Publication of Professor Henry Laurens' latest book La Question de Palestine. Tome troisième 1947-1967. The fulfillment of prophecies

First raised in the ^19th century, the question of Palestine became particularly acute after the Second World War. Despite appearances and preconceived ideas, it was not the Shoah that accelerated the Jews' plan to found a " national home ", but rather the decline of European power, particularly that of Great Britain, in the Middle East. During and immediately after the conflict, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Jordan were freed from the mandates entrusted to France and England by the League of Nations in 1919, and a few years later, Egypt itself gained independence. For the Zionists, the moment had come. The creation of Israel was decided at the UN. But the Arab countries, believing that this new state, created at their expense, had only been wanted by the Europeans to make up for the destruction of the European Jews, would never bow to the partition of Palestine. Incursions by some into the territory of others, sabotage, struggles for land and fresh water, rancor and hatred, the interplay of great and waning powers, will prevent a solution from being found until the present day. As for the suffering of the Palestinians, it will be a long time before it is taken into account.

Laurens H., The Question of Palestine. Tome troisième 1947-1967. L'accomplissement des prophéties, Paris, Fayard, coll. " Histoire ", 2007, 64 p.

ISBN : 978-2-213-63358-9
Price : 35.50 €
Publication : June 13, 2007

Reading Henry Laurens' meticulous chronicle in this new volume (1947-1967), one becomes convinced that the culture of conflict has become second nature in these lands : independent for a few days, Israel had to face an open conflict ; in 1956, when the problem for the Europeans was to respond to Nasser after the nationalization of the Suez Canal, Israel was part of an improbable Anglo-French coalition ; in 1967, as no border seemed intangible and as the Americans and Soviets proved incapable - or unwilling - of calming the game instead of the Europeans, Israel felt compelled to attack its neighbors once again. With each war, Israel grows stronger, and each time, humiliation feeds hatred.
It is not the role of history to send the protagonists of this eternal conflict back to back - and yet much of the blame is shared - but it can make an irreplaceable contribution by showing how it came to this. Decision-makers of good will could always make the most of it..

The Question of Palestine
I. The Invention of the Holy Land, 1799-1922
II. A sacred mission of civilization, 1922-1947
III. Fulfilling the prophecies, 1947-1967
IV. To be published.