In a world where narratives are often shaped by headlines, it’s essential to turn to the rich tapestry of literature to understand the history of Palestine—one that encompasses resilience, bravery, and the undying spirit of a people.
This collection of the best books on Palestine invites you to explore the voices that amplify the Palestinian struggle, offering perspectives that go beyond political discourse.
- On Palestine
- I Saw Ramallah
- Mornings in Jenin
- The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine
- Out of Place
- The Land of Sad Oranges
- Return to Haifa
- Shell Shocked: On the Ground Under Israel’s Gaza Assault
- Voices of the Nakba: A Living History of Palestine
On Palestine by Naom Chomsky, Ilan Pappe (2015)
The book “On Palestine” provides invaluable insights into the current situation in Gaza, and it’s one of the most insightful books on Palestine, covering several time periods of the past and present.
Delving into pressing questions about the future of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement against Israel, as well as the viability of both binational and one-state solutions, Noam Chomsky and Ilan Pappé guide readers through the path forward for Palestinians.
The story of Palestine has been told before: European settlers coming to a foreign land, settling there, and either committing genocide against or expelling the indigenous people. The Zionists have not invented anything new in this respect.
―
I Saw Ramallah by Mourid Barghouti (1997)
The book provides a poignant account of Barghouti’s return to his hometown, Ramallah, after a prolonged period of exile. Born in Deir Ghassaneh, near Ramallah, Barghouti was forced to leave his homeland in 1967 due to political unrest and could not return until 1996.
“I Saw Ramallah” is not just a narrative of a physical return but also an exploration of identity, exile, and the impact of political conflict on personal and collective memory, making it an essential book on Palestine and its history. Barghouti’s writing is characterized by a deep sense of nostalgia, resilience, and a keen awareness of the complexities of Palestinian life under occupation.
In the disaster of 1948 the refugees found shelter in neighboring countries as a ‘temporary’ measure. They left their food cooking on stoves, thinking to return in a few hours. They scattered in tents and camps of zinc and tin ‘temporarily.’ The commandos took arms and fought from Amman ‘temporarily,’ then from Beirut’ temporarily,’ then they moved to Tunis and Damascus’ temporarily.’ We drew up interim programs for liberation ‘temporarily’ and they told us they had accepted the Oslo Agreements ‘temporarily,’ and so on, and soon. Each one said to himself and to others ‘until things become clearer.
― Mourid Barghouti
Mornings in Jenin by Susan Abulhawa (2006)
“Mornings in Jenin” by Susan Abulhawa is a poignant Palestinian novel spanning decades, following the Abulheja family’s journey from their expulsion from an ancestral village in 1941 to a refugee camp in Jenin. The story delves into themes of displacement, love, loss, and the enduring impact of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on individual lives. Through a multi-generational lens, the novel provides a heartfelt exploration of the human side of the struggle for justice and identity in the midst of political turmoil.
We come from the land, give our love and labor to her, and she nurtures us in return. When we die, we return to the land. In a way, she owns us. Palestine owns us and we belong to her.
― Susan Abulhawa
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappe (2006)
“The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine” by Ilan Pappe, published in 2006, challenges the conventional narrative of the 1948 war (the Nakba). Pappe argues that the forced displacement of Palestinians during this period was not a byproduct of war but a deliberate and planned policy of ethnic cleansing by Zionist leaders. The book, drawing on historical evidence, scrutinizes the events surrounding the establishment of Israel and sparked significant debate for its critical perspective on the formation of the state. “The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine” is a must-read book on Palestine and its history.
Once the decision was taken, it took six months to complete the mission. When it was over, more than half of Palestine’s native population, close to 800,000 people, had been uprooted, 531 villages had been destroyed, and eleven urban neighbourhoods emptied of their inhabitants.
― Ilan Pappe
Out of Place by Edward Said (1999)
This autobiographical work reflects on Said’s childhood in Jerusalem, his education in the United States and Europe, and his experiences as a Palestinian in the diaspora. The memoir delves into themes of identity, displacement, and belonging, offering a unique perspective on Said’s personal journey and the broader issues of the Middle East. Said’s eloquent prose provides readers with insights into the complexities of cultural identity and the impact of political conflicts on individual lives.
Don’t hesitate to read “Out of Place” by Edward Said as it’s one of the books on Palestine that offer a closer outlook on an individual’s personal journey.
It is geography—especially in the displaced form of departures, arrivals, farewells, exile, nostalgia, homesickness, belonging, and travel itself—that is at the core of my memories of those early years.
― Edward Said
Land of Sad Oranges by Ghassan Kanafani (1962)
The impact of deportation on Palestinians during the 1948 takeover of their country by Israeli troops is vividly depicted in ‘The Land of the Sad Oranges.’ These oranges, known as Jaffa oranges, trace their cultivation back to the mid-19th century by Palestinian farmers, deriving their name from the port city of Jaffa. Historical records in British consular reports from the 1850s mark the initial mention of Jaffa oranges being exported to Europe.
Kanafani’s books on Palestine are easy to read for all ages, and their stories are never forgotten.
And all the orange trees which your father had abandoned to the Jews shone in his eyes, all the well-tended orange tree which he had bought one by one were printed on his face and reflected in the tears which he could not control in front of the officer at the police post.
― Ghassan Kanafani
Return to Haifa by Ghassan Kanafani (1969)
The story is set in Haifa, a city with profound historical significance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The narrative unfolds as a Palestinian couple, Said and Saffiya, returns to their former home, which they were forced to abandon during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war.
Upon their return, they discover that Jewish immigrants now inhabit their house, and a profound encounter ensues between the Palestinian couple and the Jewish mother, Miriam, who has raised their son as her own. The novella delves into complex themes of identity, loss, and the enduring impact of displacement on both Palestinian and Jewish characters.
You should not have left Haifa. If that wasn’t possible, then no matter what it took, you should not have left an infant in its crib. And if that was also impossible, then you should have never stopped trying to return. You say that too was impossible? Twenty years have passed, sir! Twenty years! What did you do during that time to reclaim your son? If I were you I would’ve borne arms for that. Is there any stronger motive? You’re all weak! Weak! You’re bound by heavy chains of backwardness and paralysis! Don’t tell me you spent twenty years crying!
― Ghassan Kanafani
shell shocked: On The Ground Under Israel’s Gaza Assault by Mohammed Omer (2015)
The book offers a firsthand account of the Israeli military assault on Gaza in 2014. Mohammed Omer, who was on the ground during the conflict, provides a vivid and harrowing narrative, documenting the experiences of ordinary Palestinians caught in the crossfire.
Mohammed’s reporting takes readers beyond the headlines, offering a personal and human perspective on the impact of war, including the destruction of homes, loss of lives, and the trauma experienced by the people of Gaza, which is why we added this book to our list of the must-read books on Palestine and its people.
This occupation is not about religion, biblical history or any of the other excuses used to justify it. It is about water: headwaters, rivers and aquifers. It is about who controls and prospers from natural resources ranging from arable land to the natural gas reservoirs under the West Bank and beneath Gaza’s coastal waters. And it is about economic and political power: who has the most clout financially and militarily in the Middle East. That’s it. The rest is spin.
― Mohammed Omer
Voices of the Nakba: A Living History of Palestine by Diana Allan (2021)
“Voices of the Nakba” compiles narratives from first-generation Palestinian refugees in Lebanon, capturing a pivotal moment in modern Middle Eastern history through the firsthand accounts of those who experienced it.
These interviews, accompanied by insights from leading scholars of Palestine and the Middle East, provide a compelling exploration of Palestine’s history, politics, and culture. They shape Palestinian collective memory on its own terms, reflecting its diverse and intricate nature.
Refugee elders are often gifted storytellers with a keen sense of revealing detail and narrative arc. The social and material environments captured on film situate the Nakba as a condition and inheritance that continues to evolve across generations, in condition of deepening deprivation.
― Diana Allan
May these books on Palestine resonate within you as powerful testaments to Palestine and its people. Let their pages linger in your thoughts, stirring emotions and sparking the courage to engage in conversations that transcend borders. The narratives woven by these authors are not merely ink on paper; they are echoes of resilience, calls for justice, and affirmations of an unwavering spirit.
Continue checking Read & Blog for more blog posts on book reviews, summaries, lists, and much more.
