This book was the brainchild of Professor Jehuda Reinharz. On one of his visits to Israel he approached me and proposed that I undertake the writing of a comprehensive history of Israel, from the beginnings of the Zionist movement until the present day. Most histories of Israel focus on the Arab-Jewish conflict. He had in mind a more ambitious project: without shying away from examining the conflict, the history should encompass internal Jewish politics, immigration and nation building, the economy and social landscape, as well as their cultural and ideological underpinnings. I accepted the challenge, feeling that the time was ripe for such an endeavor. Professor Ilan Troen followed closely the writing of this book and shared with me his experience teaching Israel Studies at Brandeis University. Sylvia Fuks Fried orchestrated the many stages of the whole project. I am delighted that the book appears in the Brandeis University Press Schusterman Series in Israel Studies.
Understandably, such a book could not be based solely on my own scholarship and research into primary sources. I relied, of course, on my vast expertise in Zionist and Israeli history, acquired through forty years of research and study. But in some chapters, especially those dealing with the more recent past, I made use of secondary sources, and benefited from the advice of scholars with expertise in specific subjects and areas of study. The following scholars graciously read individual chapters, and their suggestions helped me shape the text: Mordechai Bar-On, chapters 7 and 12; Jacob Metzer, chapters 9 and 18; Yaron Tsur, chapter 10; Motti Golani, chapter 12; Aryeh Naor, chapter 17; Itamar Rabinovich, chapters 18 and 19; Nissim Leon, chapter 18; Sara Ossietzky-Lazar, chapter 19.
Dr. Nurit Cohen-Levinovsky was my assistant in this project. She was of immense help to me, hunting down sources, checking facts and details, and keeping me out of trouble. She also oversaw the production of the maps designed by the cartographer, Reuven Soffer.
Anthony Berris, a modest kibbutznik from Beit Haʿemek, produced a wonderful translation of my Hebrew text; Stephanie Golden polished it and gave it its final form. I am greatly indebted to both of them.
Miriam Hoffman and Anina Selve of Brandeis University deftly managed administrative matters; Dr. John R. Hose, governor of Brandeis University Press, was thoroughly supportive of this book from the start; Phyllis Deutsch, editor-in-chief, and the entire staff at the University Press of New England contributed their editorial and design expertise. I am grateful to all of them.
ANITA SHAPIRA • TEL AVIV, 2012