this book is a synopsis of the very extensive work why shouldn't israel exist in the middle east? (published in 2015). the author argues that the middle east conflict is the easiest problem in the world to explain, but also the most difficult to solve. "briefly stated: israel wants to exist, and to recognise the rights of the palestinians to have their own state. the palestinians and many other arabs and muslims, however, do not acknowledge that the jewish state of israel has a right to exist". prof. hans jansen, author of the well-known standard work christian theology after auschwitz: theological and ecclesiastical roots of anti-semitism (the hague, 1981), of which six editions appeared, was from 1990 to 2000 the holder of the james william parkes chair in the history of christian literature on judaism and jews of the faculty of arts and philosophy at the vrije universiteit in brussels. since 2002 he has been associated with swib, the simon wiesenthal institute in brussels, where he still gives lectures on the anti-semitism of amin el-husseini, the grand mufti of jerusalem. jansen has numerous works to his name. in 2004 he wrote an essay for political and religious leaders in europe entitled the education system of the palestinian authority is inciting a holy war against israel (christians for israel international / european coalition for israel). in spring 2006 royal jongbloed in heerenveen published his voluminous study entitled from anti-semitism to suicide bombing, a second edition of which appeared six months later. in 2010 a fascinating essay on the work of erasmus saw the light of day. the essay's title was erasmus's protest against the renaissance of hebrew literature and from the start it was seen by many readers as a precious gem! the work was published by royal jongbloed. in spring 2015, his very extensive book "why shouldn't israel exist in the middle east?" appeared, followed by a second edition in september 2015. in 2004 he was awarded the israel prize by the world zionist organization for his complete oeuvre.