Jerusalem 1913 : the origins of the Arab-Israeli conflict / Amy Dockser Marcus.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [209]-216) and index.

"In Jerusalem 1913 Amy Dockser Marcus has written the first popular account of a key era in Middle East history, an era that was a critical juncture for the future of Arab-Israeli relations. In the early twentieth century Jerusalem was not only a focal point for three major religions but also a city in which many nationalities lived together relatively peacefully in a rich and diverse culture. But with the rise of Zionism came a new wave of Jewish immigrants, intent on reclaiming what they viewed as their ancestral home. Their acquisition of more and more land became a flash point and a primary divisive issue throughout Palestine, as the native Arab population began to realize that it could potentially lose its power. With the corresponding rise of nationalism on both sides, which affected areas as diverse as culture, language, and education, a showdown was almost inevitable." "In this account Amy Dockser Marcus traces the course of the events of 1913 through the lives of a handful of Jerusalem's leading citizens as they struggle to save the city that had been the focus of the passions of so many different groups for centuries - a struggle that would have reverberations for generations to come."--BOOK JACKET.