"Prisoners of History: The Story of Dalia, a Palestinian" is about an orphaned Palestinian student, being educated in Christian schools, and her friend, a young female Israeli journalist. It is a very short, fast-paced, 'non-fiction novel' which reveals disturbing details of the treatment of Palestinian students by Israel's military and feared secret police (Shinbet), who demolish the schools and homes, and incarcerate children in the "Occupied Territories" -- and the brave efforts of many Israelis, including former military officers, who risk their future and welfare to help these students and their families.
The book exposes authentic incidents experienced by Israelis and Palestinians.
It is written in an easily-readable way, to provide history and information in a unique manner. One of the literary techniques is to put actual information from former Israeli military officers into the dialog of several of the characters.
Also shocking is authentic modern scholarship from leading Israeli academicians which reveals that most Israelis have European blood -- not Semitic blood.
The author has been to Israel over 25 times and to Palestine 10 times, and had private meetings with many Israeli and Palestinian leaders, including Ehud Olmert (former Prime Minister of Israel), Hanna Nassar (former Mayor of Bethlehem), and Yasser Arafat (former President of Palestine).
The cover art is by the renowned Brazilian artist Carlos Latuff.
About the Author: The author is a retired international businessman and writer who has lived in or visited over 60 countries for one reason or another, including Israel and several Muslim countries.
He has published numerous articles, and written many books on history, politics and health science, including two novels. Two of the books concern the Middle East.
He has been to Israel over 20 times, beginning in 1975, spending weeks or months at a time, travelling throughout the entire country, including the Negev, and to Palestine 10 times, travelling throughout the West Bank.
Much of the information in the book comes from personal discussions. He has met and befriended many Israelis and Palestinians, in influential positions in journalism, government, military, and business, as well as ordinary people - both in Israel and Palestine. Some of those people are mentioned in the book; others include private meetings with Ehud Olmert, the former Mayor of Jerusalem and former Prime Minister of Israel, and, Yasser Arafat, former President of Palestine.
Over the years the author has donated to American Jewish charities and to Palestinian charities, including once supporting the only Palestinian mammography clinic allowed by Israel, by providing a regular supply of mammography film and paper dressing gowns for the female patients.
Among his closest friends are secular (non-religious) Israelis.
The godfather to his two sons is one of his closest friends, an Israeli.
