Beyond Chutzpah: On the Misuse of Anti-Semitism and the Abuse of History - Hardcover

Finkelstein, Norman G.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0520245989 ISBN 13: 9780520245983

Publisher: University of California Press, 2005

Synopsis

In this long-awaited sequel to his international bestseller The Holocaust Industry, Norman G. Finkelstein moves from an iconoclastic interrogation of the new anti-Semitism to a meticulously researched exposé of the corruption of scholarship on the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Bringing to bear the latest findings on the conflict and recasting the scholarly debate, Finkelstein points to a consensus among historians and human rights organizations on the factual record. Why, then, does so much controversy swirl around the conflict? Finkelstein’s answer, copiously documented, is that apologists for Israel contrive controversy. Whenever Israel comes under international pressure, another media campaign alleging a global outbreak of anti-Semitism is mounted.

Finkelstein also scrutinizes the proliferation of distortion masquerading as history. Recalling Joan Peters’ book From Time Immemorial, published to great fanfare in 1984 but subsequently exposed as an academic hoax, he asks deeply troubling questions here about the periodic reappearance of spurious scholarship and the uncritical acclaim it receives. The most recent addition to this genre, Finkelstein argues, is Harvard Law Professor Alan Dershowitz’s bestseller, The Case for Israel.

The core analysis of Beyond Chutzpah sets Dershowitz’s assertions on Israel’s human rights record against the findings of the mainstream human rights community. Sifting through thousands of pages of reports from organizations such as Amnesty International, B’Tselem, and Human Rights Watch, Finkelstein argues that Dershowitz has misrepresented the facts.

Thoroughly researched and tightly argued, Beyond Chutzpah lifts the veil of controversy shrouding the Israel-Palestine conflict.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

Beyond Chutzpah is the most comprehensive, systematic, and well-documented work of its kind. It is one of the harshest rational and nonemotional texts about the daily practices of the occupation and colonization of the Palestinian territories by Israel, and it is an excellent demonstration of how and why the blind defenders of Israel, by basing their arguments on false facts and figures, actually bring more damage than gains to their cause.”--Baruch Kimmerling, George S. Wise Professor of Sociology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

A very solid, important and highly informative book. Norman Finkelstein provides extensive details and analysis, with considerable historical depth and expert research, of a very wide range of issues concerning Israel, the Palestinians, and the U.S.” Noam Chomsky, author of Hegemony or Survival

The scholarship is simply superb. Finkelstein has clearly done his homework, and consulted and mastered a breathtaking range of material: primary sources and documents, scholarly works, reports old and new, correspondence with relevant individuals, and numerous other sources too. He has left no stone unturned.” Mouin Rabbani, Contributing Editor, Middle East Report

"A vigorous, intelligent, succinct and powerfully argued analysis that is difficult if not impossible to reproach." Sara Roy, Senior Research Scholar, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, Harvard University

"Accurate, well-written, and devastatingly important." Daniel Boyarin, Department of Near Eastern Studies, UC Berkeley

"Beyond Chutzpah is a brilliantly illuminating study of the lengths to which some American Jews will go to present Israel in a favorable light. On display are all the sterling qualities for which Finkelstein has become famous: erudition, originality, spark, meticulous attention to detail, intellectual integrity, courage, and formidable forensic skills." Avi Shlaim, Professor of International Relations, Oxford University

"A brave and daring challenge, meticulously researched. Must reading for anyone committed to a just and enduring peace in the Middle East." - Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!

From the Back Cover:

"A very solid, important and highly informative book. Norman Finkelstein provides extensive details and analysis, with considerable historical depth and expert research, of a very wide range of issues concerning Israel, the Palestinians, and the U.S."--Noam Chomsky, author of "Hegemony or Survival"The scholarship is simply superb. Finkelstein has clearly done his homework, and consulted and mastered a breathtaking range of material: primary sources and documents, scholarly works, reports old and new, correspondence with relevant individuals, and numerous other sources too. He has left no stone unturned."--Mouin Rabbani, Contributing Editor, "Middle East Report"Accurate, well-written, and devastatingly important."--Daniel Boyarin, author of "Unheroic Conduct and "A Radical Jew

About this edition

• Publisher: University of California Press
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0520245989
• ISBN 13: 9780520245983
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 343