From Publishers Weekly
Noting that he has been working on versions of these arguments since 1967, famed Harvard law professor Dershowitz offers "a proactive defense of Israel," a kind of amicus brief to "the court of public opinion." Not least among the exhibits are a WWII-era Muslim Palestinian leader who was "a full fledged Nazi war criminal, and he was so declared at Nuremberg"; a "vastly underpopulated" late 19th-century Palestine, to which European Jews began emigrating; and a 75-year-long Arab-Israeli war that features "Arab nations dedicated to genocidal aggression against civilians." Each of the 32 chapters begins with a commonly heard accusation against Israel, with long quotes from reputable "Accusers" (including newspapers and intellectuals), followed by "The Reality" as Dershowitz sees it, and "The Proof," often drawing on the historical record.Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Dershowitz is one of the nation's most prominent and visible defense attorneys, and he is also an ardent, eloquent, but not always uncritical defender of Israel. This book is written in the form of a legal brief. He does not seek to defend particular policies of the current Israeli government. In fact, Dershowitz has frequently criticized some Israeli policies toward Palestinians, particularly regarding West Bank settlements. Rather, here he attempts to rebut what he views as the more general and blatantly discriminatory criticisms of Israel as a state and culture. Some of these criticisms deny the "right" of Israel to exist. In response, Dershowitz asserts both the practical and moral justification for the continued existence of Israel as Jewish state. He also convincingly refutes several other oft-repeated myths, including the supposedly benign treatment of Jews in Arab lands and the "cycle of violence" canard that morally equates Palestinian suicide bombings with Israeli efforts to arrest or kill bombers before they act. As usual, Dershowitz is a passionate but generally fair and honest advocate for his position. Jay Freeman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In this impassioned book, Harvard Law School professor Alan Dershowitz responds to Israel's vociferous opponents -- and explains why Israel, while not perfect, is a country that has earned the right to exist and defend itself. Drawing on scrupulous research and his peerless skills as an advocate, Dershowitz conclusively refutes thirty-two separate slurs, slanders, and misrepresentations that have been hurled at Israel in recent years, from "Jews have always rejected the two-state solution" and "Israel created the Arab refugee problem" to "universities should divest from Israel." Hard-hitting, well-reasoned, and provocative, The Case for Israel is essential reading if you're concerned about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

FROM THE CRITICS

The Washington Post

In The Case for Israel, Dershowitz offers a lively, hotly argued broadside against Israel's increasingly venomous critics, although Israel's friends may well wonder if the Jewish state should feel relieved or uneasy about joining the ranks of such earlier Dershowitz causes as Claus von Bulow and Leona Helmsley. Each chapter features an allegation from Israel's critics, especially such nemeses as Noam Chomsky and Edward Said (who died in September), followed by a barbed refutation. — Warren Bass

Publishers Weekly