The Land Beyond Promise: Israel, Likud and the Zionist Dream

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A critical appraisal of the right-wing Likud government's rule in Israel from 1977-1992. The different ideological origins of both Begin and Shamir are examined, as well as how far they were influenced by pre-war nationalist models in Pilsudski's Poland and Mussolini's Italy. Exploring Begin's involvement with revisionist Zionism since 1931 and his lifelong struggle to extend Israel's sovereignty, the book focuses on such key issues as Begin's election victory, his rationale for invading Lebanon in 1982 and his invocation of the Holocaust in political debate. Looking at Shamir's political background from his days in the Stern Group through to his sudden return to party politics, Shindler explains why he was able to hold on to power for so long, and looks at his confrontation with the Bush Administration.

Reviews

"A solid historical account of the Likud movement..." --Political Affairs

"The author possesses a gift of knowing how to preserve the sense of pace and excitement that is the mark of Israeli politics." --International Affairs

Author Bio

Colin Shindler is Fellow in Israeli Studies at SOAS at the University of London. He was formerly the editor of Jewish Quarterly and Judaism Today .