Method and Madness

The Hidden Story of Israel's Assaults on Gaza

By: Norman G. Finkelstein

Narrated by: Gary Dana

In the past five years, Israel has mounted three major assaults on the 1.8 million Palestinians trapped behind its blockade of the Gaza Strip. Taken together, Operation Cast Lead (2008-9), Operation Pillar of Defense (2012), and Operation Protective Edge (2014) have resulted in the deaths of some 3,700 Palestinians. Meanwhile a total of 90 Israelis were killed in the invasions. On the face of it, this succession of vastly disproportionate attacks has often seemed frenzied and pathological. Senior Israeli politicians have not discouraged such perceptions; indeed, they have actively encouraged them. After the 2008-9 assault, Israel's then-foreign minister, Tzipi Livni, boasted, "Israel demonstrated real hooliganism during the course of the recent operation, which I demanded." However, as Norman G. Finkelstein sets out in this concise, paradigm-shifting new book, a closer examination of Israel's motives reveals a state whose repeated recourse to savage war is far from irrational. Rather, Israel's attacks have been designed to sabotage the possibility of a peace compromise with the Palestinians, even on terms that are favorable to it. Looking also at machinations around the 2009 UN-sponsored Goldstone report and Turkey's forlorn attempt to seek redress in the UN for the killing of its citizens in the 2010 attack on the Gaza freedom flotilla, Finkelstein documents how Israel has repeatedly eluded accountability for what are now widely recognized as war crimes. Further, he shows that, though neither side can claim clear victory in these conflicts, the ensuing stalemate remains much more tolerable for Israelis than for the beleaguered citizens of Gaza. A strategy of mass nonviolent protest might, he contends, hold more promise for a Palestinian victory than military resistance, however brave.

©2014 Norman G. Finkelstein (P)2015 Audible, Inc.

Must listen

Everyone should hear whats really been going on. This explains a lot, especially with everything happening now, its crazy how a lot of people don’t know that this has actually been happening so many times over the years. Learn who the real bad guy is.

Factual, greatly informative and fair

A must read of you want to know about the recent history of Gaza’s struggle

Very informative Book

I was seeking a different perspective and with this book I got it. It’s interesting to hear a historians take on this issue. I look forward to reading more titles from MR. Finkelstein.

A profile of a rogue state!

A lucid account of Isreal's relentless and ruthless assault on Gaza and the UN'S complicity

Must read for everyone

The Palestinian struggle is a just struggle. This book gives so much details about the atrocities of Israel and the west.