Israel: A History

The construction of the State of Israel and the roots of the conflict in the Gaza Strip, written by one of the most notable historians of our time Anita Shapira tells the story of Israel in a compelling, chronologically organized narrative. The book presents the emergence of Zionism in Europe, within the context of relations between Jews, Arabs, Turks, and other sectors of Palestine under Ottoman rule. A professor at Tel Aviv University and one of the most notable researchers on the subject, the author does not limit herself to reporting exclusively on the Arab-Israeli war and conflicts, unlike most books on the subject. Shapira does not ignore the narrative of conflicts, but chose to discuss the reasons that led to wars and the events that occurred during periods of peace. The historian analyzes the political, social, and cultural development of Palestine under the British mandate and proposes a thorough understanding of the challenges of building the Israeli nation, including mass immigration, the change in cultural habits, war politics, global diplomacy, and the creation of democratic institutions and a civil society. The book addresses controversial issues, such as the destruction of Arab villages conquered during the 1948-1949 war – giving wide publicity to studies carried out by the so-called “new historians”, including Benny Morris –, and presents the result of the conflict in the region, from the borders with other ethnically homogeneous states in the post-Second World War period.