Broken Promises, Broken Dreams: Stories of Jewish and Palestinian Trauma and Resilience

by Alice Rothchild

The tragedies of the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians are never far from the pages of the mainstream press. Yet it is rare to hear about the reality of life on the ground, and it is rarer still when these voices belong to women. This book records the intimate journey of a Jewish-American physician travelling and working within Israel and the Occupied Territories. Alice Rothchild grew up in a family grounded by the traumas of the Holocaust and passionately devoted to Israel. This book recounts her experiences as she grapples with the reality of life in Israel, the complexity of Jewish Israeli attitudes, and the hardships of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza. Through her work with a medical and human rights project, Rothchild is able to offer a unique personal insight into the conflict. Based on interviews with a number of different women, she examines their diverse perspectives and the complexities of Jewish Israeli identity. Rothchild's memorable account brings to life the voices of people mutually entwined in trauma, and explores individual examples of resilience and resistance. Ultimately, the book raises troubling questions regarding U.S. policy and the insistence of the mainstream Jewish community on giving unquestioning support to all Israeli policy. Alice Rothchild, M.D., serves on the steering committee of Jewish Voice for Peace, Boston. She has worked with medical delegations to Israel and the Occupied Territories with the JVP Health and Human Rights Project. A Boston-based physician, she has sought to build alliances between Israelis and Palestinians in opposition to Israeli policies of occupation and to promote a more honest dialogue within the Jewish community in the United States.

Genres: Middle East, History

263 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2007

Reviews

[Nikita Jayswal · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books i have read. Alice Rothchild travels across Palestine and the Occupied Territories and accounts first hand reports of human rights workers, doctors, psychiatrists, mothers, teachers. Its terrifying to imagine their words even though one knows what miserable conditions Palestinians live under. The constant threat of home demolitions, kidnappings, killings, checkpoint humiliation is nerve wrecking and painful to imagine. The mental condition of children who go through this on a daily basis and the impact it has on their well being is very well documented through local psychiatrists and physicians working on the ground. The other side of the iron wall speaks a similar story of a patriarchal society where 10% of the population suffers from post traumatic stress and 20% from aggressive attitude after serving in the IDF.
The message is simple - Israeli security cannot be established by dehumanizing Palestinians and denying them the right to self-determination. There is urgent need for unbiased critical dialogue to be established between both sides without US taking sides so indiscreetly. Israel is an occupying force and until that changes, there will not be peace.