Arab–Israeli Conflict

The Arab–Israeli Conflict developed from competing national claims, the end of the British Mandate and the 1948 war that accompanied Israel’s creation. It has involved Israel, Palestinians and several Arab states through conventional wars, border fighting, occupation, insurgency, terrorism, diplomacy and repeated attempts at negotiated settlement.

Its consequences include Israeli and Palestinian deaths, the Palestinian refugee crisis, changes in borders and control of territory, military occupation, regional arms races and deep political division. The conflict has changed form across decades, so individual wars and peace initiatives need to be treated as distinct historical contexts within the wider struggle.

The Hope and The Glory trace the conflict through military headquarters, diplomatic missions and family experience. Herman Wouk combines fictional protagonists with historical leaders, allowing the novels to move between battlefield decisions, political argument and the long personal consequences of national conflict.