The Haj

Leon Uris wrote this about the book (in the beginning of "The Haj"):

"Many of the events in The Haj are a matter of history and public record. Many of the scenes were created around historical incidents and used as a backdrop for the purpose of fiction. There may be persons alive who took part in events similar to those described in the book. It is possible therefore, that some may be mistaken for characters in the novel. Let me emphasize that all of the characters in the Haj are the complete creation of the author, and entirely fictional. The exceptions, of course, are the recognizable public figures who were associated historically with this period, such as David Ben-Gurion, the Mufti of Jerusalem, Abdullah, Yigal Allon, and others."

There is no question that this book is fiction regarding the details its' story tells, but the story itself is a real one. Arab refugees did stream out of Israel during the 1948 war and Arab leaders telling them to do so (there are taped broadcasts of these calls) was definitely one of the major causes of the plight of the Palestinian-Arab refugees. There was also very definitely a very active terrorist movement among the Arabs in the Middle East, which survives to the present day (witness groups like Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hizbollah, the PLO / Palestinian authority, and others). The Palestinian-Arabs continue to suffer under poor leadership that represses their rights (witness many human rights organizations' reports of extrajudicial killings by the Palestinian Authority, the same autocratic leader, Yassir Arafat, who refuses to transfer the reins of power, and other facts). It is also a well-documented fact that the Mufti of Jerusalem was an ally and guest of Hitler during WWII. These things are facts and are indisputable. "The Haj" tells a story using the device of historical fiction to relay the often-ugly facts of life for the regular "fellah" (sometimes translated as peasant) in the land the British called Palestine and is now known again as Israel.

The book is well written (good grammar, punctuation, style, etc.) and the story flows. I enjoyed reading about the characters of the story, but often wanted to cry for them. Some of the most poignant moments of "The Haj" occur during the flight of the Haj's (the main character is Haj Ibrahim and the book is the story of him and his family) family during the 1948 war and in refugee camps in Jordan. It was very sad to see how members of the same culture (the Arab culture) and most of the time the same religion (Islam) can be so cruel to each other. This is still an endemic problem in the Arab world (witness how the Arab governments squabble among each other and often fight and kill one another). Some of the depictions of the relations between the largely city-dwelling Palestinian-Arabs and the nomadic Bedouin are among the saddest. There is still a strong hatred between these groups to the present day.

Why read "The Haj?"

Read "The Haj" because this is real information presented in a novel format that you can no longer get from most university classes about the Middle East. Read it to learn what AP and Reuters news services constantly gloss over in their writings used by newspapers around the world. Most of all, read "The Haj" to understand that one of the fundamental truths about problems in the Middle East is that the problems have less to do with Israel and Jews than cultural, political, and even religious problems and divisions in the Arab world. Israel is really a side issue at best (and excuse used by the Arab governments to cover their faults). Autocratic tyrannies (or gangster governments like Yassir Arafat's Palestinian Authority) are the true source of unhappiness in the Arab world. It's easy to understand that truth after reading "The Haj."

You can get this same information from a pile full of academic texts (and I do recommend reading more research about the Middle East after reading "The Haj"), but this is the easiest and quickest way to introduce yourself to the bitter realities of politics in the Middle East.

I highly recommend "The Haj."

Review by: Maximillian Ben Hanan


Historical truth, not racist propaganda   July 29, 2004
Anyechka (Rensselaer, NY United States)
75 out of 86 found this review helpful

It seems that a lot of people find this book racist, odious, and offensive because the title character, Haj Ibrahim, and his youngest son Ishmael (who does much of the narration) feel that their plight as ignored refugees living in squalor and violence was caused and is being exacerbated by their very own people, the Arabs, instead of blaming the Israelis for chasing them out of their homes and not letting them come back. Ibrahim wants to negotiate for peace, and has long been friends with his Jewish neighbour Gideon Asch (though their friendship hasn't exactly always been very brotherly). I suppose anything that is pro-Israel, even from an Arab viewpoint, is considered racist propaganda by people on the extreme Left. Even well-documented historical facts, like the ones set out in this novel, are shrilly shouted down as historical revisionism, racism, and "Zionist propaganda." I found some of the things in this book unsettling too, like how crude and vulgar some of the characters were, or what they were teaching children about the Koran, saying that all non-Muslims go to Hell and that the Jewish and Christian Bibles are wrong and therefore slandering the important prophets in their pages, but that's how many people in that part of the world live and believe. It may be disturbing and unsettling, but it's accurate. Ishmael and Ibrahim are proud of being part of this culture, a culture which brought the world 'One Thousand and One Nights,' which kept knowledge alive when Europe was in the Dark Ages, which used to be so proud, rich, and vibrant. Sadly, by the time they came on the scene, a corrupt leadership had been exploiting their own people for centuries, twisting their religion around, keeping their subjects in abject poverty while they lived like kings in lavish surroundings. Ibrahim may be crude, vulgar, sexist, and violent, but he's the most enlightened and progressive leader by their standards, their best hope for peace. And the predictions that Ibrahim and Ishmael make have come true; their culture has become even more violent, stagnated, and desperate.

While Gideon and his people are living well in Kibbutz Shemesh, across the way in Tabah, the village of which Ibrahim is the muktar, the people are living in quite a different world. There are no trees, flowers, grass, toys, electricity, running water, women in leadership positions, playgrounds, or proper schools. Many of the people don't even know how to read or write. But Ishmael wants to be educated so he can amount to something, and his father wants to work for peace even after they're driven out of Tabah in 1948. The first Arabs to flee were the wealthy intelligentsia, who could afford to live abroad in Cairo, Beirut, or Damascus and never come back. The dregs of society were left over, and even a powerful man like Ibrahim wasn't able to save his people. Because his family had to hide from the Iraqi Kawukji's thugs, they were unable to get on the boat with their people and escape to Lebanon. The Arabs of the city they ended up in gave them a very hostile welcome, something which shocked Ibrahim, since it violated the holy code of Arab hospitality. He also couldn't understand why he was being called a refugee, since he was still in his own country and had only left because the Arab leadership had promised quick and easy victory, after which everyone would be allowed to come back. He knew they had been sold down the river by their own people, and the situation in the camps only got worse and worse, with teachers preaching anti-Semitism and false history, terrorist youth groups, people cheating the UNRWA to get more money and food. It was a no-win situation all around, and people like Ibrahim who were willing to negotiate peace were silenced at resolution conventions with death threats and other means of manipulation and fear. Admitting they had lost the war and needed help would mean admitting that Israel existed.

The only part I didn't like was the sudden ending; it was going so well and then all fell apart, with the characters I had gotten to know and love suddenly acting out of character, as though the book had to be ended right then and there, almost in media res, with these actions of the main characters seemingly falling out of the air. I also was hoping that the sleazy Farouk would make an appearance; Ibrahim was furious over how his brother had stayed behind in Tabah while everyone was fleeing, double-crossing him and taking all of their money, and even said that he wouldn't sell his dagger for money because he had a special use in mind for it. It also would've been nice to see Ishmael taking on leadership in Aqbat Jabar, leading the people the way Ibrahim had back in Tabah, trying to make a better life for everyone, but given the time and circumstances, the odds against such a happy ending were too great.


Now is the time   May 6, 2002
Udi (Jerusalem, IS)
46 out of 50 found this review helpful

Now is the time to read 'The Haj'.
This is a bit long so have patience...
Now that more and more people are hearing daily on the news: 'Middle East Crisis', 'Israel', 'Palestinians', 'Suicide bombings', 'Terrorism', 'Fundamental Islamic groups', etc. this book can give a detailed "Big Picture" of the mess that is the Middle-East. It is not enough but a very good introduction.
I am an Israeli Jew living in Jerusalem, but first and foremost dear reader, like you - I am a Human Being.
Like others living in this country, I see (and feel) what others only see and hear on the news channels (which are always inclined to show what makes good rating). I try my best to understand what it feels like to be not only an Israeli Jew but also an Arab (especially Palestinian) and Moslem, as well as a Christian. While I agree the book is fiction, many details are fact. How do I know? If you lived and studied here for 33 years, if your grandparents were Holocaust victims, if your father fought in all the wars of Israel and if you yourself were a soldier at 18, serving in Lebanon, Gaza, the West Bank and many of the places mentioned in the book, you too would have a pretty good Idea. It is too easy to judge from the comfort of your living room.
Having said that, I have Palestinian friends and am fully aware of both their plight and Israel's partial blame for this. However, I have no doubt that the Arab leaders as well as the coruupt Palestinian Authority are 99% to be blamed. They have used (and continue using) the poor Palestinian refugees for their "Jihad" ("Holy War") on Israel and the Jews (p.s. What is so Holy about War?) They incite hatred in the media, on the streets and in mosques (creating a bad name for Islam) and they continue to justify brainwashing young boys and girls that they will become martyrs if they blow up Jewish children their own age! How can you reach heaven if you turn other people's lives into hell? How can anyone justify blowing yourself up along with innocent women, children, and elderly people (some of the victims in Netanya were Holocaust survivors)?!
The Saudi leaders alone have Billions of dollars in Oil money. If they care so much then why are the Palestinians destitue? Because this is the way the Arab leaders want them - miserable and brainwashed, to be used against Israelis and Jews.
Back to the book...
In my opinion this is an excellent book and much of it is based on historical and cultural facts. I stress that there are also beautiful and gentle sides to Arab cultures (yes cultures, not just one culture), which are not depicted here.
Israel is portayed very bad on the media. How many people realise Israel has a special relationship with the bedouins? How many remember Israeli aid workers in Gaza, Turkey and elsewhere after an earthquake? Israeli doctors and relief workers in Rwanda, India and just about everywhere else? How many see Arabs and Israelis working together in Hospitals, Universities and other institutions? Can an Israeli or a Jew or even an arab expect the same in any Arab or Moslem country?!
As for Islam, I believe that like all faiths, it is a religion of peace, not war, hatred and prejudice. There is however a growing fear that those who would twist religion to their own ends, are going to bring about a catastrophe in the near future. 11th of September was a grim slap in the face showing the world that this fear is not fictional. We get that kind of a reminder daily in Israel. It is time for moderate Muslims to step up and condemn these acts in the name of their faith. Their voice is not heard loud enough. It is also time for Europeans to aknowledge their despicable recent past and stop acts of Antisemmitism as well as acts of hatred towards immigrants, especially Arabs. As a human being and a Jew I condemn this. Stop your biased policies for your short-term benefits and start taking responsibility towards the Jewish people as well as the Palestinian people.
To conclude: An excellent read, biased towards the Israeli and Jewish view point but also showing a good understanding of the plight of the Palestinians and the complexities of the region.
Udi


Worth Revisiting Given World Events   October 15, 2003
John Standiford (Cypress, California)
40 out of 41 found this review helpful

Writing a historical novel about any period of time can be quite a challenge. It requires a balance of facts with the need to tell a compelling story that catches a reader's attention much like any other novel. Usually what happens is that historical novels fall somewhere within the truth/entertainment continuum and will either get criticized for being too factual and boring or on the other hand it gets blasted for playing to fast and loose with historical facts.

The stakes get higher if the historical novel takes on something that is particularly controversial or still in the news.

Leon Uris' Haj is a perfect example. Take a look at all of the reviews from other readers. There are those who blast Uris for being pro-Israel. These people claim that the novel is historically inaccurate and hateful towards Arabs. (Most of these reviews are penned by people who refer to themselves as an Amazon.com customer and refuse to identify where they reside.

I'll be the first to admit that this should not be the only book that you should read about the Middle East, but it should be one of the first. First off, eliminate the politics and read this for the great story. There are vivid characters in this book which begin with Haj Ibrahim and the countless others he encounters in his life. Along the way you get a lit bit of everything you would ever want in a novel including love, treachery, suspense and conflict. Along the way you also learn a great deal about the Middle East.

Sure some of it is bound to be controversial but that's especially important in the post September 11 world we inhabit. This book is set in the late 1940's but how much has really changed. How many people have died and continue to die on a daily basis because of these religions that are yoked with every sort of prejudice known to man? There is no doubt that some of the positions espoused by some of the characters in this book will offend some people and brings smiles to others. Regardless of your political position, it will make you think. Given the importance of the topic, can there be a better endorsement?

More importantly, once you get away from the big world political issues in the book, you will find that its an easy book to read. The 500+ pages fly by quickly and you soon find that the characters such as Haj Ibrahim, his sons, daughter and Israeli Counterpart Gideon Asch come to life. Here is where it is important to remember that the book is a work of fiction and a well-written book of fiction too. Finally, I would reject some of the criticism that has been leveled against this book's ending. I won't give it away but the ending is appropriate for the culture of the area and the story itself.

Mr. Uris recently passed away so now is a good time to reflect on his accomplishments and revisit his work if you read it a few years ago. If you haven't read Uris in the past, now is the perfect time to get acquainted.


Accurate portayals can never be racist   February 26, 2000
38 out of 42 found this review helpful

It is strange to me to read the other reviews posted on this page and compare their views of the middle east to my own. As one who as been a part of the Middle East conflict for a long time, from an impartial perspective (or at least as impartial as one can be), I am willing to say that Uris' charaterizations of both ethnic groups are strikingly accurate. It is easy for those of you sitting in America to assume that if the book bad-mouths Arabs, it must be slander and racism. But why not take a look at the empirical evidence? How do you explain that Israel's economy is five times as large as Syria's, although Syria has a far greater population and is 20 times the size? There are two ATM machines in all of Syria. More Israeli companies IPOed on the Nasdaq last week.

Or perhaps you would care to visit southern Israel, where most of the Middle East's agriculture is grown in the barren desert. I defy you to find a rich plain in the Arab world which is half as fruitful.

Uris accurately depicts the Palestinian situation. There are good people, and they are overcome by a decaying and backward culture. The truth can hurt, but decrying it as inaccurate, with no evidence to the contrary, does a disservice to Uris as a writer and to anyone interested in learning about the remarkable confluence of strange cultures that has led to the current Israeli-Palestinian crisis.