The Guardian praised Pappé's expertise in the subject matter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, observing the author as "one of the few Israeli students of the conflict who write about the Palestinian side with real knowledge and empathy".[1] A review in The Independent said The Idea of Israel is an academic book at its core which offers a thought-provoking experience for its readers. In the academic journal, Journal of Palestine Studies, the work, while providing a coherent narrative, is noted for diverging from the writing style of the author's earlier books.