How does one begin to talk about something as complex as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Where do you even begin? Do you take a side?
Or do you start with a story and let the two sides speak for themselves?
This is journalist Sandy Tolan's approach in The Lemon Tree: An Arab, a Jew, and the Heart of the Middle East. In the opening pages, we meet Bashir, Dalia, and the beloved lemon tree. We learn their respective stories, as well as the history of the conflict. We get the Big Picture, as well as the on-the-ground reality.
Before we enter their story, it's important we take a look at what we believe about Israel and Palestine.
I have never had such a tough time figuring out how to introduce a Red Couch book. But I know people have Big Feelings about this particular conflict so I wanted to set the tone for the conversation ahead. This book is well worth reading, no matter what. Head on over to read the rest.
