After initially trying to avoid writing another book, I focused on research, blogging, speaking, and making presentations. Through this work, I discovered that most Jews and non-Jews alike do not truly understand the facts and history of the Israel/Palestinian Arab conflict. I realized that I, too, lacked knowledge of much of this history.
My recent presentations have been aimed at non-Jewish audiences, focusing on the history of the Israel/Palestinian conflict. The response has been overwhelmingly positive, with many people expressing how valuable it was to learn things they had never heard before. Several groups have invited me back for further discussions. Through these experiences, I’ve learned that most mainstream non-Jews are not inherently anti-Israel or anti-Jewish; they simply know only what their upbringing and the media have taught them. They are eager for more information, yet unfortunately, mainstream Jewish organizations are often unable or unwilling to invest the necessary time and effort to provide it.
As just one person, I’ve realized that while each group I engage with often leaves with a changed perspective, speaking alone to small audiences will only achieve so much.
I hadn’t intended to write a book, but I realized that I had already pieced together the entire history and narrative in my blogs, articles, and other writings. So, I began experimenting with combining these elements and have now completed a very rough draft of an integrated manuscript. There is still much work to do to create a high-quality book, and I am debating whether to pursue this further. For now, I’ve decided to continue refining the manuscript and see where it leads.
Here is a glimpse of what may eventually become a book, starting with a fully edited introduction. I welcome your comments and feedback.
Title: Misplaced Blame: How Britain’s Failures Made Israel the Scapegoat
The Untold Story of Britain’s Missteps, which denied Palestinian Arabs their promised state.
Written by: Jerry M. Elman
Publisher: Waterview Books
Introduction: Unraveling a Complex Conflict
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the most enduring and contentious disputes in modern history. Marked by deep historical grievances, profound human suffering, and complex geopolitical dynamics, it has seemed intractable to generations of diplomats, leaders, and ordinary people. Yet, to truly understand this conflict—and the wider struggles that shape the Middle East—one must look beyond the headlines and the rhetoric to explore the deeper forces that have brought us to this point.
This book, Misplaced Blame: How Britain’s Failures Made Israel the Scapegoat, represents a new chapter in my ongoing exploration of Jewish history, a journey that began with my previous work, Miracles Through Hell. In that book, I captured the story of my parents’ survival during the Holocaust and my personal journey as a second-generation survivor. It was an intensely personal project rooted in the trauma and resilience of my family. Still, it also opened my eyes to the broader history of Jew-hatred—a hatred that did not begin or end with the Holocaust but is part of an unbroken chain stretching back to the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 CE.
The Evolving Nature of Jew Hatred
Historically, Jew-hatred began as religious prejudice. For centuries, Jews were persecuted for their beliefs, viewed as outsiders who refused to conform to the dominant Christian or Islamic norms, facing pogroms, expulsions, and forced conversions across Europe and the Middle East. In the late 19th century, this religious-based hatred evolved into something more insidious: racial prejudice. Jews were no longer just seen as religious ‘others’ but were portrayed as a distinct and inferior race, subject to pseudoscientific theories that justified exclusion and violence, culminating in the genocidal fury of the Holocaust.
But Jew-hatred did not end with the Holocaust; it simply shifted once more. Today, it has taken on a new form, driven by the false narrative that Israel is a colonial power and that Jews are oppressors of human rights and Palestinian self-determination. This narrative is a direct result of British colonial actions and policies during the early 20th century. The British, in their efforts to manage conflicting promises and maintain control over their imperial interests, created a volatile mix of broken promises, arbitrary borders, and unresolved grievances.
The British Legacy: A Modern Chapter in Jew-Hatred
The widely held belief that Israel is to blame for the absence of a Palestinian Arab state ignores the reality that it was Britain, not Israel, that promised a state to the Palestinian Arabs and then reneged on that promise. Britain left both Jews and Palestinian Arabs with a small, contested piece of land that was virtually impossible to divide into two viable independent states. This failure set the stage for decades of conflict, and the narrative that emerged—one that frames Israel as a colonial aggressor—is a direct result of Britain’s actions and the chaos they left behind.
By removing Transjordan from the territory initially promised to be divided between Jews and Palestinian Arabs, Britain effectively eliminated the land that could have supported a large, viable independent state for the Palestinian Arabs. This decision, driven by British strategic and political interests, fundamentally altered the region’s territorial dynamics, creating an environment where the remaining land was insufficient to satisfy the national aspirations of both Jews and Arabs.
Today’s narrative, which depicts Israel as a colonial oppressor, distorts this history. It shifts the blame for the British betrayal and broken promises onto Israel, falsely portraying the Jewish state as the main obstacle to Palestinian self-determination. This shift is not just a misunderstanding of history—it is a deliberate manipulation that perpetuates the cycle of Jew-hatred. The narrative that Israel is a colonial power belongs not to the Jewish people, but to the British, who created the conditions for conflict and then walked away, leaving Jews and Arabs to grapple with the consequences.
Revisiting Historical Boundaries and Narratives: A Path Toward Understanding
As I delved deeper into the history of this conflict, I began to see it as another chapter in the long story of Jew-hatred. It became clear to me that to understand the present, we must revisit the historical boundaries established by colonial powers and the narratives that have shaped our understanding of this conflict. We must recognize that these arbitrary boundaries were created without regard for the ethnic, religious, and cultural dynamics of the region, setting the stage for decades of conflict and misunderstanding.
This book highlights these historical missteps and critically examines how the narratives surrounding the conflict have been manipulated over time. It argues for reframing these narratives to promote empathy, understanding, and inclusive dialogue, recognizing the legitimate grievances and aspirations of both Israelis and Palestinians. By re-examining the 1921 maps and understanding the impact of these colonial legacies, we can begin to see the roots of many contemporary conflicts in a new light.
The Roles of Key Regional and International Actors
No understanding of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, or the broader Middle East, would be complete without examining the roles of key regional and international actors, such as Iran, Russia, and Hezbollah. These actors have pursued their own strategic interests, often exacerbating local conflicts and adding layers of complexity to an already volatile situation. By analyzing their motivations, alliances, and actions, this book sheds light on how external forces continue to shape the region’s dynamics.
Reframing the Future: Toward a New Vision for Peace
This journey has also made me realize that this conflict is about more than territory or political power; it is about human beings on both sides who wake up every morning wanting food, safety, family, and a better future. Somehow, these basic human needs get lost in the battles and politics of religion, colonization, and power. Both Jews and Palestinian Arabs have paid, and continue to pay, a heavy price for British decisions made over a century ago.
At its core, this book is about reimagining what peace could look like in a region where the very concept often seems elusive. It is about acknowledging the mistakes of the past, understanding the complexities of the present, and envisioning a future where narratives of division give way to those of coexistence and cooperation. Reframing the narrative involves more than words; it requires actions that foster empathy, promote inclusive dialogue, and build bridges between communities. It means recognizing that there is no military solution to this conflict—only a political one based on mutual recognition, respect, and compromise.
A Call for Renewed Commitment to Peace
Ultimately, this book calls for a renewed commitment to peace—one that recognizes the shared humanity of all parties involved. It urges us to move beyond blame and focus on building a future where Israelis and Palestinians, Arabs and Jews, Sunnis and Shiites, can live in dignity, security, and mutual respect.
The journey toward peace will be challenging, with setbacks along the way. But by learning from the past, reimagining the present, and committing to a future of peace, there is hope that the Middle East can finally move beyond conflict and embrace a new era of reconciliation and cooperation.
In this way, we can begin to dismantle the legacy of Jew-hatred and build a world where all people, regardless of faith or nationality, can live in peace and dignity. This book is not just a historical inquiry; it is a personal mission born out of my family’s story of survival and my own journey as a second-generation Holocaust survivor. It challenges us to confront the misconceptions and distortions that continue to shape the conflict and to understand the real roots of today’s narratives—narratives that began with British colonialism and continue to impact the lives of millions in the region.
Multiple injustices to Jews and Arabs dating back one hundred years must be addressed to make things right for all involved. The same status quo approaches remain doomed to failure.