Let’s face it: there’s only so much TV and food that one can (and should) consume while trapped at home during COVID-19 lockdown. That’s why this is a great opportunity to finally hunker down with a great book.
But which one?
The topic is obvious — Israel — because after all, you’re an ardent Zionist. But there are still so many options to choose from.
No need to panic, we’ve got you covered!
Here are five books about Israel that will have you gripping the pages from cover to cover.
1. The Battle for the Zionist Idea by Matan Peleg
Behind the booming innovation, vibrant culture and ancient history, there is a titanic battle of ideas raging in Israel.
On one side, those striving to maintain Jewish independence; on the other, those seeking to erode it.
This is the complex political reality that Im Tirtzu CEO Matan Peleg masterfully outlines in The Battle for the Zionist Idea, a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the current political challenges facing the State of Israel from within.
2. Anonymous Soldiers: The Struggle for Israel, 1917-1947 by Bruce Hoffman
Can terrorism achieve political goals? That’s the million dollar question that Georgetown University Professor Bruce Hoffman aims to answer in Anonymous Soldiers.
In a remarkably well-researched work, Hoffman traces the activities of the Jewish underground and its impact on Britain’s decision to leave Palestine and forfeit the Mandate back to the United Nations.
This is the most comprehensive account of the activities carried out by the Jewish underground that you will ever read – guaranteed!
3. Genesis, 1948 by Dan Kurzman
If you’re looking to learn more about Israel’s establishment and fight for independence – look no further.
Journalist and military historian Dan Kurzman offers an extensively researched account of Israel’s War of Independence and the events proceeding it.
Kurzman’s unique style of writing, accompanied by dozens of interviews of those who fought in the war, makes Genesis, 1948 an historical treasure that cannot be passed up.
4. Israel: A History by Martin Gilbert
Yet another masterpiece by Sir Martin Gilbert, Israel: A History is the go-to book for a comprehensive account of Israeli history.
Sir Gilbert takes the reader through key events in Israel’s history, from the War of Independence and the Six Day War to the First Lebanon War and Second Intifada.
This page-turner is required reading for anyone looking for a general historical account of the State of Israel.
5. Six Days of War by Michael Oren
An internationally acclaimed bestseller, Six Days of War seamlessly tells the story of Israel’s historic victory against Egypt, Jordan, and Syria in June 1967
Oren’s use of rich historical research together with a captivating method of story-telling makes Six Days of War an obvious choice.
