Sharing the Land of Canaan

Mazin B. Qumsiyeh is a professor at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities and works with a number of civil society organisations. He is the author of Popular Resistance in Palestine (Pluto, 2010) and Sharing the Land of Canaan (Pluto, 2004).

There is no more compelling and dramatic unfolding story, with more profound international ramifications, than the conflict in the Middle East. Sharing the Land of Canaan is a critical examination of the core issues of the conflict that dares to put forward a radical but logical solution: that a shared state is the best way to achieve justice and peace for Israelis and Palestinians. Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, offers an overview of the issues at stake, and outlines his vision for a lasting peace based on upholding the principles of human rights for all. Tackling taboo subjects, myths and obstacles, he argues convincingly that apartheid in the form of a two-state solution is no longer a feasible way to achieve enduring peace. At this critical time, when the 'road map' to peace looks more uncertain than ever, this book provides a refreshing counterpoint to the failed strategies of the past. It is a direct and accessible account of the history - and mythology - of the fabled 'Land of Canaan', which lays out hopeful ideas for the future of this truly multiethnic and multicultural region.

Foreword by Dr. Salman Abu Sitta; Glossary; 1. Introduction; 2. People of the Land; 3. Biology and Ideology; 4. Palestinian Refugees and Their Right to Return; 5. Jerusalem (Ur-Salem. Yerushalaym, Al-Qods) as a Pluralistic City; 6. Zionism; 7. Is Israel a Democracy? 8. Terrorism and Violence; 9. Human Rights; 10. The Conflict and Sustainable Development; 11. Political Context; 12. International Context and International Law; 13. Peace can be Based on Human Rights and International Law; Notes; Index