Essential Israel

Most Americans are ill-prepared to engage thoughtfully in the increasingly serious debate about Israel, its place in the Middle East, and its relations with the United States. Essential Israel examines a wide variety of complex issues and current concerns in historical and contemporary contexts to provide readers with an intimate sense of the dynamic society and culture that is Israel today. The expert contributors to this volume address the Arab-Israeli conflict, the state of diplomatic efforts to bring about peace, Zionism and the impact of the Holocaust, the status of the Jewish state and Israeli democracy, foreign relations, immigration and Israeli identity, as well as literature, film, and the other arts. This unique and innovative volume provides solid grounding to understandings of Israel's history, politics, culture, and possibilities for the future.

Acknowledgements1. An Invitation to Israel Literacy / Ilan Troen and Rachel Fish2. Israel: Geography, Demography and Economy / Ilan Troen, Maoz Azaryahu, and Arnon Golan3. From Zionism to Zion / Michael Brenner4. Zionist Settlement in the Land of Israel/Palestine / Ilan Troen5. The Arab-Israeli Conflict / Alan Dowty6. History of the Peace Process / David Makovsky7. Israel in World Opinion / Gil Troy8. Israel: A Jewish Democracy / Yedidia Stern9. Citizenship and Democracy in Israel / Donna Robinson Divine10. Israel, American Jews and Jewish Peoplehood / Steven Bayme11. "Jewishness" in Israel: Israel as a Jewish State / David Ellenson12. Contemporary Christianity and Israel / Yaakov Ariel13. Perceptions and Understandings of Israel within Islam / Norman Stillman14. "Hebrewism" and Israeli Culture / Rachel Harris15. Israeli and Hebrew Literature: from the Yishuv to the 21st Century / Ranen Omer-ShermanGlossaryTimeline: A Century of Wars and Conflict and Peace Negotiations and Agreements1917-2016Index