Israel (Modern World Nations)

Age 12 and up

This book attempts to describe the geography, cultural milieu, and history of modern Israel. The description of the geography and the problems modern Israelis encountered and solved in living in such a harsh environment is detailed and accurate. The author points out that Israel is a land that welcomes many cultures and that it has been enriched by its diversity. The author traces Israel's history back to Abraham, making the common error of confusing Biblical accounts of the Jewish people with historical documentation of the founding of Israel. The text does, however, point out that the three major religions that hold Israel as a sacred land consider Abraham the progenitor of their common belief in monotheism. Unfortunately, the author reduces two thousand years of history to two pages in this book. He then concentrates on the more recent violent struggles between Israel and Palestine. The book even includes mention of the kidnapping of three Israeli soldiers and the subsequent Israeli incursion into Lebanon this past summer. Although not perfect, this is one of the better books recently published about Israel. It struggles to include positive information about the many Israeli modern scientific innovations and makes a point of relating several programs Israel has developed to work with all its Middle Eastern neighbors to solve common ecological problems.
The book contains a useful appendix called "Facts at a Glance." It also has an index, bibliography, and additional sources of interest, including acceptable web sites. This book should prove useful to students doing research on Israel and the Middle East.