Waubonsee Community College

Israel, a concise history of a nation reborn, Daniel Gordis

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 461-524) and index

illustrationsmapsplates

index present

non fiction

Israel

bibliography

960643791

Daniel Gordis

a concise history of a nation reborn

"Presenting a brief but thorough account of the cultural, economic and political history of the state of Israel, a public intellectual sheds light on the past of this complex nation, one rife with conflict, so that readers can understand its future."--, Publisher's description"Israel is a tiny state, and yet since its creation, it has captured the world's attention, earned its admiration, and, often, been the object of its opprobrium. Why is so much of the international community focused on a small country like Israel? Why are Israelis so deeply divided on so many key issues? Why does Israel make the decisions it does? And what lies in its future? Weaving together historical documents, letters, and interviews with his own intimate knowledge of the country, Daniel Gordis tells the story of Israel: when the idea of a Jewish state originated, how the dream was transformed into reality, and how Israel's history has unfolded and why. [This book] probes the soul of both a people and a country that have long triumphed over adversity, but which still face grave--some say insurmountable--challenges. Gordis guides us through the milestones of Israeli history and introduces the passionate and formidable personalities who pioneered the country and shaped its pivotal moments. He illustrates how Israel became a cultural, economic, and military powerhouse--but he also explains its grave mistakes and traces its long history of international isolation. Clear-eyed and authoritative, Gordis shows that above all else Israel's prime purpose--and its major accomplishment--has been the modern rebirth of the Jewish people. With [this book], Gordis offers us a brief but thorough history of this complex nation, from its beginnings to the present. Accessible, level-headed, and rigorous, Israel sheds light on Israel's past so we can understand its present and future. The result is a vivid portrait of a people, and a nation, reborn."--, Dust jacket

A grand human story -- Poetry and politics : the Jewish nation seeks a home -- Some spot of a native land -- A conversation, not an ideology : Zionist divisions at the turn of the century -- From a dream to glimmers of reality -- The Balfour Declaration : the empire endorses the state -- Nowhere to go, even if they could leave -- The Yishuv resists the British, the Arabs battle partition -- Independence : the state is born -- From dreams of a state to the reality of statehood -- Israel enters the international arena -- Israel confronts the Holocaust -- Six days of war change a country forever -- The burden of occupation -- Yom Kippur War : the "conception" crashes -- Revolution within the revolution : the rise and revenge of Israel's political right -- Taking a page from the Zionists : the rise of Palestinian nationalism -- The peace process stalls -- A Jewish renaissance in the Jewish state -- A century after Balfour-- "A national home for the Jewish people" -- Appendix A. Glossary of people mentioned -- Appendix B. Glossary of non-English terms -- Appendix C. Israel's Declaration of Independence -- Appendix D. Israeli prime ministers and the American and Israeli presidents with whom they worked -- Appendix E. Israeli political parties and their changing balance of power