Army of Shadows: Palestinian Collaboration with Zionism, 1917-1948

Army of Shadows examines the complex relationships between Palestinian Arabs and the Zionist movement during the British Mandate period. Through extensive archival research and previously untapped sources, Cohen documents the interactions between Jewish organizations and Palestinian individuals who chose to collaborate with them. The book presents detailed accounts of various forms of cooperation, from land sales to intelligence sharing, while analyzing the motivations and circumstances of Palestinians who worked with Zionist institutions. Cohen explores how socioeconomic conditions, tribal rivalries, and power dynamics influenced these collaborative relationships. This historical study investigates the consequences faced by Palestinian collaborators, including social ostracism, threats, and violence from their own community. The narrative traces how these dynamics evolved through major events like the 1936 Arab Revolt and the lead-up to 1948. The work challenges simplistic narratives about Arab-Jewish relations in Mandatory Palestine and raises broader questions about nationalism, loyalty, and survival in times of conflict. Through its focus on this overlooked aspect of the period, the book contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Palestinian-Israeli history.

Readers describe this as a detailed examination of Arab-Jewish cooperation that challenges simplified narratives of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Many reviewers note the book reveals complex motivations behind collaboration, from economic necessity to tribal rivalries. Readers appreciated: - Extensive use of primary sources and archival documents - Coverage of both high-level and everyday collaboration - Neutral tone in handling sensitive subject matter Common criticisms: - Dense academic writing style - Lack of broader historical context - Some readers found the translation awkward Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (52 ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (15 ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "Fills an important gap in understanding the mandate period." An Amazon reviewer criticized: "Too focused on individual cases without explaining the larger political framework." The academic journal Middle East Policy called it "meticulously researched but occasionally difficult to follow."

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🔹 Despite being a controversial topic, the book reveals that Palestinian collaboration with Zionist institutions was quite widespread, involving people from all social classes - from peasants to elite families. 🔹 Author Hillel Cohen is a professor at Hebrew University of Jerusalem and gained access to previously classified documents in Israeli archives to research this book. 🔹 The book documents how some Palestinians sold land to Jews despite strong social taboos and official prohibitions from Palestinian leadership against such sales. 🔹 Many Palestinian collaborators helped the Zionist movement not out of ideology but for practical reasons: economic benefits, protection from rivals, or preservation of their social status. 🔹 The aftermath of collaboration continues to affect Palestinian society today - families of those who collaborated during this period often still face social stigma and discrimination within their communities.