イスラエル・パレスチナ紛争ほど長期にわたり、多くのニュースとなり、論争を巻き起こし続けている紛争はありません。しかし、これほど国際的に注目されているにもかかわらず、あるいは注目されているがゆえに、この紛争には未だに多くの誤解がつきまといます。当事者であるイスラエル人とパレスチナ人、そしてそれぞれの支持者たちはお互いを糾弾し合い、傍観者の多くは、この紛争の複雑さに戸惑い、その激しい闘争に当惑している状態です。
本書は、そのような世界で最も解決が難しい紛争の背景を説明する入門書です。この問題の出発地点となっている19世紀まで遡り、最新の動向に至る重要な出来事を説明しています。執筆は中東研究の第一人者が担当しており、核心的な問題を検討し、双方の主張と物語を提示して、公平な立場で読者に解説を提供しています。イスラエル・パレスチナ紛争の本質、時代とともに変化する紛争、そしてなぜ彼らが解決に向けた外交努力に逆らい続けるのかを明らかにしています。
    

• Presents the conflicting views and narratives of both Israelis and Palestinians, and evaluates them fairly and judiciously
• Provides succinct and straightforward explanations and analyses of the most important historical events and developments that are often mired in controversy
• Highly accessible overview of an enormously complex subject that provides readers with the tools necessary to understand the conflict

　　
No conflict in the world has lasted as long, generated as many news headlines, or incited as much controversy as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet, despite, or perhaps because of, the degree of international attention it receives, the conflict is still widely misunderstood. While Israelis and Palestinians and their respective supporters trade accusations, many outside observers remain confused by the conflict's complexity and perplexed by the passion it arouses.
　　
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: What Everyone Needs to Know® offers an even-handed and judicious guide to the world's most intractable dispute. Writing in an engaging, jargon-free Q&A format, Dov Waxman provides clear and concise answers to common questions, from the most basic to the most contentious. Covering the conflict from its nineteenth-century origins to the latest developments of the twenty-first century, this book explains the key events, examines the core issues, and presents the competing claims and narratives of both sides. Readers will learn what the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is all about, how it has evolved over time, and why it continues to defy diplomatic efforts at a resolution.