The Hope Fulfilled: The Rise of Modern Israel

(Hardback)

Available Formats

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Blending an analysis of general political, diplomatic and military trends with a description of how Zionist pioneers coped with ongoing social developments and challenges, Stein recounts the events that would ultimately lead to the formation of the State of Israel in May 1948. The study begins with the wave of Russian pogroms that erupted in 1882 and stimulated an interest in Jewish migration to Palestine. Stein proceeds to the experiences of the first batch of settlers as they established farms, fostered the rejuvenation of Hebrew, and coped with the local Arab population. He examines how Theodore Herzl's worldwide modern Zionist movement gathered momentum and led to a further increase in Jewish settlement in Palestine. This book covers key events such as the pioneering efforts to establish collective farms, the inauguration of Jewish defense organizations, the Balfour Declaration, and the formation of the British Mandate. Stein focuses on the gradual but persistent consolidation of the Jewish community as a self-contained body, looking closely at important institutions such as the Trade Union Federation, as well as the development of political parties. Later chapters chronicle the growing strife with the Arab population and the disintegration of the British Mandate, which would eventually culminate in the declaration of a Jewish state.

Reviews

"Eminently readable, this book presents a balanced, sensible and accurate rendition of the major events leading up to the formation of the State of Israel. It would appeal to the knowledgeable and non-informed reader alike."-Anita Shapira Tel Aviv University
"I do not think there is any other serious history of this period that is so well written and which makes such good use of the best up-to-date scholarship."-Alan Dowty University of Notre Dame
"Leslie Stein's book, The Rise of Modern Israel, is an excellent and balanced summary of a subject of enormous difficulty. Almost everyone who has written about the creation of Israel amidst repetitive clashes and wars with the Palestinians has been very much a partisan. This summary statement by Leslie Stein is as fair as one can be. For anyone who wants to understand the beginnings of Israel, this new book is a trustworthy introduction."-Arthur Hertzberg New York University
"This is a concise and reliable history of the establishment of the state of Israel from the beginnings in the 19th century to the War of Independence based on wide reading of all the relevant literature, both the classic works and the more recent studies. It is matter of fact, refreshingly free of academic jargon and current fashions such as post-Zionism."-Walter Laqueur Center for Strategic and International Studies
"This well-written book provides a comprehensive and lucid account of the rise of modern Israel."-Avigdor Levy Brandeis University

Author Bio

Leslie Stein is a Senior Research Fellow at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia.