Law lies at the heart of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict Israel's creation was rooted in the
need for a Jewish homeland as enshrined in 'public law'. Palestinian rights to return to their
homes and livelihoods are also established in law.John Strawson argues that legal tools are
being used to undermine Palestinian self-determination. His chronological account of modern
Palestinian history shows that the League of Nations and the United Nations are responsible for
developing a legal framework which marginalises the Palestinian people.The book focuses on
three key moments in the conflict: the League of Nations Mandate the United Nations partition
plan and the Oslo agreements. None of these documents are neutral but rather encode a variety
of meanings. The book traces the way in which these legal narratives have shaped national
identity. Law far from offering conflict resolution has reinforced the trenches from which
Palestinians and Israelis confront each other.
