A Land of Two Peoples: Martin Buber on Jews and Arabs

Martin Buber

University of Chicago Press, Feb 15, 2005 - History - 322 pages

Theologian, philosopher, and political radical, Martin Buber (1878–1965) was actively committed to a fundamental economic and political reconstruction of society as well as the pursuit of international peace. In his voluminous writings on Arab-Jewish relations in Palestine, Buber united his religious and philosophical teachings with his politics, which he felt were essential to a life of public dialogue and service to God.

Collected in ALand of Two Peoples are the private and open letters, addresses, and essays in which Buber advocated binationalism as a solution to the conflict in the Middle East. A committed Zionist, Buber steadfastly articulated the moral necessity for reconciliation and accommodation between the Arabs and Jews. From the Balfour Declaration of November 1917 to his death in 1965, he campaigned passionately for a "one state solution.

With the Middle East embroiled in religious and ethnic chaos, A Land of Two Peoples remains as relevant today as it was when it was first published more than twenty years ago. This timely reprint, which includes a new preface by Paul Mendes-Flohr, offers context and depth to current affairs and will be welcomed by those interested in Middle Eastern studies and political theory.

Contents

• A State of Cannons Flags and Military Decorations?: 35
• At This Late Hour: 41
• Nationalism: 47
• A Proposed Resolution on the Arab Question: 58
• Notes from the Congress Concerning Zionist Policy: 64
• Responsa on Zionist Policy: 70
• SoulSearching: 76
• The National Home and National Policy in Palestine: 81
• The Wailing Wall: 92
• And If Not Now When?: 100
• The Jews: 106
• Keep Faith: 126
• Concerning Our Politics: 137
• Let Us Avoid Provocations: 144
• In the Days of Silence: 150
• A Reply to Nathan: 157
• A Majority or Many? A Postscript to a Speech: 164
• Our Reply: 173
• The Meaning of Zionism: 179
• A Tragic Conflict?: 185
• A Plea for Clemency: 192
• Can the Deadlock Be Broken?: 203
• A Fundamental Error Which Must Be Corrected: 217
• On the Assassination of Count Bernadotte: 224
• Let Us Make an End to Falsities: 226
• A Reply to Gideon Freudenberg: 236
• Should the Ichud Accept the Decree of History?: 245
• The Children of Amos: 253
• A Protest Against Expropriation of Arab Lands: 261
• Instead of Polemics: 269
• Socialism and Peace: 275
• Memorandum on the Military Government: 283
• Israel and the Command of the Spirit: 289
• BenGurion and Israels Arabs: 296
• The Time To: 303
• Index: 315
• 1993: 321

About the author

Martin Buber was born in Vienna, the son of Solomon Buber, a scholar of Midrashic and medieval literature. Martin Buber studied at the universities of Vienna, Leipzig, Zurich, and Berlin, under Wilhelm Dilthey and Georg Simmel. As a young student, he joined the Zionist movement, advocating the renewal of Jewish culture as opposed to Theodor Herzl's political Zionism. At age 26 he became interested in Hasidic thought and translated the tales of Nahman of Bratslav. Hasidism had a profound impact on Buber's thought. He credited it as being the inspiration for his theories of spirituality, community, and dialogue. Buber is responsible for bringing Hasidism to the attention of young German intellectuals who previously had scorned it as the product of ignorant eastern European Jewish peasants. Buber also wrote about utopian socialism, education, Zionism, and respect for the Palestinian Arabs, and, with Franz Rosenzweig, he translated the Bible. He was appointed to a professorship at the University of Frankfurt in 1925, but, when the Nazis came to power, he received an appointment at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Buber died in 1965.

Bibliographic information

• Title: A Land of Two Peoples: Martin Buber on Jews and Arabs
• Author: Martin Buber
• Editor: Paul Mendes-Flohr
• Contributor: Paul Mendes-Flohr
• Edition: reprint
• Publisher: University of Chicago Press, 2005
• ISBN: 0226078027, 9780226078021
• Length: 322 pages
• Subjects: History / Jewish; History / Middle East / General; Political Science / International Relations / General; Religion / General; Religion / Judaism / History