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  • Method and Madness

  • The Hidden Story of Israel's Assaults on Gaza
  • By: Norman G. Finkelstein
  • Narrated by: Gary Dana
  • Length: 3 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (20 ratings)

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Method and Madness

By: Norman G. Finkelstein
Narrated by: Gary Dana
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Publisher's Summary

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.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: History

What listeners say about Method and Madness

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Finkelstein is the preeminent authority on Gaza

Finkelstein is where you should go for anything on Gaza/Israel. He has spent his entire life dedicated to peace, socialism and studying Gaza, and it shows. A truly great writer. My only criticism of this book isn't really a criticism; in a later interview (post the October 2023 - atrocity in Gaza) he states that telling Gazans to protest peacefully was a mistake (they tried it and Israeli soldiers specifically targeted and shot and killed children, women, ambulance drivers, paramedics etc during the peaceful protest), and that there is nothing Gaza/Hamas can do but fight Israel and hope the international community will come to their rescue. It is now up to us, I guess? Tell 1 other person to read Finkelstein and spread the word, what Israel and America are doing IS genocide, it IS a crime against humanity and it needs to be stopped and those responsible need to face justice.

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Convicted by themselves

The main takeaway you'll take from this book is that every atrocity committed by Israel is confirmed by Israel in their own words, actions, and genocidal rhetoric.

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2008 onwards

This was a very thorough but not overdone history. It goes into Israel’s motives, which aren’t surprising but does make their allies look so much worse

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Truth telling at its best

Norman has done an amazing job. Well written. Concise and precise with so much heart and truth

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An informative book.

Loved listening to this book tell exactly how things are using facts and a human viewpoint.

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Tightly Written Context

I found this engaging and easy to follow, and it's length is very achievable for anyone looking to gain some context on Israeli actions towards Palestinians. The audio performance gets you where you need to go.

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Great Book about the suffering of gaza

I love how the book goes through the years citing different resources . .

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Recommend

Nearly 10 years after this book came out in 2014, nothing has changed for the Palestinians it’s worse now for Palestinians in 2023 under the terrorist regime Israel. People need to know the truth and history of Palestine. Freedom for Palestine 🇵🇸

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Important context for us in 2023

We are currently seeing many things unfold very similarly to how they have in the past.

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eye opening

this makes me want to research further as to what exactly is happening in gaza rather than just gobbling the popular media narrative

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