Deprived of their homes, properties and rights, Palestinians have been treated as strangers in their own country and as refugees in the Arab world. This study traces the history of the Palestinian people. It examines the initial fears in the 19th century of the establishment of a Zionist state in Palestine; the wars of 1948 and 1967; the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza strip; the 1991 Gulf War; and the subsequent search for peace. The author explains the crucial events and issues surrounding the continuing conflict, and provides an analysis of future problems on the road to peace.