Land and Power: The Zionist Resort to Force 1881-1948 (Stanford Studies in Jewish History and Culture)

About this book

This book traces the history of attitudes toward power and the use of armed force within the Zionist movementfrom an early period in which most leaders espoused an ideal of peaceful settlement in Palestine to the acceptance of force as a legitimate tool for achieving a sovereign Jewish state. Reviews "A rich and sophisticated work that nicely complements more conventional political-historical studies of the Arab-Israeli conflict. . . . Shapira sifts through a vast body of material ranging from essays poems and memoir literature to the unpublished minutes of political party and youth group meetings. Shapira interprets these sources with sensitivity and insight . . . and writes with power compassion and warmth. . . . A landmark book that is an outstanding contribution to the history of Zionist political thought and culture." American Historical Review "This is a superb book . . . a well-researched detailed and scholarly account that provides new and valuable insights into the dilemma posed by the formation and elaboration of a more forceful Israeli military posture." The Historian "Shapiras powerful well-written lucid intellectual history of a segment of the Zionist movement . . . is fascinating and easy to read." Journal of Economic Literature