Israel: A History

This is an excellent history of Israel since the start of the Zionest movement. What I find interesting is Israel has been willing to compromise. In 1947 the Israelis accepted the UN partition plan.. The Arabs rejected it. In December 2000 under president Clinton Israel agreed to give the Palestinians independence at the last minute Arafat insisted on a return of all the refugees and their descendents and the ended the best chance of solving this problem.I find amazing that in the war of independence and the 1967 and 1973 wars Israel defeated combined Arab armies. I guess what the comedian Jackie Mason said is true "Jews are Lawyers and accountants but they are the best fighters in the world".

There is something amazing on every page in this book. I am glad to have it in my library.

I was amazed as I re-learned so many things about Israel becoming independent and a stats. Then I learned new things as well.

My first~ever book on the modern history of Israel. Now what's going on in the Middle East makes more sense. This book was worth my investment of time.

Since my son made "aliya" to become an Israeli citizen, I have become very interested what makes this fairly young country tick. I didn't take up this book until after reading two massive histories of the Middle East (a 2000 year retrospective) so I had some context. The history starts in the late 1800s just before the Zionist movement and moves through the wars and the Intifada. It's necessary to pay pretty close attention to the geography since that's crucial to the last 67 years history. There are maps in an appendix which require back and forth paging while reading. (Harder on a Kindle). The history is liberally sprinkled with quotes from Israel's leaders and politicians which adds color so you and feel the passion as well as learn the history. The final chapters (in the current addition) covered events through the second Intifada that provided a keen reminder that history is still being made in Israel.

I wanted to read the history of Israel because my knowledge as limited to the understanding that "the UN gave the territory to the Jews following WWII" This was completely wrong. The story is much more complicated. After reading this book, I now have a better understanding of the complexity of what created Israel and what maintains Israel. This book is very comprehensive. I cannot imagine another book that could be more detailed. As this book ends around 2008, there is much more about this history that needs to be written and I'm looking forward to an updated edition which goes into recent history of Israel. This book is non-biased. Nothing is sugar-coated. This book is not written to put Israel in a perfect light. Many flaws on all sides of this conflict are exposed. My understanding of Israel and it's neighbors is now much more complete. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to debate Israel and it's position in the world. Without understanding over 100 years of history, you cannot begin to form an opinion on Israel.

Gilbert's book on Israel is a comprehensive read on the Jewish struggle to secure and hold onto their homeland. This book is more of an historical narrative of the creation of Zionism and eventually Israel's statehood in 1948 than a chronology of events. It reads like an historical novel. The author is wordy and the narrative tedious but it portrays well the continued struggles of the nation of Israel. I did not have a good understanding of this continued struggle until reading this book. We tend to think of Israel having fought 5 or 6 wars since independence, which is true but between the wars there has been constant nipping at her heals by those who have worked hard to destroy the nation. Gilbert brings in the human drama of this struggle. I encourage those who want a better understanding of 'why there is no peace in the Middle East' to read this book and discover the drama within the history that has affected the lives of many people in the region.

It is a very in depth detailed history of the State of Israel up to the time that the Labour Party lost its hegemony. Once de Likud party as the right wing opposition started making government the narrative becomes harsh and against the governing party. In the ending chapters of the book the reader only reads the opinions of the human rights activists and the people who go in favor of the Labour Party and their beliefs, but not once can de reader read a comment supporting the governing party which is not the Labour Party or any of their officials, not once can the reader have their opinions and the reasons why they act as they do. I understand they must have a reason to be hard on the Palestinians and the arab world because the people of Israel elect them to govern.

A very emotional historical record of how the dispersed Jews survived and finally became an accepted Nation in the UnitedNations and have become a useful contributor to other nations in various fields of invention, health, etc

Very scholarly and well written. Also well researched and filled with facts, some of them not readily available in other publications.Most refreshing to read a modern History of Israel that is not highly critical but instead complimentary.

I cannot imagine a better book than this for anyone who wants to know about the history of Israel! Very well written, and seems to cover intensely and in great detail too! A masterpiece!

Great book - all the facts.

Very detailed and comprehensive, complete.