The Positive Side of Joan Peter's "From Time Immemorial
Reader comment on item: From Time Immemorial

Submitted by Nadene Goldfoot (United States), Dec 3, 2003 at 21:10

I'm in agreement on your analysis of Joan Peter's book. I was very dismayed when I just found out that "From Time Immemorial" was considered a "hoax" by the left, causing the baby to be thrown out with the bathwater. I've used the book since 1985 in speeches about Israel and had no idea that it had been under such criticism.

I just wish that Joan Peters would get busy and polish it up and submist it again for publication. Because of her problems that have been found, it isn't even considered by the left. Your idea of having her facts refuted was great.

I always had valued her book because she wasn't Jewish and as a journalist knew how to seek out facts. She stated that she actually was starting her research while in sympathy with the plight of the Arabs, and her research showed her other facts.

After reading all the horrible attacks on her book by the left, I feel much better now that I read your comments.

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Daniel Pipes replies:

For a far briefer and more sophisticated rendering of Peters' argument, see Fred M. Gottheil, "The Smoking Gun: Arab Immigration into Palestine, 1922-1931," Middle East Quarterly, Winter 2003, http://www.meforum.org/article/522.

DP