Written by one of Israel’s most notable scholars, this volume provides a breathtaking history of Israel from the origins of the Zionist movement in the late nineteenth century to the present day. Organized chronologically, the volume explores the emergence of Zionism in Europe against the backdrop of relations among Jews, Arabs, and Turks, and the earliest pioneer settlements in Palestine under Ottoman rule. Weaving together political, social, and cultural developments in Palestine under the British mandate, Shapira creates a tapestry through which to understand the challenges of Israeli nation building, including mass immigration, shifting cultural norms, the politics of war and world diplomacy, and the creation of democratic institutions and a civil society. References to contemporary diaries, memoirs, and literature bring a human dimension to this narrative history of Israel from its declaration of independence in 1948 through successive decades of waging war, negotiating peace, and building a modern state with a vibrant society and culture. Based on archival sources and the most up-to-date scholarly research, this authoritative history is a must-read for anyone with a passionate interest in Israel. Israel: A History will be the gold standard in the field for years to come.
Table of Contents
List of Maps • Acknowledgments • Author’s Note • Part I: 1881–1918, Zionism: Ideology and Praxis • The Emergence of the Zionist Movement • Jews, Turks, Arabs: First Encounters in the Land • Part II: 1918–1948, A State-in-the-Making • Palestine under British Rule • Immigration and Settlement during the Mandate Period • The Yishuv as an Emerging State • The Yishuv: Society, Culture, and Ethos • Part III: 1948–1967, Nation Building • The War of Independence, 1947–1949 • The Creation of Israeli Democracy • State Building: Economy, Development, and Big Government • The Great Aliya: Mass Immigration • Culture and Norms in an Evolving Society • Politics, Peace, and War • Part IV: 1967–1977, A Decade of War • Six Days That Changed the Middle East • The Age of Euphoria, 1967–1973 • The Yom Kippur War, 1973 • Israeli Society after the Yom Kippur War • Part V: 1977–2000, Peace, War, and Indecision • Begin in Power • The Stalemate Years: A Changing Israeli Identity, 1984–1990 • The Decade of Hope, 1990–2000 • An Interim Summary • Index