Lemon Tree, The

Jews and Arabs have been fighting for thousands of years. Palestine was a land without people for a people without land. Palestine was a desolate wasteland before the Jews came and made it prosper and thrive. All those myths and more I've grown up with all my life and never questioned - never thought to question - until recently. I suppose I should start by putting my "liberal bias" on the table at the outset. I became interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through reading articles on [...]. I then searched around Amazon for some basic introductory works on the conflict. I've read a couple children's books (see my other reviews), one of which recommended this book. I never did find a book that both sides agree is "unbiased", but this seemed like the closest possibility since it is an account, largely in their own words, of two families - one Israeli, one Palestinian - and their encounter, conflict, and ultimate friendship because of a shared house and a shared history. Sandy Tolan went looking for a way to humanize the story of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, and he found the perfect narrative. Ahmad Khairi built a house of white Jerusalem stone on land in al-Ramla which his family had owned for generations. Most of his many children were born in that house. He planted a lemon tree in the backyard. In 1948, in a war known to the Israelis as the War of Independence and to the Palestinians as the "Nabka" or "Catastrophe", he and his family, along with most of the Arab populations of al-Ramla and many other Palestinian towns, were driven from their homes into exile - in Jordan, Gaza, and finally Ramallah. The house was declared "abandoned", the owners "absentee". A few years later, seeking the stability of a Jewish homeland following the Holocaust, Moshe Eshkenazi, his wife and young daughter eventually end up in Ramle, Jewish street names having replaced the ages old Arabic names. They end up, of course, in the Khairi's house, enjoying the Khairi's lemon tree. But to the Eshkenazis, the property is simply abandoned, left behind by Arabs who were too cowardly to defend their own homes. Innocent young Dalia then grows up cradled in Zionist mythology. As a young girl, she climbs on the fence built by Ahmad Khairi and rips off the Muslim crescent he had placed there. Still, young Dalia Eskanazi actually grows up to be tolerant and compassionate. She defends her darker skin schoolmates, she stands up for Palestinian rights and, in 1967, when a knock comes at her door, she answers it, allowing Ahmad Khairi's oldest son Bashir to see and explore his family's old house. The two form an intense connection both despite and because of their disparate yet shared histories. The most powerful scene of the book comes around 160 when Dalia and Bashir meet at his family's "temporary" Ramallah house and discuss the solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and we see, in stark terms, the insolubility of the conflict. The unstoppable force meeting the immovable object. For Dalia, despite her compassion and even her recognition of the wrongs done to the Palestinians, is still a Jew, born of Zionist parents and raised in Zionist culture. Israel is her homeland, the Khairi's house is her house. Leaving is not an option. For Bashir, born a Palestinian and nurtured in exile on Palestinian grievances, there is likewise no backing down. Palestine is his family's ancestral land, the house with the lemon tree is his house, and his lemon tree. The book does not present any neat packages or tidy up any details. Tolan presents his subjects as realistically as possible, having exhaustively interviewed them and researched their history. We see them warts and all - sometimes sympathetic, sometimes not so much. Despite my inclination toward the Khairi's "side", for instance, I find their view of girls and women to be distasteful and I find myself "liking" the Eshkenazis better. The Khairis had to go through eight girls before they finally got their precious son, who immediately upstaged all his sisters. The Eskanazis, on the other hand, wanted a daughter and treasured her above all else from day one, never looking back with regret that they didn't have a son. Still, though, the question of justice must outweigh personal likes or dislikes. The fact remains that the Palestinians were driven from their homes and lands to make way for a Jewish homeland. Of all people who should be sensitive about discrimination and persecution based on racial and religious factors, it should be the Jews. Yet I often found myself experiencing déjà vu as the Jewish government and their British and American allies treated the indigenous Palestinian people much as they were treated during the Holocaust - buses often serving the same purposes as trains in Europe. But on the other hand (and I'm aware that I'm already out of hands), I can't approve of the tactics of the Palestinian fighters, any more than I approve of the same tactics used by the Israelis. Blowing up Israelis supermarkets is, perhaps, no worse than blowing up hotels, but it is certainly no better, and violence is only going to end up harming both sides. The book never confirms for us whether Bashir was or wasn't involved in the Supersol bombing or other terrorist activities. Dalia assumes he was, but Bashir never confirms it nor does Tolan present definitive evidence either way. If he was involved, it would be understandable. In addition to the pain his family has suffered, Bashir himself lost most of his left hand as a child playing with an explosive "toy" dropped by the Israelis. But Dalia is right that the Palestinians must renounce violence if there is to be peace. Palestinian violence, in addition to harming Israeli civilians, only works against the Palestinians themselves. For every act of Palestinian violence, the Israelis respond tenfold, and it keeps world sympathy (or at least Western sympathy) firmly on the Israeli side. The Israeli occupation of Palestine and their treatment of the Palestinians is an injustice on the scale of the Jim Crow laws in the American South. But it was more Martin Luther King, Jr. than Malcolm X who ended segregation. In the end, both Dalia and Bashir are very sympathetic characters. Dalia gave up her parents house to become a kindergarten for Arab children and an Arab-Israeli peace center. She protests against Israeli excesses and defends the rights of Palestinians, although not the right of return. She believes in a two-state solution - Palestine and Israel living side-by-side in harmony. Bashir is also a sympathetic figure, not least in his friendship with Dalia. He advocates a one-state solution - a secular democracy with representation for all Jews and Arabs (and others). Although he may (or may not) have been actively involved with terrorism, I have to side with Bashir. Creating two ideologically opposite theocracies in a country the size of Israel-Palestine is not a solution to generate peace. Already, roads have been torn up, walls erected, families divided, all in the name of separating one religion from the other. But a secular democracy could - if both sides renounce violence and work together in good faith - moderate the worst of both groups and bring out the best for everyone. Demographically speaking, Israel is becoming more, not less, Arab. The Israelis would be well advised to deal with this reality quickly and equitably. In sum, I highly recommend "The Lemon Tree" to anyone who wants an introductory or more in depth exposure to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The story of the shared house and shared history of the Khairi and Eshkenazi families gives a human face and understanding to the trove of historical background which illuminates the narrative. Whether you find the book "fair" or "biased", you will come away with new perspectives and, hopefully, a deeper understanding.

Ms. Tolan provides a deeply personal view of the tragic situation in the Middle East. Like many my perception of what was happening was shaped by news reports. There was a time when I viewed the PLO and other Palestinian groups negatively. I was born just as the creation of Israel was happening. Somehow the real history of events was never included in any of the coverage of events as they occurred. Learning how many people were displaced and the way it was done brings a very different appreciation for why the problems continue.

The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan is a story about history and reconciliation. If you want a better understanding of the history of the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, read this book. Mr. Tolan gives the reader a detailed history from both perspectives. The reader is trusted to hear the story of Jews who were persecuted in Bulgaria which led many to Israel to seek refuge and find a new better life. We also hear how many Palestinians are kicked out of their homes and the uprisings and conflicts which would follow when the nation of Israel was formed after World War II. The reader becomes engulfed with this rich and troubled history connected to our two main characters: Bashir (a Palestinian Arab) and Dalia (a 2nd generation Bulgarian Israeli). We also see their friendship develop as conflict continues and worsens through numerous decades. You gain a sense of empathy for Bashir, Dalia, and all individuals who's lives have been altered because of the events in Israel and the Holocaust. While it is difficult for us to hear the story of the other, especially in times of conflict. I hope this book opens you to the idea of hearing the other's story and learn their history to gain a broader picture of that person. I hope that individuals who read The Lemon Tree consider ways in which we can try to make a positive impact for not only individuals who have a unique and difficult history attached to their name, throughout the world and those we interact with on a daily bases.

This is the best book I've read on this subject. It gives a lot of background information showing the history of two groups of people who have repeatedly been uprooted and forced to start over. Against this background, it shares the true story of two families, one Arab and one Jewish, who have been impacted by the ongoing conflict. Each family comes to rest and puts down roots on the same piece of land, many years apart; each has reason to think of the land as theirs. Reading this, for the first time, I was able to at least begin to understand the complexity of the conflict. The Lemon Tree (an actual tree growing in the yard the of property in question) is a truly human story with no clearcut right and wrong.

I was in Israel for the first time in 2012. It was an amazing trip. I joined a Christian group for the 10 day tour and i saw all of the sites. Came back to Ireland with a much better appreciation of Israel. I told many people about my journey and then a friend recommended The Lemon Tree. Wow what a read and what a story. It helped me to get a much better appreciation of the conflict from both sides. We all know that there are always radicals on both sides. This book for the first time ever really gave me the empathy to view things from both sides. It is an amazing story and there are great people in the book who had to deal with many challenges in life. Once i started reading the book i did not want to put it down and then i didn't want it to end as it is just unreal. If you are looking for a book that is unbiased and gives in my opinion a fair reflection from both sides then this is the one. I hope they make a movie out of the book and i will recommend this book to my friends as it is a great read and takes you on a very challenging journey and roller coaster ride. This is one of those books that i will keep in what i call my gem book collection.

Mostra uma visão equilibrada da situação do Estado de Israel e Palestina

This book sucks. It’s the worst book that I’ve read about the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. It’s all about facts trying to defend one side of the story. Very partial I do not recommend it at all.

Having thought it to be a work of fiction, this was not at all what I was expecting. The historical detail, the different viewpoints offered, gave a new insight into the plight of the Palestinians and the painful impossibility of finding a solution acceptable to all. The human portraits were rich and powerful and full of compassion. A book I didn't want to end.

Eyeopening. Empehlenswert für alle, die an den geschictlichen Hintergründen des Debakels interessiert sind. Sollte in den Schulunterricht gehören... Schade, dass es keine deutsche Übersetzung gibt.