Narrative Non-fiction · Paperback

A Brief Introduction to the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict

Norwegian title: En kort introduksjon til Israel–Palestina-konflikten

Jørgen Jensehaugen

A Brief Introduction to the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict provides an accessible, yet thorough and research-based account of the key features of the contentious conflict between Palestinians and Israelis.

The chapters are structured to address the most significant defining events and how they shaped the conflict. The author outlines the central causes of the dispute, who the key actors are, what kinds of solutions have been discussed, and the obstacles standing in the way of implementing these solutions.

This revised edition was finalized in September 2024 and includes, in addition to minor revisions and updates, a new chapter titled A New Catastrophe. The chapter discusses the Gaza war that began on October 7, 2023, and its implications for the conflict and for the Middle East region in general.

“The book is informative, well-written, and nuanced. Where different scholars disagree on how to interpret a course of events, he provides an account of these differing views. The numerous footnotes throughout refer to the sources consulted, which are compiled in a reference list of more than 20 pages at the back. The book is well-suited for teachers and students seeking a solid foundation for making their own assessments of this conflict.”Gunnar Holth, Religion og livssyn 3/2025

“Jørgen Jensehaugen has delivered a well-written and insightful book. May it find many readers.”Odd Karsten Tveit, Morgenbladet“Its strength lies in his ability to create structure and present the wealth of available facts in a reliable manner, rendered in an elegant prose style. As such, the book delivers on its promise. It represents a worthy overview of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict and serves as a corrective to literature written from an ideological, activist, or formalistic diplomatic standpoint. The book deserves a wide readership.»Tor Erik Gjerde, Bistandsaktuelt“[...] an excellent introduction to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. It is an accessible and concise overview for anyone approaching this protracted conflict without much more background knowledge than what they have gathered from the news. Timo R. Stewart, Babylon 2/2023