The continuous conflict in the Holy Land is in the news every day, a conflict that most take for granted now. When there is a lull in the violence, many wonder when the next attack will happen. This conflict has very deep roots which Dorothy W. Drummond examines for us, providing an historical summary from the struggle’s beginning to 2004. This land is holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims, but during modern times Christians were not directly involved in the conflict between the Jews and the Muslims, only becoming involved if they were Arab Christians or connected with the United States government. Since the 9/11 attacks this has changed, and the terrorists who are Muslims are lumping all Christians into a group they call Crusaders. This small part of the earth has been fought over for centuries, as Drummond documents.

Dorothy Drummond is an educator, author, and world traveler. She is a former president of the National Council for Geographic Education who has written other books including People on Earth: A World Geography (1988) and Our World (1991).

The book is easy to read and understand. There are several maps, charts, and photographs that help the reader parse what the author is discussing. Drummond presents in summary form the histories of the Jews, the Christians, and the Muslims, and she also presents the history of how Israel, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and the Palestinian Authority (PA) came about. She examines the events involving Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and the late PA President Yasser Arafat and the stalemate that existed until Arafat’s death and the election of President Abbas.

Drummond interjects personal notes of what she actually sees during her travels to the Holy Land, bringing a modern perspective to the historical sites. She also provides several glossaries of terms, places, and people. She provides quotes from various historical persons at the head of each chapter, an interesting addition. Beside the text of the histories she provides dates that helps the reader look up quickly specific times.

Drummond’s book is appropriate and timely with all that has been going on in the world. She provides an educator’s view to the conflicts in the Holy Land and beyond. This book is recommended to those interested in the history of the Holy Land, in the conflicts of the Middle East, and as a traveler’s guide of sorts.