Internationally acclaimed novelist Amos Oz grew up in war-torn Jerusalem, and there, as a young boy, he witnessed firsthand the harmful consequences of fanaticism. In two concise and powerful articles, this award-winning author offers a unique perspective on the true nature of fanaticism and proposes a reasoned and respectful way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In addition, he comments on contemporary issues - the withdrawal from Gaza, the death of Asser Arafat and the Iraq war - in a lengthy interview. Oz argues that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is not a war of religion, cultures or traditions, but a real estate dispute over land, and that it will not be resolved through a greater understanding between the two sides, but through a painful compromise.

The barrier between Israel and the West Bank serves as a key ingredient in the cover design that embodies the very essence of fanaticism. The little girl’s shirt, the only pinch of color amidst grey spilled from the concrete to the bleak sky.