The Israel-Arab conflict has been running like forever. The conflict has been portrayed in various historical treatises and political works. Batya Casper, the prolific author of historical novels Israel called Hidden and Israela brings her immense experience and in-depth knowledge for the readers. The historical novel Israel brings a closer view of the conflict.

1. Israela, a novel by Batya Casper

2. Are you interested in historical novels? In Israel? In her
history, her complex social structure, her relationship
with her neighbors? In Israel, the lives of three women
interweave with their country; their lives torn apart
by war. A 3,000-year-old rift has existed between cousin
nations. A mammoth effort, a fight for the good life, is
going to have to take place in order for these peoples to
live at peace with their differences. What will happen if
they won’t fight the good fight? Will they remain,
forever, a life-loving people living with war—or will they
change?
Ratiba is an Israeli journalist who relinquishes family and
friends to marry an Arab and move to his village. For 30
years, she hides her Jewish identity from her husband
and children. Her sister, Orit, is an actor who feels
betrayed by Ratiba and exacts revenge on her. Elisheva
dedicates her life to healing the wounded and the dying
of the Second Israeli Intifada. As they mature, these
women are forced to make choices they would never
have imagined.

3. A plethora of historical treatises and political works have been
written about Israel and the Middle East conflict. It seems to me that
they’re written for those who are already familiar with, and invested
in, the area. There are also many powerful Israeli novelists whose
stories provide us with background to the region’s conflicts; glimpses
into Israeli/Arab tensions. The aim of Israela is to describe life in
Israel from the inside: to portray its history and the political and
social complexities of this country-at-war for people who, despite
frequent news coverage, know little or nothing about what Israel or
Israelis—Jews and Arabs—are like. Similar, perhaps, to the way so
many of us remained ignorant of Ireland’s centuries-old war
between Catholics and Protestants.
What physical and ethical struggles do these people combat on a
daily, often hourly, basis because of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?
What is it like for people anywhere to live with unsolvable conflicts?
To sacrifice one’s children to a never-ending drama?