A History of Modern Israel

by Colin Shindler

Overview

Colin Shindler's remarkable history begins in 1948, as waves of immigrants arrived in Israel from war-torn Europe to establish new cities, new institutions, and a new culture founded on the Hebrew language. Optimistic beginnings were soon replaced with the sobering reality of wars with Arab neighbours, internal ideological differences, and ongoing confrontation with the Palestinians. In this updated edition, Shindler covers the significant developments of the last decade, including the rise of the Israeli far right, Hamas's takeover and the political rivalry between Gaza and the West Bank, Israel's uneasy dealings with the new administration in the United States, political Islam and the potential impact of the Arab Spring on the region as a whole. This sympathetic yet candid portrayal asks how a nation that emerged out of the ashes of the Holocaust and was the admiration of the world is now perceived by many Western governments in a less than benevolent light.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781107301689
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/25/2013
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
File size:	21 MB
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About the Author

Colin Shindler is Emeritus Professor and Pears Senior Research Fellow at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. He is also founding chairman of the European Association of Israel Studies.

Table of Contents

1. Zionism and security; 2. The Hebrew republic; 3. New immigrants and first elections; 4. The politics of piety; 5. Retaliation or self-restraint; 6. The rise of the right; 7. The road to Beirut; 8. Dissent at home and abroad; 9. An insurrection before a handshake; 10. The end of ideology?; 11. The killing of a prime minister; 12. The magician and the bulldozer; 13. He does not stop at the red light; 14. An unlikely grandfather; 15. A brotherly conflict; 16. Bialik's bequest?; 17. Stagnation and isolationism; 18. An Arab spring and an Israeli winter?

Editorial Reviews

This work focuses on the evolution of political parties, power, and ideology in independent Israel, which has its 60th birthday in May. Shindler (Israeli & modern Jewish studies, Univ. of London) emphasizes the ongoing search for security for the new state, providing a solid, detailed overview of the growth of the Zionist vision and six decades of Israeli development through the intifada and the Lebanese war in 2006. While Israel became a populous, prosperous, and militarily dominant nation, peace with its neighbors remained elusive. Progress toward peace was undermined both by the increasing strength of right-wing nationalist and religious parties in Israel and corruption, disorganization, and emerging Islamist militancy among Palestinians. The hopes raised by negotiations through the 1990s were eroded by increasing violence. Shindler provides a rich portrait of the shifting party configurations and alliances, along with vibrant sketches of key political leaders. He assumes that his readers have a general knowledge of Israeli history, enabling them to follow his careful political and ideological analysis. An important, up-to-date volume for serious readers in both general and academic libraries.
—Elizabeth R. Hayford Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information

School Library Journal

"This is an immensely readable and accessible book and a good primer for students … a helpful glossary and a fast-paced and interesting narrative make this one of the few good and balanced one-volume histories available."
Seth J. Frantzman, Middle East Media and Book Reviews (membr.uwm.edu/)

From the Publisher