In his seminal work, veteran journalist David Hirst provides a comprehensive and gripping history of the Arab-Israeli conflict, meticulously documenting the roots of violence. Hirst traces the long and complex history of Zionism and Arab nationalism, from the first Zionist congress to the numerous wars and uprisings that have defined the region. The book offers a powerful, and often controversial, narrative that challenges conventional wisdom and explores the cycles of violence and the elusive quest for peace, making it essential reading for understanding one of the world's most intractable conflicts.