Description
Book SynopsisThe history of modern Israel is a story of ambition, violence, and survival.
Return to Zion traces how a scattered and stateless people reconstituted themselves in their traditional homeland, only to face threats by those who, during the many years of the dispersion, had come to regard the land as their home.
Trade Review"Gartman's writing is particularly effective at making the reader feel as if he were present during meetings, where one could cut the tension with a knife. . . . His account will satisfy anyone who wants to take it one step beyond what we already know about Israel and focus on the human element of its struggles."
—Daniel Schere,
Baltimore Jewish Times"A thorough, proficient overview that quietly hums a pro-Jewish tune."
—Kirkus"Readers interested in a concise history of Israel, especially those who believe in her right to exist, will appreciate this book."
—Laurie Unger Skinner,
Library Journal"
Return to Zion is an insightful work of scholarship which explains the struggle for a Jewish state in an innovative way."
—Washington Book Review"This book is written in a popular style and based on impressive research. The work succeeds as both an overview and as a reference source."
—Libby K. White, Jewish Book Council
"A seamless look into modern Israel's truest self."Dov Peretz Elkins,
Jewish Media Review"This book deserves its place in the lexicon of Comprehensive modern Israeli histories."
—Laura Schutzman,
Association of Jewish Libraries Review“
Return to Zion is a very good overview of the history of Israel. For laypersons and scholars alike, they will get a very good picture of the evolution of Israel done in a readable way and filled with insights.”—Ambassador Dennis Ross, author of
Doomed to Succeed: The U.S.-Israel Relationship from Truman to Obama "This is a very readable history of Israel and an excellent look at what happened and why it happened."
—Amos Lassen
“Highly readable and engaging; a persuasive effort to explain the story of Israel—what happened and why. New data from declassified U.S. documents are welcome and illuminating.”—Daniel Mandel, ZOA Center for Middle East Policy and author of
H. V. Evatt and the Establishment of IsraelTable of ContentsList of IllustrationsPrefaceAcknowledgmentsIntroduction: No Master but God1. A Pillar of Fire on the Road to Zion: Beginning of the Return, 1881–18962. An Eye toward Zion: The Zionist Movement Ascendant, 1896–19183. It Is Good to Die for Our Country: Tension under the British Mandate, 1918–19334. The Great Catastrophe: Jews Flee Nazi Germany while Palestine Erupts, 1933–19395. An Indifferent World, Cold and Cruel: Palestine and the Holocaust, 1939–19466. Nothing Can Keep Us from Our Jewish Homeland: End of the British Mandate, 1946–19477. The Darkest Moment of Our Struggle: War between the Jews and Arabs of Palestine, 1947–19488. We Shall Triumph! Israel’s War of Independence, 1948–19499. A Heavy Burden: The Jewish State Fights to Survive, 1949–195710. Masada Shall Not Fall Again! Years of Growth and Consolidation, 1957–196711. To Live or Perish: The Jewish State Faces a Hostile Ring of Nations, May–June 196712. Israel’s Golden Summer: The Six-Day War and Its Aftermath, 1967–197013. We May Be in Trouble: Buildup to Surprise, 1970–197314. The Destruction of the Third Temple: The Yom Kippur War and Its Consequences, 1973–197715. Nation Shall Not Lift Up Sword against Nation: Camp David Accords, 1977–198116. The Most-Televised War in History: The Lebanon War and the Intifada, 1982–199217. Enough of Blood and Tears! The Oslo Peace Process, 1992–200118. The Third Way: The Second Intifada and Beyond, 2001–2014Conclusion: Why Masada Did Not FallNotesBibliographyIndex
