The General's Son

A must read for the ones interested in the Palestine issue. The book is truly about a life journey from childhood to adulthood in which the author describes his father important role as a military man on the creation of the Israeli state in 1948 and in the 1967 invasion of West Bank and Gaza, who then started to advocate towards the two-state solution. Packed with documental references and personal experiences in Israel, the author lets you gradually understand his shift to a more radical and pacifist approach to address the dramatic problems faced by disposed Palestinians living by a Jewish-ruled state order.

I first saw these words some decades ago on a poster outside a Quaker Meeting House. Miko Peled writes compellingly about his own personal journey from Zionist to Anti-Zionist. The journey was not an easy one so expect to shed quite a few tears along the way - for both Israelis and Palestinians. Personal reminiscences about individuals and situations bring the story to life, or rather, to death and then to life. For Peled is optimistic about the future.Since the founding of Israel in 1948, hawks on each side have fed off each other. Both sides have committed appalling atrocities. Each side has accused the other of racism and each side has been guilty of this charge. However, the ever-victorious Israelis have used their growing power to marginalise the Palestinian element of their shared land. Today any two state solution would bear little resemblance to the Partition proposed by the UN in 1948. Which is why Peled has rejected his father's earlier hope for such a solution and now favours a one state solution. The peace movement of which he is a leading figure sees Jews and Arabs coming together to overcome mutually entrenched fear and hatred. Embracing non-violence, shared grief on both sides has become the basis for stripping away 'otherness' and embracing their common humanity.Peled's narrative is strongest when he describes his first (defenceless) journeys into Palestinian territory and his meetings with Palestinian leaders who had spent time in Israeli prisons on 'terrorism' charges. His fear -and courage - are palpable. But he has reaped rich rewards with many new Arab friends and a loss of this fear - which is inculcated into Israelis from birth. His children have made similar gains. Now he regards the Israeli state as his main foe because of the various obstacles it puts in the way of such Israeli-Palestinian fraternisation. His (illegal) forays into the West Bank and Gaza conjure up memories of apartheid Pass Laws and Russian internal passports of former times. Israel controls the movement of its own citizens for their security but the result is an unofficial segregation - not everywhere of course!Like many/most (?) Israelis, Peled is a completely secular Jew but he can relate to the Orthodox - especially those who believe that the modern Israeli state lacks Biblical sanction. He can likewise relate to both secular and religious Arabs and compares the social conservatism of Palestinian society with that of the mainstream secular Israeli Jew. Peled has lived and travelled widely outside Israel and this cosmopolitanism has helped him to break out from his own culture to tread his present path. But he still loves his people. This again is palpable, despite the derision poured on his head by Zionist opponents who ask him why he still keeps his Israeli passport. His predicament reminds me of those thousands of German exiles (many Jewish) who during WW2 joined the French Resistance or fought in the British Forces. This is just as much an ideological struggle as was WW2. Fortunately he does not have to kill people. But he is in danger of making himself an exile in his own country in solidarity with his Palestinian comrades who have become exiles in their own land.I wish Miko Peled and his movement well. I too have long favoured a one state solution. However, any resolution to this 70-year conflict will require more than just good will. Israeli security fears and disputed land ownership will be hard nuts to crack. A great deal of vested interest on the Israeli side (the side with all the power) will have to be overcome. An excellent read. Highly recommended.

Finally read this book, now that the 2023 Gaza war is ongoing. It's both shocking but also inspiring! A just peace is possible! Miko Peled recounts in lots of details the life of himself and his father Matti Peled and it becomes apparent how both came to their respective convictions experiencing the realities of Israel's creation and of the Israel's occupation of Palestinians. It's a must read to understand and be aware of Israel today and its severe occupation of Palestine and Palestinians.

Food for thought this book is

As an American I believe this book should be required reading in every schools world history class.I am totaled humbled and impressed with this man and his son and their humanity.It is a rare book that grabs and maintains your interest from the first page as this one does.This mans story gives me hope for humanity.