The General's Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine

Miko Peled's life history is unique. The son of a famous Israeli general and himself a former soldier in an elite IDF unit, Peled gradually began asking tough questions about Israeli history and the human rights of Palestinians. (His father had earlier changed from being a leader of the 1967 war to an opponent of the occupation). Rather than getting his knowledge from books, Peled talks to everybody he meets about their experiences. After his niece died in a suicide bombing, Peled felt the need for action and was determined to reach out to Palestinians in the bereaved families' movement. Because Israeli segregation is so extreme, he had grown up in Jerusalem without knowing a single Palestinian, and did not meet any until he moved to California. He was shocked to learn that what Israeli Jews regard as a heroic war of independence in 1948 was experienced as ethnic cleansing by the Palestinian families he befriended. Peled is honest and open about his reactions, including his inner conflicts and initial fears of Palestinians and his later respect and love for people he had once thought of as enemies. In the book we meet his friends in the peaceful resistance movement in Bi'lin and other towns in occupied Palestine. In a remarkable passage he hears the stories of a former leader of the Palestinians' prisoners' movement, which remind him of Nelson Mandela's autobiography. After witnessing the check points, militant settlers, and land grabs that have made the prospect of an independent Palestinian state inviable, Peled gives up on Zionism and reaches the conclusion that the only solution for Israel/Palestine is one country which is shared in peace by Israeli Jews and Palestinians. (There's a nice YouTube video of him speaking; he manages to encapsulate 60+ years of history into a short, sensible narrative) There are many books about Israel/Palestine; what makes this one stand out is Peled's honest voice and personal warmth, even to those with whom he disagrees. It's a little bit of hope in these very bleak times.

A deeply moving book by an extraordinary man, an Israeli Jew and son of a war hero who dared to reach out to Palestinians to understand their perspective. I cannot recommend this book enough.

Do we ever really get the truth about what's going on 'out there'? This textbook offers evidence yet again that it is quite wrong to stereotype a country because of the actions of some who live there. It helps us remember that there is always another side to the story, and how very important it is to hear that other side.

Fairly well written.
Interesting historical details.
good to learn that there are Israel's' and Palestinians who understand how to love and trust one another. I wish more did.
It would be a huge leap of faith to see a one-state agreement where Jews and Arabs could live in peace together.
The book inspired me to HOPE that more would come to this realization: that peace will really never be achieved unless there is more trust and less fear of "the other".

After watching the author's speech about his own book, I ended up buying the Kindle version of the book.

By watching the video, itself open up people's mind and opinion about the Israel-Palestinian conflict.

A must-read book, especially for americans who have been so much fed by biased US medias.

The best insight into what radical zionism has done to the Palestinian people from a person who lived it from examination of both sides of the conflict.

For those that would like to read about the other side of Israel/Palestine, this is an exceptional read. More than worth the price to gain some insights to what most Americans have not been told.

lovely book. Miko Peled is very brave.

A good biography of someone who was there and can give us a view from both sides.

This is an eye opener, informative and easy read. It takes a lot of courage to speak out as this author is doing.