ARMAGEDDON IN THE MIDDLE EAST

by Dana Adams Schmidt ‧ RELEASE DATE: Nov. 1, 1973

It's to be expected that an overview of Middle Eastern politics -- this book is a part of The New York Times ""Survey Series"" -- should focus on the struggle between Jews and Arabs over control of the Holy Land: ""One land, two peoples,"" both stiffnecked and nationalistic on a collision course With the big bang an everpresent possibility. Schmidt, who has seen both sides as a reporter for the Times, is nevertheless at least slightly inclined to be ill-disposed towards Zionism: in opting to limit Arab civil rights for the sake of national security Israel has ""compromised"" its egalitarian and humanistic ideals, and ""there appears to have been an underlying Israeli policy to wage preventative wars against the Arabs."" (On the other hand the Arab ""determination"" to destroy Israel is ""always rhetorical but subconsciously persistent""; Fatah is praised for its moderation in making a distinction ""between Zionists and Jews."") Schmidt claims that a settlement is unlikely if the Great Powers do not intervene; he wants America to stop ""excessively supporting Israel"" and sets down an unpublished ten point plan drawn up by Secretary of State Rodgers which includes Israeli withdrawal from Egyptian territory and settlement of the refugee question by agreement between Jordan and Israel -- the very impossibilities that the wars have been about.

Pub Date: Nov. 1, 1973

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: John Day

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Nov. 1, 1973

Categories: NONFICTION