The Biggest Prison on Earth

Shortlisted for the Palestine Book Awards 2017, The Biggest Prison on Earth by Ilan Pappé offers a powerful and deeply researched examination of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories.

Building on themes explored in his earlier work, The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, Pappé traces the development of the occupation following the 1967 war, drawing extensively on recently declassified archival material to analyze the policies, strategies, and decision-making processes that shaped the modern reality of the Occupied Territories. 

The book examines the legal, political, and bureaucratic systems established to govern and control the Palestinian population, alongside the security structures used to maintain that control. Through historical analysis and documentary evidence, Pappé argues that these mechanisms created what he describes as one of the world’s largest “open prisons.”
 

Combining political history with archival research, this work provides insight into one of the most enduring and contested conflicts of the modern era. It is valuable for readers interested in Middle Eastern history, Palestine studies, international politics, and contemporary global affairs.

Who Should Read This Book?

The Biggest Prison on Earth is recommended for:

• Readers seeking a deeper historical understanding of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories
• Students and researchers of Middle Eastern history, politics, and international relations
• Those interested in Palestine studies, colonialism, and human rights discourse
• Readers looking for archival-based historical analysis rather than headline-level commentary
• Anyone trying to understand the political, legal, and military structures behind one of the world’s longest ongoing conflicts
• Book clubs, educators, and discussion groups exploring contemporary global issues and historical narratives

Written in an accessible yet thoroughly researched style, the book is suitable for both general readers and more serious students of history and political thought.