Miko Peled in NYC, June 18; in DC June 20-24

Miko Peled, the visionary author of The General’s Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine, will be doing his first book talk on the U.S. east coast on Monday, June 18, at Revolution Books, in Manhattan. It’s at 146 W. 26th Street, between 6th & 7th Aves. The event begins at 7pm. Arrive early so you can be one of the first in line after the discussion, to get your book signed by Miko! Then, between June 20 and June 24, he’s doing a series of events in Washington DC. You can find those details here. By the way, if anyone could make a video of Miko’s talk, we’d love to hear from you! The General’s Son has received support and plaudits from many sources. In the lovely Foreword that she contributed to the book, Pulitzer Prize-winning author and poet Alice Walker wrote,

There are few books on the Israel/Palestine issue that seem as hopeful to me as this one. First of all, we find ourselves in the hands of a formerly Zionist Israeli who honors his people, loves his homeland, respects and cherishes his parents, other family members and friends, and is, to boot, the son of a famous general whose activities during Israel’s wars against the Palestinian people helped cause much of their dislocation and suffering… Miko Peled, at first terrified of reaching out to Palestinians because of the false reports he was, since childhood, given of them, realizes the insanity of remaining enemies of a people he has had no opportunity to truly know. What he discovers energizes and encourages him. He begins to understand the danger inherent in living in ignorance of the so-called “other” and begins to realize he would be a far different, a far less open and loving person, had he not, despite his fears, freed himself in this way. His freedom to be at ease with the very people he was taught to hate is, of course, a bonus for his own children and for the next generation of Israelis and Palestinians.

Dr. Walid Khalidi, General Secretary of the Institute for Palestine Studies, wrote:

Miko did not automatically follow in the footsteps of his remarkable father—a hawkish general turned Arabist and early proponent of a two-state solution in dialogue with the PLO. Instead, we are privileged to accompany the author on his own fascinating internal odyssey—a journey of self-education and cumulative critique of Zionist premises and Israeli practices culminating in poignant advocacy of a unitary binational state anchored in common humanity.

Israeli historian Ilan Pappe wrote:

Out of personal pain and sober reflection on the past comes this powerful narrative of transformation, empowerment and commitment. It is the personal story that brings home forcefully how one liberates oneself from oppressive ideologies without losing one’s identity, family and humanity. Miko’s story is a must read for anyone who has not lost hope that one day peace and justice will prevail in Israel and Palestine.

… And the legendary American peacemaker Landrum Bolling described the book as:

a penetrating, honest analysis of the core beliefs and courageous lives lived by an iconic Jewish leader and his remarkable family. A family that, though part of the national Zionist political-military establishment, have long reached out with empathetic concern for the Palestinians under Israeli occupation control — and who continue to agitate for a just peace acceptable to both Jews and Arabs… Miko is truly inspiring in the telling of his family’s story — and of his own struggles to come to terms with the moral, ethical and intellectual legacy from his father.

Big thanks to Revolution Books for hosting this watermark event in New York! Come to show your support, to meet this remarkable author, and to get your signed copy of The General’s Son.