What explains the peculiar intensity and intractability of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Of all the "hot spots" in the world today, the apparently endless clash between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East seems unique in its longevity and resistance to resolution. Is this conflict really different from other ethnic and nationalist confrontations, and if so, in what way? Alan Dowty demystifies the conflict by putting it in historical perspective, identifying its roots, and tracing its evolution up to the current impasse. His account offers a clear analytic framework for understanding transformations over time, and punctures the myth of an "age-old" conflict with an unbridgeable gap between the two sides. Rather than reciting historical detail, the book serves as a road map through the conflicting claims. This expanded and updated edition also includes a new chapter on the so-called "fourth stage" of the conflict. The opposed perspectives of the two sides with their concerns, hopes and passions are presented in full, leaving readers to make their own evaluations. It makes it clear why this conflict is waged with such vehemence - and why, for all that, there are some grounds for optimism.About the Author:Alan Dowty is Professor Emeritus and Senior Associate in Middle East Studies at the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame