Goldberg grew up in a secular Jewish household, but as a teenager became a Zionist, in part as a reaction to the horrors of the Nazis. He went to Israel, spent time in a kibbutz, then joined the Israeli army and served as a prison guard, where he became acquainted with the Palestinian prisoners. He had become rather disillusioned with aspects of Israeli society. One prisoner in particular made an impression on him. He was thoughtful, a reader, and they talked as often as they could. Goldberg felt that if he could consider Rafiq a friend, there would be hope for a resolution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. In the end, they come to some understanding.

Despite this, the book is rather depressing. Far too many on both sides are unwilling to make peace. Too many Muslims are unwilling to allow Israel to exist, and the Jews, religious or secular, are desperate for their home state to survive.

My biggest conclusion at the end of this book is that religion is far too often a deadly, dangerous, divisive thing. It's not a conclusion I want to reach, but it is inescapable. ( )