The strength of Original Sin lies in its interweaving of personal experience with geopolitical analysis. Drawing from his travels in the region before and after the October 7 attacks, Johny offers a grounded perspective on the Israel-Palestine question. His observations reflect the lived realities on the ground—whether it is the imposing apartheid wall, frequent security checkpoints, or his conversations with individuals from both Palestinian and Israeli sides. These encounters lend the narrative a powerful sense of immediacy.
Importantly, the book also positions West Asia within the context of India’s foreign policy interests, stressing its importance for India’s energy needs, diaspora ties, and strategic alignments. The message is clear: West Asia is not a distant theatre for India but a vital geopolitical concern.
In Original Sin, the author succeeds in delivering more than just a history of war. He crafts a rich, layered, and deeply human narrative of a region where religion, identity, nationalism, and international politics intersect. It is a region where history is not merely remembered but relived—and where peace, despite fleeting moments of hope, remains one of the most contested aspirations. Drawing on field experience and historical insight, this book is indispensable for understanding the Gaza war and the complex politics of West Asia. Original Sin is a strikingly timely work that delves into the heart of West Asia’s escalating geopolitical turmoil—a region where history, faith, and politics collide in a relentless cycle of conflict and unrest.
The central message Stanly Johny reinforces throughout the book is clear: history did not begin on October 7, 2023. He contends that the Hamas attacks and the Israeli retaliation that followed have set the “strategic clock of West Asia” backward, undoing even the limited progress made toward peace in the region. By placing these events in a broader historical context, the book urges readers to view the current crisis not as a sudden eruption, but as part of a painful continuum of unresolved tensions.
Johny provides a detailed political history of West Asia, tracing the shift from British colonial influence to the rise of the U.S.-Israel alliance. This geopolitical transformation is mapped with precision, as the author explores how the so-called “special relationship” between Israel and the U.S. has redefined regional dynamics. He also skilfully highlights the often-overlooked role of Arab states and protest movements like the Intifada in shaping the Arab-Israeli conflict and broader regional politics.
The book provides a nuanced exploration of Jewish nationalism, tracing its evolution from early demands for autonomy and assimilation to the creation of the state of Israel. By placing the “Jewish question” alongside the issue of Palestinian rights, Johny underscores the complexity of resolving historical injustices, emphasising that redressing the suffering of one community should not come at the expense of another’s rights. He also reflects on how the Westphalian obsession with fixed borders and sovereign claims can perpetuate enduring conflict in regions like West Asia.
The human cost of violence is a recurring theme. Johny portrays how decades of conflict have devastated the lives of ordinary Palestinian civilians and even those within Israel committed to peace. The story of Vivian Silver, an Israeli activist impacted by a Hamas attack, captures the personal toll of war and reinforces the book’s core message: “In West Asia, war is constant, peace remains an elusive dream.”