Al Haram Al Sharif & Al Aqsa

Excellent explanation of the power struggle od Iran and Turkey and their respective methods to try and achieve their goals. A must read.

Avi’s book is a must read for everyone! He brings the Middle East, it’s history, countries, people and conflicts into very understandable focus. The region grapples with diverse players with varied agendas, and this book provides a roadmap to understanding and a look into possible futures for this important region.

I have long sought a book to explain what I thought was the source of most conflict in the Middle East: the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I obtained Inside the Middle East Entering A New Era and thought I would find the explanation I was looking for. This book gave me so much more than I expected! Mr. Melamed is not only a skilled writer, but an excellent educator! There are so many layers to the power struggles and conflicts in the Middle East that a casual observer can’t fathom. Mr. Melamed presents an overall picture of a complicated area and then peels back the layers that hide the true motivations of the players in this region. He uses concise historical thumbnails of Middle Eastern countries that give the reader an understanding of how and why they are where they are today without losing the reader in a sea of confusing detail. The index in the back of the book with an alphabetical listing of key individuals, organizations and concepts is incredibly helpful as a reference point as one is reading the book. I give Mr. Melamed great credit for his intimate understanding of the Middle East and his ability to convey his knowledge in an understandable form to his readers.

If you’re going to read ONE book about the Middle East, you MUST READ Inside The Middle East | Entering A New Era! The author does an incredible job of synthesizing events into one cohesive picture. The title does not disappoint. This book truly does take you inside the Middle East. The array of Arab voices the author cites and highlights bring information to the reader that is not covered in the Western media. Plus, the incredible number of maps really helped me follow the story in a very understandable way. This book offers a distinct and unique perspective on a broad array of Middle East issues – from Iran to Turkey; from Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria to Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia; from the Abraham Accords to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict; from the realignments of interests to the changing balance of power in the region. Each chapter in itself and the entire book as a whole is gripping and eye-opening. It is clearly written by someone who has a rare understanding of the region. Avi Melamed is a voice that must be heard in the West! He has written the most comprehensive, understandable, and reader-friendly book on the Middle East that I have ever encountered. A MUST read for anyone who wants to really understand the region!