The most recent query about this was over 10 years ago, and I have to assume there has been some good writing since then. I’m particularly interested in the modern Middle East - say, post-WWI. I recently read Fromkin’s A Peace to End All Peace which was excellent, and I started O Jerusalem! by Lapierre and Collins a while back, but had a hard time getting into it (I’ll give it another go sometime soon).
Any other favorites? I’m particularly interested in the beginnings of Israel as a distinct country, and its relations with the broader Middle East. A tall order, I know, but any and all suggestions are welcome.
If you are looking for a portrait of early Israeli society, The Sabra: A Portrait was interesting. It is definitely not about “the broader Middle East”, however.
History of the Arabs by Philip K. Hitti. Yes, it’s old and out of date, but for everything up to World War I, it’s your single best resource. If you start learning Arab history with Hitti, it provides a solid basis for further study.
Orientalism by Edward Said. Like Hitti, an essential text.