A Land of Two Peoples: Martin Buber on Jews and Arabs

Martin Buber, a political visionary who accurately predicted the escalation of violence in the Middle East, was politically active from the 1910s until his death in 1965. His insistence on the possibility of practical solutions that would satisfy the needs of both Jews and Arabs set him apart from the more pragmatic politicians of his day. This hope, reflected in the essays, speeches, letters, and unpublished writings collected here, is Martin Buber's legacy, a legacy that should continue to influence negotiations between Arabs and Jews in the Middle East.

A selection of the speeches, letters,a rticles, and reviews that best reflect Buber's thoughts on Zionism from the Balfour Declaration of 1917 to his death in 1965.

Martin Buber was professor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem where he taught courses in anthropology, sociology, philosophy, and Hasidic and biblical studies. He is best known for his book I and Thou. Paul Mendes-Flohr is professor of Jewish studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and professor of modern Jewish thought in the Divinity School, the Department of History, and the Committee on Jewish Studies at the University of Chicago.