Chomsky examines the origins of this relationship and its meaningful consequences for the Palestinians and other Arabs.

The book mainly concentrates on the 1982 Lebanon War and the pro-Zionist bias of most US media and intellectuals, as Chomsky puts it.

[1][2] The book was updated in 1999 and contains three new chapters,[3] drawing upon material from Z Magazine and other publications.

New developments that have been incorporated include the First Intifada, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, and the ongoing peace process.

[4] Edward Said, who also contributed the new foreword, said, "Chomsky's major claim is that Israel and the United States – especially the latter – are rejectionists opposed to peace, whereas the Arabs, including the PLO, for years have been trying to accommodate themselves to the reality of Israel.