Book SummaryThe Lemon Tree, by Sandy Tolan

1-Page Summary1-Page Book Summary of The Lemon Tree

The Lemon Tree by Sandy Tolan is a nonfiction book that tells the story of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through the lives of two families: the Khairis, a Palestinian family, and the Eshkenazis, a Jewish family. The book focuses on the house in Ramla that the Khairis were forced to leave in 1948 and the Eshkenazis later moved into. The lemon tree in the backyard of the house serves as a symbol of the families' intertwined histories and the possibility of reconciliation.

Tolan is a journalist and professor at the University of Southern California. He has reported on the Middle East for over 30 years and has written for publications...

The Lemon Tree Summary The Conflict's Historical and Political Background

According to Tolan, a central issue in the conflict is Palestinians' right to return, which refers to the right of Palestinian refugees to return to the homes they were forced to leave in 1948. Palestinians believe this is a basic human right and that Israel is responsible for the problem and shouldn’t impose further burdens on Palestinians. Israelis, however, believe that completely implementing this right would bring millions of Palestinians back, which would essentially mean the end of Israel.

(Shortform note: Many Israeli scholars argue that Israel’s constitutional order is designed to ensure a permanent Jewish majority. If millions of Palestinian refugees were allowed to return, they would likely become the majority, which would require a new constitutional order. This is why many Israelis see the right of return as a threat to the existence of Israel as a Jewish state.)

Tolan also highlights how the 1967 conflict and the subsequent occupation intensified Palestinian efforts for national liberation. The pan-Arab movement was shattered, but the drive for Palestinian liberation was intensifying. Thousands of young...

The Lemon Tree Summary The Lemon Tree as Narrative and Symbol

In Tolan’s narrative, the citrus tree symbolizes the interconnected pasts of the Eshkenazis and Khairis. The backyard tree at the house in Ramla was planted by the Khairis and cared for by the Eshkenazis. Though it died in 1998, Dalia wished for the Khairis to eventually return to the Ramla home and grow a new lemon tree to symbolize renewal. In 2005, Dalia and a collective of Arab and Jewish teenagers planted another lemon tree in the backyard.

(Shortform note: The lemon tree’s symbolism is rooted in the region’s history. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the area around Ramla and Jaffa became a major citrus-export hub under Ottoman and British rule. Orange and lemon trees became symbols of prosperity and connection to the land for both Arab and Jewish communities. The citrus industry’s growth also fueled tensions over land ownership, labor, and national identity, making the lemon tree a potent symbol of both shared heritage and contested claims.)

We'll next examine the personal and political implications of these histories.

Personal Encounters and Moral Dimensions

According to Tolan, Bashir and Dalia’s encounters...

Shortform Exercise: The Right to Return

Consider the conflicting perspectives surrounding the Palestinians' right to return to their homes from which they were displaced in 1948, as presented in "The Lemon Tree." Reflect on how these views impact the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

What does the right to return mean to Palestinians, and why do they view it as a basic human right?