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The survival of the state of Israel has often been viewed as a victory against the odds. Looking back on over half a century of conflict, the Palestinians view matters very differently. In this history of the Arab-Israeli struggle, John Gee returns to the root of the conflict: the creation of the state of Israel. Although critical of Israel, Gee demonstrates that Zionism created a society within Palestine well adapted to win the struggle with the indigenous population. The Palestinians were ill-equipped to meet the challenge, their ability to resist impaired by social factors and, crucially, a reluctance to recognise the strengths and achievements of the Israelis. Gee demonstrates that an elaborate system of ideas and arguments was constructed to support the Zionist enterprise. Only by de-mythologising the workings of Zionism, argues Gee, will it be possible to find a solution which will enable Israeli Jews and Palestinian Arabs to live together in peace.