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Original Sin : Israel, Palestine and the Revenge of Old West Asia

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On 7 October 2023, Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that claimed many lives and has led to a devastating, retaliatory war in Gaza. Even as the death toll mounts every day, the world remains divided in its support of Israel or Palestine.

With the US proposing ‘a new Middle East’, an idea that found significant international support, the war has cast a shadow of doubt over the future of the region. The Abraham Accords of 2020 saw four Arab countries normalize their ties with Israel, laying the foundations of the new regional realignment. But these shifts ignore West Asia’s ‘original sin’—the unresolved question of Palestine.

Based on his multiple reporting visits to the region and dozens of interviews, Stanly Johny traces the roots of the conflict and unpacks the complex geopolitical systems that are involved. He also examines India’s evolving policies on Israel-Palestine, its diplomatic history in the region and its current interests. Original Sin is a new, definitive study of West Asia that is essential for anyone who wants to engage with the current war.

280 pages, Paperback

Published December 26, 2024

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Stanly Johny

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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Rajeev.
201 reviews16 followers
July 7, 2025
Stanly Johny’s narrative of the West Asia imbroglio is a concise and clear-eyed account of the never-healing wart in West Asia. The Israel-Palestine conundrum traces its origins to biblical times, a narrative peddled by the Jewish state to justify its right to occupy the lands which the Palestinians inhabited. The Palestinians, on their part, refuse to recognise Israel’s right to exist as a nation. Quranic injunctions could be one of the reasons that induce the Muslim populace of Palestine to hate the Jews with so much passion.
Stanly Johny’s book is a succinct take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Stanly is a journalist with The Hindu. His book reads like an investigative journalistic piece delving into the history of the conflict. The author successfully keeps the reader's interest all through, albeit with a tendency for repeating facts, which I did not find too jarring. The repetitive mention of geopolitical events imprints them on the reader's mind.
The state of Israel was established in May 1948. It was carved out of the Palestinian state that existed as a British dominion, the control of which Britain wrested from the defeated Ottomans after the First World War. Theodor Herzl, Chaim Weizmann and David Ben-Gurion were the pioneers who laid the foundations of the Jewish state with unbridled passion. Understandably, the creation of a Jewish state amid the Arab nations caused tumult and it was no surprise that Egypt, Jordan, and Syria wasted no time in attacking the fledging nation soon after its creation in 1948. The courage and confidence of the Israeli nation saw them making short work of their Arab enemies. The six-day war in 1967 saw the Israelis lay siege and conquer large tracts of Arab lands in the West Bank (Jordan), Sinai (Egypt), and the Golan Heights (Syria). The Israelis were caught off guard in 1973 when Egypt, Syria and Jordan launched an invasion on the day of festivities of Yom Kippur. The Israelis were pushed to the wall, but they managed to fight it out. The Arabs soon realised that the Israelis were a tough nut to crack and one by one they reconciled to the Jewish state of Israel. Egypt and Jordan entered a détente with Israel on the prodding of the Americans. While most of the Arab nations chose to follow a policy of coexistence with Israel, Iran took the less-trodden path in openly threatening the very existence of that country. The Shia-Sunni divide was one of the major factors that prompted the Iranians to toe this line. There was an undeclared chasm in the Arab world and the fight for supremacy in the Muslim Ummah was playing out in earnest.
Iran was clever enough to fight the Israelis using proxies. They nurtured the Hamas (in Gaza), the Hezbollah (in Lebanon), the Houthis (in Yemen), and the Islamic Jihad. The war of attrition against Israel was well and truly ongoing and Israel on its part spared no effort to go after these militant groups. In the bargain, there was an unimaginable toll on Palestinian civilian lives which further caused a severe dent in Israel's image and a negative public discourse against the Jewish state. Currently, it is a vicious self-perpetuating cycle of violence from which there seems to be no respite.
Britain and the United States kept the pot boiling in West Asia for their vested interests. The Russians and the Chinese tried to exert their influence however they could, complicating the situation even more. The Palestinian lands were under British control after the First World War. For narrow interests, they assured the Jews the right to settle in Palestinian lands. The infamous Balfour Declaration of 1917 was followed by the large-scale influx of Jews into Palestinian territory. Anti-semitism in Europe only served to speed up the migration of Jews into the “promised land” in Palestinian territory. The mass extermination of Jews by the Nazis was a major factor that accelerated the exodus. An interesting tidbit I gleaned from this book is that the British had contemplated earmarking territory in Uganda to accommodate the Jews. This happened as early as in the first decade of the twentieth century. The “Uganda plan” was triggered by British concern about the influx of persecuted Russian Jews into Western Europe and other British colonies. However, the plan was shelved following stiff opposition from white settlers in Uganda. If the state of Israel had been set up in the African continent, West Asia would have been a lot different from what it is today!!!
The attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians on 07 October 2023 was a watershed moment for the whole world and West Asia in particular. The punitive war that Israel unleashed against Hamas in Gaza, and the Hezbollah in Lebanon is still ongoing. Gaza has been bombed out flat into a vast expanse of rubble. The top leadership of the Hamas and the Hezbollah have been eliminated. In June 2025, Israel has gone hammer and tongs against Iran, the real brain behind the proxies aligned against Israel. With the active and overt support of the Americans, the Israelis moved fast and purportedly destroyed a major portion of the nuclear weapons capability of Iran. A ceasefire has been declared since, but it is an uneasy and tenuous truce at best.
Stanly has a clear-headed approach to writing about the complex issues plaguing West Asia. I can safely say that this is one of those rare books that presents the complex geopolitical issue with clarity and focus. Moreover, it is eminently readable and keeps the reader's interest alive throughout the narrative. As can be expected from an alumnus of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Stanly’s account is loaded in favour of the Palestinian people, but this is only something to be expected from a left-leaning liberal. Even so, this book is a gem, especially for connoisseurs of history and geopolitics. It is a highly recommended read.
Profile Image for Rahul Vishnoi.
815 reviews26 followers
February 26, 2025
-A Bloody History of Israel and Palestine-
Review of 'Original Sin'
✒️📖

In the war-torn world, if you are apolitical, you are with the oppressors, the attackers, the aggressors, the bullies, the harassers. Because silence is also considered tacit approval. The ongoing struggle between Israel and Palestine is one of the most bitter conflicts in history, with profound global consequences. In this book, West Asia expert Stanley Johny succinctly describes its origins and charts its evolution from civil war to the present day.

The author's insight into Israel-Palestine conflict is sharp and compassionate. He has succinctly put various views regarding Israel-Palestine conflict and highlighted a number of issues in his book. He clears in the beginning- this book is not akin to a scholarly thesis but a reporter's diary, speckled with his personal experiences, good and bad. In the beginning, he shares a harrowing experience from 2018 when he was detained by Israeli security force while his visit to Ramalla.

The author asks many questions about the Hamas attack on Israel in 2023. Why did Hamas do this? Is it because Hamas is a Jew-hating, murderous, terrorist group that wants to destroy Israel, as Israel’s leaders and right-wing intellectuals claim? Or is it because Hamas hates Israel’s freedoms? Can Hamas’s actions be seen as insulated terror attacks, like those of the Islamic State, or be placed in the ongoing Israel–Palestine conflict? Is Hamas a national liberation organization? Can its violent means be justified? And can Israel and other world powers move on ignoring the original sin of West Asia, which they tried to do pre-7 October—the continuing military occupation of Palestinian territories by the Jewish state?

Based on the author's multiple reporting visits to the region and dozens of interviews, he traces the roots of this conflict and discuses the complex geopolitical systems that are involved. He also examines India's evolving policies on Israel-Palestine, its diplomatic history in the region and its current interests.

This was an eye-opening read.

✒️📖
Profile Image for Abishek Sekar.
30 reviews3 followers
October 7, 2025
I have always admired Stanly Johny, the international affairs editor of The Hindu, for his lucid and insightful analyses of West Asian geopolitics. His book offers a deeply informed perspective on one of the world’s most enduring conflicts. This book has been written in the aftermath of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, a watershed moment in West Asian geopolitics.

Johny traces the historical evolution of the Israel–Palestine question, examining the intricate web of state and non-state actors that have shaped the region’s trajectory. He sheds light on the shifting geopolitical alignments before and after October 7 and also explores India’s nuanced position on this ever-contentious issue.

Quoting from a section of the book that discusses about the tensions surrounding Jerusalem:

“Al-Aqsa, the third holiest mosque in Islam, whose custodian is the king of Jordan, exists in a compound that Jews believe once hosted their sacred temples in a city occupied by the Jewish state of Israel, which the Palestinians living under the Israeli occupation see as the legitimate capital of their future independent state. It's a place where faith, history, disputes, power and politics are all intertwined, making it extremely difficult to find peace.”

The author argues that from a historical perspective, it is not Palestinian radicalism that has obstructed peace, but rather the absence of peace and the continuing occupation of Palestinian territories by Israel that have strengthened Islamist radicalism in Palestine. Before October 7, he observes, the Palestinian question had ceased to be an Arab–Israeli issue and was being narrowed into an Israel–Palestine problem. After the attacks, however, if Israel sought to localize the crisis, Hamas’s actions have once again re-regionalized it - at an immense human cost. Johny concludes that Israel is ready to continue to “live by the sword” as it doesn't see any practical path to peace. This is a moral, geopolitical, and historical trap.

With the peace plan proposed by Trump being set in motion, the conflict needs to be seen from this lens as it unfolds in the next few weeks.
Profile Image for SeaYon.
28 reviews1 follower
July 22, 2025
Mid-read reflections: This is one of those rare reads where I’ve scribbled notes, re-read almost all paragraphs, and looked up articles, because it’s dense and informative. Reading this book has been such an eye opener. The historical roots of the Israel-Palestine conflict are presented with remarkable clarity, offering crucial context for understanding this complex web.

A book as rich and layered as Original Sin requires time and attention, but every moment spent is worth the effort. The author provides a meticulously researched historical framework that illuminates one of modern geopolitics’ most complex conflicts. His breakdown of West Asia’s intricate power dynamics is accessible without any oversimplification, a delicate balance that few authors achieve.

The detailed analysis of many historical events, policy decisions, and their far reaching consequences provides essential insights for anyone curious about these issues. The author’s work exemplifies how comprehensive understanding of regional conflicts requires tracing their origins and examining multiple perspectives.

For those of us who approach such texts with notebooks at hand, ready to map connections between historical events and contemporary developments, “Original Sin” offers rich material. It’s the kind of book that enhances one’s understanding of not just this specific conflict, but of how regional tensions evolve and persist across generations.

Grateful to HarperCollins India for publishing works that contribute substantively to our understanding of international relations beyond surface-level analyses.
110 reviews3 followers
January 29, 2025
"Original Sin" consists of eight chapters centered around the Israel-Palestine conflict. It begins with details about Theodor Herzl, an Austrian journalist and leader of the World Zionist Organization, highlighting his efforts to establish a separate nation for Jews from 1889 onward.

The author provides a detailed description of the Balfour Declaration and mentions the First Arab-Israeli War of 1948.

What makes the book engaging is that it is written from a reporter's point of view. The book also discusses the oppression of the Palestinian people by Israeli forces.

This is one of the most authentic sources for understanding the Israel-Palestine conflict, offering various historical facts and records.
Additionally, the author delves into Russia's invasion of Ukraine and touches on aspects of the Iran-Israel conflict, as well as the history of Hamas and Hezbollah.

The last few chapters are fully dedicated to the October 7 attack and also discuss India's stance on the issue.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a deep understanding of the Israel-Palestine conflict and its history.
Profile Image for Anjo Cheenath.
31 reviews3 followers
July 20, 2025
Original Sin: Israel, Palestine and the Revenge of Old West Asia – Stanly Johny


This short book by Stanly Johny is an attempt to cover the major conflict in West Asia in the light of the October 7 2023 attack by Hamas. Over eight chapters, Stanly discusses various aspects of the conflict- the historical context, the wars, attempts at peace, American stand, Iran and proxies, October 7 attack itself, the diplomatic stance of India over the years. The book also includes details of the various trips that Stanly took through the region over the year. So it does not entirely read like a history book, at times it takes the nature of a reporter’s journal. Some portions of the book will be familiar to those who follow Stanly’s work in The Hindu. The initial chapter that describes the ordeal he had to go through at multiple Israeli checkposts despite being part of the Indian President’s delegation gives a rough idea about the life of an average Palestinian trapped in this region. Book is factual, with enough references, crisp and to the point. Would recommend to anyone who follows geopolitics or interested in learning about the Palestinian struggle.
Profile Image for Divya.
178 reviews17 followers
March 27, 2025
Clear statements of facts set solidly within historical and current contexts, the author provides perspective on what has become the “revenge of West Asia”. With simple clean language and flow, the book brings together events of the past that have led to the current unprecedented violence, the complicated nexus of the geopolitical, cultural, military, economics, social, global and regional policies and processes, all building towards few pathways to peace. Well-researched and with straightforward writing, this book reads exceptionally well because of the way the contexts are set in each chapter and how it comes together.

Highly recommend this if you want a quick recap of the region, want to understand India’s position too, and what all this is setting the stage for.
Profile Image for R.
168 reviews2 followers
September 10, 2025
I did not know much about the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict and felt at a loss when the topic came up. This book is brilliant in giving the history of the conflict, with dates and facts and personal experiences. i finally have a perspective to see what is happening now. Very informative and engaging. He does repeat some facts, but that might be deliberate (and appreciated) because it helps to remember the sequence in such a complicated issue.
Profile Image for Nithal Rahman.
11 reviews
October 5, 2025
Completed reading third book of the year Orginal Sin : Israel, Palestine and the revenge of Old West Asia of Stanly Johny. Reading Stanly feels like he sitting beside me in person and telling bro this is this and that is that. As a newbie to the world of books with mediocre knowledge in geopolitics the book met the requisites. For satisfying the critic in me, while dealing with very recent events saw a slight rush.
Profile Image for rahul.
19 reviews
March 8, 2025
Beautifully written book … which gives a neutral account of the palestine problem, geo political dynamics and an account of how israel has lived by the sword amidst all the tensions…. It also brings out the genesis of the crisis , interlinking it with present day conflict … A smooth and a real quick read …..
Profile Image for Nandhiga  Balamurugan.
11 reviews
August 4, 2025
"Our kids go and throw stones at the Israelis at the check-points, and they throw bombs and bullets back on us."

An excellent primer on Israel-Palestine issue, though I wish there was more on India's view and position.
Profile Image for Sahil Gera.
15 reviews
July 23, 2025
felt as if i was in a conversation with Stanly ; totally engaging
Profile Image for Ananya .
10 reviews
March 23, 2025
Masterfully argued, analytical exploration of why “history did not begin on October 7” as he dissects the cyclical violence of the region. Johny’s analysis is richly textured, seamlessly interweaving his observations and on-ground experience from years before and in the fraught months following October 7. The result is a sobering, incisive examination of why the region remains ensnared in its “Original Sin.” Full review for Madras Courier: https://madrascourier.com/books-and-f...
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