Can Israelis and Palestinians end their long conflict? Peace deals have been sabotaged by extremists on both sides, and reasons for optimism are increasingly hard to find. In this compelling and timely book, the eminent moral philosopher Jonathan Glover argues one vital step towards progress is to better understand the disturbing psychology of the cycle of violence.

Glover explores the psychological flaws that entrap both sides: the urge to respond to wounds or humiliation with backlash; political or religious beliefs held with a rigidity that excludes compromise; and people’s identity being shaped by the conflict in ways that make it harder to imagine or even desire alternatives. Drawing on the history of comparable conflicts that eased over time, Glover proposes some ways to gradually weaken the grip of this psychology.

Israelis and Palestinians is essential reading for anyone concerned by the ongoing violence in the Middle East.