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From Oslo to Iraq and the Road Map: Essays
In his final book, completed just before his death, Edward W. Said offers impassioned pleas for the beleaguered Palestinian cause from one of its most eloquent spokesmen. These essays, which originally appeared in Cairo’s Al-Ahram Weekly , London’s Al-Hayat , and the London Review of Books , take us from the Oslo Accords through the U.S. led invasion of Iraq, and present information and perspectives too rarely visible in America.Said is unyielding in his call for truth and justice. He insists on truth about Israel's role as occupier and its treatment of the Palestinians. He pleads for new avenues of communication between progressive elements in Israel and Palestine. And he is equally forceful in his condemnation of Arab failures and the need for real leadership in the Arab world.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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About the author
Edward W. Said
232 books4,208 followers(Arabic Profile إدوارد سعيد)
Edward Wadie Said was a professor of literature at Columbia University, a public intellectual, and a founder of the academic field of postcolonial studies. A Palestinian American born in Mandatory Palestine, he was a citizen of the United States by way of his father, a U.S. Army veteran.
Educated in the Western canon, at British and American schools, Said applied his education and bi-cultural perspective to illuminating the gaps of cultural and political understanding between the Western world and the Eastern world, especially about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East; his principal influences were Antonio Gramsci, Frantz Fanon, Aimé Césaire, Michel Foucault, and Theodor Adorno.
As a cultural critic, Said is known for the book Orientalism (1978), a critique of the cultural representations that are the bases of Orientalism—how the Western world perceives the Orient. Said’s model of textual analysis transformed the academic discourse of researchers in literary theory, literary criticism, and Middle-Eastern studies—how academics examine, describe, and define the cultures being studied. As a foundational text, Orientalism was controversial among the scholars of Oriental Studies, philosophy, and literature.
As a public intellectual, Said was a controversial member of the Palestinian National Council, because he publicly criticized Israel and the Arab countries, especially the political and cultural policies of Muslim régimes who acted against the national interests of their peoples. Said advocated the establishment of a Palestinian state to ensure equal political and human rights for the Palestinians in Israel, including the right of return to the homeland. He defined his oppositional relation with the status quo as the remit of the public intellectual who has “to sift, to judge, to criticize, to choose, so that choice and agency return to the individual” man and woman.
In 1999, with his friend Daniel Barenboim, Said co-founded the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra, based in Seville, which comprises young Israeli, Palestinian, and Arab musicians. Besides being an academic, Said also was an accomplished pianist, and, with Barenboim, co-authored the book Parallels and Paradoxes: Explorations in Music and Society (2002), a compilation of their conversations about music. Edward Said died of leukemia on 25 September 2003.
Edward Wadie Said was a professor of literature at Columbia University, a public intellectual, and a founder of the academic field of postcolonial studies. A Palestinian American born in Mandatory Palestine, he was a citizen of the United States by way of his father, a U.S. Army veteran.
Educated in the Western canon, at British and American schools, Said applied his education and bi-cultural perspective to illuminating the gaps of cultural and political understanding between the Western world and the Eastern world, especially about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the Middle East; his principal influences were Antonio Gramsci, Frantz Fanon, Aimé Césaire, Michel Foucault, and Theodor Adorno.
As a cultural critic, Said is known for the book Orientalism (1978), a critique of the cultural representations that are the bases of Orientalism—how the Western world perceives the Orient. Said’s model of textual analysis transformed the academic discourse of researchers in literary theory, literary criticism, and Middle-Eastern studies—how academics examine, describe, and define the cultures being studied. As a foundational text, Orientalism was controversial among the scholars of Oriental Studies, philosophy, and literature.
As a public intellectual, Said was a controversial member of the Palestinian National Council, because he publicly criticized Israel and the Arab countries, especially the political and cultural policies of Muslim régimes who acted against the national interests of their peoples. Said advocated the establishment of a Palestinian state to ensure equal political and human rights for the Palestinians in Israel, including the right of return to the homeland. He defined his oppositional relation with the status quo as the remit of the public intellectual who has “to sift, to judge, to criticize, to choose, so that choice and agency return to the individual” man and woman.
In 1999, with his friend Daniel Barenboim, Said co-founded the West–Eastern Divan Orchestra, based in Seville, which comprises young Israeli, Palestinian, and Arab musicians. Besides being an academic, Said also was an accomplished pianist, and, with Barenboim, co-authored the book Parallels and Paradoxes: Explorations in Music and Society (2002), a compilation of their conversations about music. Edward Said died of leukemia on 25 September 2003.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
July 11, 2019
The more Said I read, the more upset I am that he's dead. Truly one of the greatest thinkers and sharpest critics of the U.S. relationship with the Middle East. He is equally critical of Israel as he is of Arab leadership (or lack thereof) since 1948 - and most searingly 1967. Said is years ahead of his time on his criticism of U.S. imperialism abroad put within the context of the wars of Iraq and Afghanistan. His moral and intellectual leadership is lacking in our modern political climate, and unfortunately, all we are left with is NYT Op-Eds from Thomas Friedman instead.
September 8, 2013
THE LAST WORDS OF EDWARD SAID
It is a sign of the bankruptcy of the Israel lobby that they portrayed the late Edward Said as "The Professor of Terrorism". In the real world, as will be evident to anyone who reads "From Oslo to Iraq and the Roadmap" or any other of his Palestine writings, the mans commitment to justice, equality and democracy were deep and principled, and his criticism of the "armed struggle" trenchant, angry but (and it's no doubt the "but" that earns him the above sobriquet) always qualified by where the fundamental responsibility for the violence lies: with those who have oppressed, dispossessed and humiliated the Palestinians, their society and institutions.
This book is a collection of 46 articles primarily published in the Arabic language newspapers Al-Ahram and Al-Hayat between winter 2000/01 and summer 2003 when he died. It opens with a fine introduction by historian Tony Judt, and is divided into three parts, the first of which "The Second Intifada Begins, Clinton's failure" covers the circumstances in which the Al-Aqsa intifada broke out and the realities of the Clinton administered peace process, as well as the events of the period leading up to 9/11. This is followed by "September 11, the War on Terror, the West Bank and Gaza Reinvaded" whose focus is on how the Sharon government used the Bush administrations so-called War on Terror as both rationale and cover for the increasingly brutal attack on the Palestinian people. The final section "Israel, Iraq and the United States" focuses on the growing momentum towards the US and UK (known in polite circles as "the coalition") invasion of Iraq, while keeping an eye on developments in Palestine and Israel. The book closes with a short Afterword from his son Wadie.
The articles are well written, managing to be coherent as well as angry and urgent. He is blunt and often coruscating in his criticisms whether of Arafat and Abu Mazen, or Clinton, Bush, Bernard Lewis, Samuel Huntington, Ariel Sharon, Saddam Hussein or Ehud Barak. There is also a personal edge including a brief mention of his illness, and examples of the methods used by the Israel lobby when they have attacked him. Despite the urgency and anger of much of the writing, Said's commitment to a real peace, as opposed to the mean, cold and triumphant one that Israel released drop by drop during the Oslo years is clear, as is his admiration for what the Palestinian people as a whole endure year after year.
A greatly missed writer and Palestinian activist who's writing, including this book, on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is always of a high calibre. A book I'd highly recommend as well as his other writing on the same subject: "The Politics of Dispossession", "Peace and Its Discontents" and "The End of the Peace Process".
It is a sign of the bankruptcy of the Israel lobby that they portrayed the late Edward Said as "The Professor of Terrorism". In the real world, as will be evident to anyone who reads "From Oslo to Iraq and the Roadmap" or any other of his Palestine writings, the mans commitment to justice, equality and democracy were deep and principled, and his criticism of the "armed struggle" trenchant, angry but (and it's no doubt the "but" that earns him the above sobriquet) always qualified by where the fundamental responsibility for the violence lies: with those who have oppressed, dispossessed and humiliated the Palestinians, their society and institutions.
This book is a collection of 46 articles primarily published in the Arabic language newspapers Al-Ahram and Al-Hayat between winter 2000/01 and summer 2003 when he died. It opens with a fine introduction by historian Tony Judt, and is divided into three parts, the first of which "The Second Intifada Begins, Clinton's failure" covers the circumstances in which the Al-Aqsa intifada broke out and the realities of the Clinton administered peace process, as well as the events of the period leading up to 9/11. This is followed by "September 11, the War on Terror, the West Bank and Gaza Reinvaded" whose focus is on how the Sharon government used the Bush administrations so-called War on Terror as both rationale and cover for the increasingly brutal attack on the Palestinian people. The final section "Israel, Iraq and the United States" focuses on the growing momentum towards the US and UK (known in polite circles as "the coalition") invasion of Iraq, while keeping an eye on developments in Palestine and Israel. The book closes with a short Afterword from his son Wadie.
The articles are well written, managing to be coherent as well as angry and urgent. He is blunt and often coruscating in his criticisms whether of Arafat and Abu Mazen, or Clinton, Bush, Bernard Lewis, Samuel Huntington, Ariel Sharon, Saddam Hussein or Ehud Barak. There is also a personal edge including a brief mention of his illness, and examples of the methods used by the Israel lobby when they have attacked him. Despite the urgency and anger of much of the writing, Said's commitment to a real peace, as opposed to the mean, cold and triumphant one that Israel released drop by drop during the Oslo years is clear, as is his admiration for what the Palestinian people as a whole endure year after year.
A greatly missed writer and Palestinian activist who's writing, including this book, on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is always of a high calibre. A book I'd highly recommend as well as his other writing on the same subject: "The Politics of Dispossession", "Peace and Its Discontents" and "The End of the Peace Process".
June 25, 2011
Though I ultimately disagree with Said on his promotion of the so-called "one-state solution" for Israel, and I definitely have qualms about the "right of return" (an extraordinarily complex issue that Said tries to make all too simple), he makes many valid points in this book. He takes both Israeli and Palestinian leadership to task for their use of violence of all sorts, and strongly proclaims the possibility of a peaceful resolution. He is most convincing when he makes pleas for more communication between the progressive elements in Israel and Palestine - an idea that is not his alone, certainly, but one that those of us who wish for peace in that region must rally behind.
And now that I've gotten through that very carefully worded paragraph, I'll explain why I only gave this book two stars. Unfortunately, the essays are repetitive, tending to say the same things over and over in slightly different ways. And they are repetitive, too. Oh, did I already say that?
I did not finish this book - I got more than halfway through and realized that the first four or five essays basically covered all of the points Said was going to make. I also got annoyed with the constant derision with which Said treats those with whom he disagrees. I'm no fan of Arafat nor of Sharon, but it gets tiresome hearing Said try to come up with ever more vituperative language to describe them.
To be clear: This is very worthwhile reading to get a good sense of one perspective on Israel/Palestine issues, but only for a few essays. Trying to read the entire book, sadly, just became tedious.
And now that I've gotten through that very carefully worded paragraph, I'll explain why I only gave this book two stars. Unfortunately, the essays are repetitive, tending to say the same things over and over in slightly different ways. And they are repetitive, too. Oh, did I already say that?
I did not finish this book - I got more than halfway through and realized that the first four or five essays basically covered all of the points Said was going to make. I also got annoyed with the constant derision with which Said treats those with whom he disagrees. I'm no fan of Arafat nor of Sharon, but it gets tiresome hearing Said try to come up with ever more vituperative language to describe them.
To be clear: This is very worthwhile reading to get a good sense of one perspective on Israel/Palestine issues, but only for a few essays. Trying to read the entire book, sadly, just became tedious.
October 24, 2024
I finished this yesterday, and I can't stop thinking, what would Said say if he was alive today? He passed before the War on Gaza, the 17-year-siege, and genocide, or the attack on Lebanon and Syria.
But he did live the two Intifadas, he lived through the Lebanon invasion, but he was outraged for 12 thousands deaths, what would he say if he knew that everything is much much more worse? That arabs are still docile and silent, oppressed by autocrats and dictators who have no dignity or self-respect. It is shocking to read these assays, and realize that nothing much has changed.
Early in the book, during Clinton, Said had shows too much faith in American democracy and American public and mainly frustrated by Arafat. His faith started dwindling after Bush's election, not on popular vote but the supreme court, how the Iraq invasion went on despite public dissent, and the crumbling American infrastructure, health care, and education! In short, he started to wake up from the American dream.
I have never felt Said to be angry. His writings are very clam, logical, and calculating. I love these articles, because they showed a different side of Said. Someone who is close, passionate, and very frustrated, and always asking tough questions, that no one can ask but him.
But he did live the two Intifadas, he lived through the Lebanon invasion, but he was outraged for 12 thousands deaths, what would he say if he knew that everything is much much more worse? That arabs are still docile and silent, oppressed by autocrats and dictators who have no dignity or self-respect. It is shocking to read these assays, and realize that nothing much has changed.
Early in the book, during Clinton, Said had shows too much faith in American democracy and American public and mainly frustrated by Arafat. His faith started dwindling after Bush's election, not on popular vote but the supreme court, how the Iraq invasion went on despite public dissent, and the crumbling American infrastructure, health care, and education! In short, he started to wake up from the American dream.
I have never felt Said to be angry. His writings are very clam, logical, and calculating. I love these articles, because they showed a different side of Said. Someone who is close, passionate, and very frustrated, and always asking tough questions, that no one can ask but him.
November 4, 2012
This is an amazing collection of Said's essays mainly on the Palestine-Israel issues. Said also demonstrates how US's war on Iraq and Afghanistan shows her ongoing support for Israel, far from the claim that US desires to bring in democracy to these states - a claim that Said also challenges. I appreciate the way these essays were arranged, there's a flow which as a person whose understanding of the conflict is still very shallow, it helps readers to understand the issue better. His last essay in this collection, "Dignity and Solidarity" brought me to tears - Said seems to encapsulate his frustrations and hope at the same time so fluently, calling the Arabs to find their own sense of dignity and be proud of it. This struggle has gone for too long.
May 27, 2008
This collection of essays touched me. It is a powerful experience to read and follow the development of his political appeals. It raises many questions and will inspire the reader to learn more about Palestine.
August 28, 2022
one of the greatest political thinkers, writers and activists of our time.
November 26, 2017
This book contains many articles written by Said in the last three years of his life 2000 - 2003. The major issues addressed by these articles were the Palestinian cause, especially as the second intifada (upraising) in the Palestinian territories was raging. And the war on Iraq.
Throughout these two clear events, Said lays many themes about the abysmal coverage of the Western media. And how the legislative branch in the US has suspended it's role in supervising the executive branch in these two global events.
Said is a firm believer that the Palestinian people, although bloodied and weakened, still have many weapons at their disposal in their just cause. The moral high ground being one of the most important ones. The road is still long and hard for that cause, and it needs to go through hard systematic and inclusive work of activism and open dialogue. Not secret negotiations where the weaker part begs for concessions from the stronger side.
Many of the names criticized in these articles for waging the war on Iraq have been removed from the circles of influence in a relatively short time after the disaster turn of the war. The US anti war sentiment might have cost Hillary Clinton the Democratic Party nomination to Barack Obama whom was one of the few - brave - voices to oppose the war as a senator. The neocons have a weak influence in the republican party of the populist movement that is running the country now.
Arafat, and the rest of the Arabic leadership - whom Said has no respect to - were openly challenged in the Arabic Spring and many revolutions all across the region. The Palestinian people are still trying to hold their first democratic elections in years, and the PNI - whom said endorsed - is still functioning on the ground with little presence in the legislative branch.
Throughout these two clear events, Said lays many themes about the abysmal coverage of the Western media. And how the legislative branch in the US has suspended it's role in supervising the executive branch in these two global events.
Said is a firm believer that the Palestinian people, although bloodied and weakened, still have many weapons at their disposal in their just cause. The moral high ground being one of the most important ones. The road is still long and hard for that cause, and it needs to go through hard systematic and inclusive work of activism and open dialogue. Not secret negotiations where the weaker part begs for concessions from the stronger side.
Many of the names criticized in these articles for waging the war on Iraq have been removed from the circles of influence in a relatively short time after the disaster turn of the war. The US anti war sentiment might have cost Hillary Clinton the Democratic Party nomination to Barack Obama whom was one of the few - brave - voices to oppose the war as a senator. The neocons have a weak influence in the republican party of the populist movement that is running the country now.
Arafat, and the rest of the Arabic leadership - whom Said has no respect to - were openly challenged in the Arabic Spring and many revolutions all across the region. The Palestinian people are still trying to hold their first democratic elections in years, and the PNI - whom said endorsed - is still functioning on the ground with little presence in the legislative branch.
September 30, 2024
One of the best books I’ve ever read. Said’s essays are eternal, possibly more relevant today than when he wrote them. He has unique moral clarity on the issue of Palestine, constantly reminding the reader that Israel is illegally occupying a people and depriving them of humanity, self determination, and security. That the US is more complicit than anyone else, that our policy is being driven by special interests who care nothing of the values we claim to support.
Said saw Oslo for what it was immediately, a pathetic attempt by Arafat to retain power at the expense of the people he claimed to represent. His attack on Arab leaders is rightfully relentless. But his attack on the US and Israel is even more justified.
It’s unfortunate that so much of the last year of Said’s too-short life was occupied by the US’s unjustified and illegal war in Iraq. Said saw this, too, for what it was — and Orientalist and racist attack on the Arab world from deranged neoconservatives.
There are too many incredible quotes from this book to chronicle here, but I will keep my copy for life and go back to it frequently. There has never been a better champion for the Palestinian cause.
Said saw Oslo for what it was immediately, a pathetic attempt by Arafat to retain power at the expense of the people he claimed to represent. His attack on Arab leaders is rightfully relentless. But his attack on the US and Israel is even more justified.
It’s unfortunate that so much of the last year of Said’s too-short life was occupied by the US’s unjustified and illegal war in Iraq. Said saw this, too, for what it was — and Orientalist and racist attack on the Arab world from deranged neoconservatives.
There are too many incredible quotes from this book to chronicle here, but I will keep my copy for life and go back to it frequently. There has never been a better champion for the Palestinian cause.
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October 13, 2011
This collection of Said's essays was a really good read and my only reason for giving it 4 and not 5 stars was that I feel I don't quite know enough about the topics on which he writes to be truly critical of it and hence understand completely how good (or not) this book is. Said is scathing in his reviews of Thomas Friedman, whose book I actually really enjoyed and while he is openly Jewish, at the time I don't think I found it particularly anti-Arab in any way - it would certainly be worth a return to now that I have read Said's views. From Olso to Iraq sometimes felt a little repetitive, although for completely understandable reasons: Said's frustration at the blatant ignoring of the Palestinians' plight emanates from each page and the repetition of facts and descriptions of the horrific conditions the Palestinians have lived under for so long is really effective in getting the point across to the reader. Moreover, I had never really considered the effect of the war on terror on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and Said's view of the origins of terrorism and how peace can be achieved is really different to that of Sam Harris, whose book about religion and the war on terror I recently read, so overall it was very stimulating, educational and thought-provoking.
October 8, 2008
I can't recommend this text to any reader new to Edward Said, check out Orientalism as its a much better introduction to his scholarly point of view. However, this is a fairly good collection of essays of the Middle East conflict, particularly the current "peace" process. Said provides excellent explanation and interpretation of the Camp David meetings and the Oslo accords, and also scrutinizes the Palestinian leadership. Said was a remarkable professor and and a virtuous man and I am sure his passing is a blow to the Palestinian people.
June 15, 2025
Said's observations of the Middle East have stood the test of time.
December 4, 2008
He was such a formidable mind. Terrible loss for us all that has passed away.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews