Review_of_Werner_Ende's__The_Palestine_Conflict_as_Reflected_in_Contemporary_Arabic_Literature_

In his article, Werner Ende, a professor and chairman of Islamic Studies at the Institute of Oriental Studies of the Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg as well as a co-editor of the magazine The World of Islam, argues that a close examination of the Arabic literature, i.e. in the sense of belles letters, in the 20th century, especially after 1948, can provide a way to get inside the "Arab mind" and find out what the Arabs feel and think about a crucial problem that concerns all Arab nation states, Palestine. At the very beginning of the article, Ende states some of the oppositions that can be raised against his statement and offers his refutation of such objections. One of such oppositions is the strict censorship under firm pressure of regimes exploiting the problem of Palestine for the benefit of the internal stability. Ende refutes this by pointing out that there was, to some extent, freedom of expression in Lebanon. There, not only Lebanese or Palestinian writers, but also other writers could publish many rebellious views about various aspects of the Arab World, including very strong words of self-criticism regarding the confrontation of Arabs with Israel. As well, there are Arab writers in Israel who speak freely about their problems and aspirations in writings published in Israel. Considering the fact that a number of works by various writers are banned in many Arab states, it is not because of their expression of readiness for compromise, rather because of their radical tone of self-criticism that these works are considered by some Arab governments as "partisan statements instigated by rival Arab regimes." Following his refuting the oppositions of his statement, Ende states the literary genres in which the Palestinian cause is dealt with starting with poetry, the very favoured form of expression in Arabic literature. Other forms that appeared under the western influence and have dealt with the problem of Palestine are the historical novel, short stories, drama, memoirs, and film scenarios etc. Subsequent to citing the genres of literature dealing with the topic of Palestine conflict, Ende brings to light some of the most important themes of this literature with the addition of some example of authors and their writings in which they express such themes. The very first theme Ende brings up is the refugees longing and craving for the lost homeland, which finds expression in describing the good old days before the Zionist takeover, and often combined with visions of return. The second theme deals with the ways in which the Zionists brought large parts of the land under their control even before 1948, and the third theme discusses the war of that same year, 1948, and the circumstances around it and how the Arab public perceived it. The forth theme Ende cites is the one dealing with the refugees life in camps or outside, the breaking of families and discrimination in the host countries, whereas the fifth theme deals with the situation of Arabs in Israel and their feelings of alienation and dispossession in their native land. The sixth theme Ende lists is the representation of the Israelis as, in most cases, soldiers and unwilling to understand the Arabs. Arab self-criticism is to be the seven theme in Ende's list of themes of literature concerning Palestine conflict. It deals with the inner-Arab rivalries and lack of organisation in the face of the Zionism. This theme appeared mainly in the essays form of literature based on historical and cultural topics, but also echoed in works of poetry and fiction. The theme of the civil war in Lebanon is also expressed in terms of what it is believed to be roots and results of the outbreak of large-scale fightings in the area. Religious themes and allusions are also illustrated in the literature connected with problem of Palestine. Furthermore, the theme of visions of Arab-Jewish coexistence in a future liberated Palestine is found in this literature. Last but not least in Ende's list of such themes is the theme of the third world solidarity. This theme demonstrate in putting the Palestinian's struggle in a wider perspective of liberation-movement in the Third World. Werner Ende touches on most of the important themes to be found in contemporary Arabic literature connected with Palestine conflict. However, I would tend to prefer if Ende treated the themes of identifying loss as a separate theme rather than putting it as sub-theme of the issue of Arabs remaining in Israel. Yet, Ende treats each theme thoroughly with providing examples of works and writers in clarifying each themes he states in his article.