A History of Israel: From the Rise of Zionism to Our Time (Second Edition, Revised and Updated) (v. 1) (Paperback)

by Howard M. Sachar (Author) "On February 9, 1807, an honor guard of French grenadiers beat a military tattoo on their drums at the entrance to the Hotel de Ville..." (more)
Key Phrases: ooo dunams, mandatory award, refugee traffic, United States, United Nations, Middle East (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
When first published in 1976, this truly monumental history was hailed as a definitive work. The revised and expanded edition covers all issues from that point to the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. Sachar's topics include the rise of Jewish nationalism, Theodor Herzl and the rise of political Zionism, Zionism after Herzl, the Balfour Declaration, the seeds of Arab-Jewish confrontation, Palestine in World War II, postwar Palestine, the war of independence, the growth of the Israeli republic, Israel's search for peace and security, economic and social growth, the Six-Day War, the Yom Kippur War, the Likud era, peace with Egypt, and Israel's involvement in Lebanon. Sachar concludes with chapters focusing on what he calls a tormented road to peace and an appraisal at half century. As extraordinarily stimulating as the first edition. George Cohen

Product Description
Second Edition, Revised and Expanded

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Product Details

• Paperback: 1184 pages
• Publisher: Knopf; 2 Rev Exp edition (February 13, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0679765638
• ISBN-13: 978-0679765639
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #353,209 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

46 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Review of Sachar's history of Israel., January 1, 1999

By A Customer

What a magnificent work of scholarship. For people such as myself, who are only remotely familiar with the circumstances leading to the rise of the Zionist movement and to the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, this is such rewarding book. Sachar's approach to his subject is quite astounding. Not only does he trace the political and social evolution of the country in a sober and even-handed way, but he provides a lucid exposition of the military conflicts and turbulent irruptions that have plagued the country since the early twentieth century. The duplicity and nervous diplomacy of the superpowers in dealing with Israel are also brought to light. Moreover, the rise of the PLO and PFLP are discussed, along with some of the other popular Arab movements, in a very incisive and fair manner. The writing style is quite eloquent, and the topics discussed are so diverse and interesting that the prose doesn't drag along, as one might expect from such a thick and heavy tome. The book is provided with a vast array of military, demographic and municipal maps, which make some of the historical incidents easier to follow. My only suggestion for any subsequent editions is that the book be provided with an insert of illustrations, depicting some of visual arts and archaeological sites that Sachar discusses, along with photographs of some of the important political figures mentioned in the text.

39 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Know the facts, then form an opinion, April 2, 2002

By A Customer

America has become increasingly involved in the tensions in the Middle East and American military and civilians are increasingly at risk of retaliation. I felt it important to understand the history of the region and the issues that led to the deadly conflict. The information provided these last 25 years by the American media seemed biased and I wanted to know both sides of the story. Although history books can be biased too, I found Howard Sachar's account to be thorough, verifiable and straightforward to read. In addition to providing historical information, he painted a clear picture of the people involved in the conflict and the role of the US in building and supporting Israel. Although by the end of the book it is possible to discern his dovish opinion, I feel that he succeeded in presenting a fair account of the events. Since our country has taken such an active role in the Middle East, it is our duty as Americans to understand the conflict, form educated opinions, and make our opinions known to our elected officials. Howard Sachar's book is a must read.

56 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Extremely Comprehensive and Fairly Balanced History, July 2, 2001

By A Customer

An exhaustive volume covering from the first aliyah in the 1880s through the murder of Yitzhak Rabin in 1995. Sachar adopts a moderate to liberal Israeli stance, admiring early Maipai and Labor leaders Ben-Gurion, Peres, and Rabin. On the other hand, he is unremittingly critical of Likud leadership as well as the influence of the Orthodox and charedim in Israeli society.

Readers should keep in mind that this tome is a history of Israel, and not of the conflict with the Arab States and Palestinians; while it does an excellent job revealing Israeli ideology regarding the conflict, it spends far less time discussing Arab thinking and motivation. Even so, it does not mince words in criticism of Israeli militarism, particularly that of current prime minister Ariel Sharon. An outstanding, extremely readable history of the Jewish state.