinians alike.

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