"Either Us or Them – The Battle of Al-Qastal: The Decisive 24 Hours," authored by Danny Rubinstein, an Israeli journalist renowned for his expertise in Palestinian affairs. This work represents the first Hebrew in-depth biography of Abd al-Qadir al-Husseini, an influential figure in the events of 1948. Rubinstein delves into al-Husseini's major roles and actions during April 1948, with a special focus on the critical Battle of al-Qastal. He observes that while numerous studies have covered the battles for Jerusalem, particularly al-Qastal, most have relied on Israeli and international sources, frequently neglecting Arabic references. This oversight is often due to the scarcity and inaccessibility of these sources, alongside linguistic barriers. Furthermore, the credibility of Arabic sources is sometimes diminished by Israeli and international academics, occasionally influenced by ideological biases.
"Either Us or Them" stands out for its use of Arabic sources, including previously overlooked family narratives, offering a more detailed and balanced view of the historical events. The book's title, echoing al-Husseini's words, reflects the critical stakes for Palestinians in 1948. Rubinstein's account highlights the formation of the Jewish state and its impact on fracturing Palestinian society. Concentrating on Jerusalem and the Battle of al-Qastal, he illuminates a key period in the Palestinian Nakba. The loss at al-Qastal and the subsequent death of al-Husseini are seen as precursors to the fall of Arab Jerusalem, a pivotal moment in the Nakba. The events of 1948 solidified a shared belief among Jews and Arabs: the party controlling Jerusalem would ultimately govern the entirety of Palestine.
About the author:
Born in 1937, Danny Rubinstein is an Israeli journalist and writer. His career in journalism stretched from 1967 until 1990 at the newspaper Davar as a columnist and head of the Jerusalem bureau. He then joined Haaretz from 1990 until 2008, contributing as a member of the editorial board and writing extensively on the Arab-Israeli conflict and matters concerning Palestinian society.
