My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel Hardcover – January 1, 2013

Told mainly through a series of vignettes and interviews, this fine book builds toward one overarching conclusion, namely that Israel, as it currently stands (politically, socially and demographically), is a country living on borrowed time.It is, at once, the idealistic, romantic story of Israel's 19th century beginnings, which ever so quickly folds into the initial conflicts with Palestinian neighbors, followed by conflicts ever more intense with each succeeding decade, and leading ultimately to the situation today in which a prosperous and powerful country of 6 million people is surrounded by 3 or 4 hundred million Arabs who, for the most part, wish they weren't there.The author, Ari Shavit, a proud Israeli citizen, sees his country as a land careening toward disaster unless and until it threads the needle out of the vortex in which it now finds itself. In a certain sense, this is a 'Waiting for Godot' story in which it appears that no solution is anywhere in sight. For there is, for certain, a poison cup in this land from which both sides drunk deeply.So profoundly distressing and so dangerous is the current situation that, at least to me, the only possible present path forward would seem to be a long series of moderating mini-steps that might, over time, ever so gradually dissipate the fear and hostility that today governs the multiple 'players and parties' who inhabit this troubled land.

For anyone interested in Israel and the Mideast, this is a fascinating book. Particularly interesting are the chapters on Zionism in the '30's, the War of Independence in 1948, and the Israeli nuclear program. It is unprecendented in my opinion to hear the Palestinian point of view fairly presented in a book that is overall pro-Israel. Reading it one comes to a better understanding of the depths of the grievances of the Palestinians and why peace is so hard to achieve. The bottom line is, unlike other "settled" countries which had huge expanses of land and small indigenous populations like the U.S., Canada, and Australia, Palestine was small and had a significant Arab population. Constructing the Jewish state led to significant displacement of these peoples but without this displacement there would be no Jewish state. Can't we all just get along? Reading this book one must conclude unfortunately that isn't going to happen anytime soon. The only criticism is that at times the author, who is overall a very good writer, is at times simply too wordy and repetitive.

This book is not (and doesn’t claim to be) an accurate history. It contains glaring errors.For instance, an entire chapter is devoted to (Laborite) Shmaryahu Gutman, whose key achievement, for the author, is erecting - in the lead up to the 1948 War of Independence - ancient Masada (the mountaintop fortress where Jews made their suicidal last stand against Herod’s Romans 2,000 years ago) as a stirring symbol for Israeli youth.However, the (Labor) opposition Revisionist movement lionised Masada decades before Gutman.In fact, Shavit even refers in his book to the hanging of Shlomo Ben Yosef (“the first Jewish terrorist”) in 1938.21-year old Ben Yosef (in)famously declared before being executed (for attempting to murder Arab civilians in a retaliatory attack): “To die or to conquer the hill (Yodefet, Masada, Betar)” - these Masada-inspired lines drawn from the Revisionist youth movement anthem he had grown up with.Ben Yosef’ declaration is a very well known Zionist historical incident. It seems almost inconceivable to me that Shavit would not be aware of this (pre-Gutman) Masada link.But no matter, for the author pretty clearly stresses that “My Promised Land” is his own “personal journey” and NOT a history. The finished product is certainly personal, and - on balance - an excellent, quietly passionate and instructive polemic.There are parts of it that bored me witless, but there are huge - shocking - factoids as well:- the Ofra leader who openly shares with Shavit his dispassionate plans for blowing up the Dome of the Rock;- Defence Minister Dayan empathetically defending a Gaza Palestinian at the funeral of an Israeli soldier he murdered (the Palestinian, not Dayan);- the former top engineer at the Dimona nuclear plant essentially telling Shavit that Israel ought to nuke Iran before Iran nukes Israel;- technicolor details of deliberate (and deliberately low key), systematic, mass-scale disenfranchisement of Palestinians by Jewish leaders.The author is a bit of a hand-wringing Nellie, for mine - and a bit slippery too, not only vis-a-vis the tailored information, but also in the way he seems to drool at several points in the book over “slim ... good looking” young people (cf, you can’t help it, the sordid accusations against him in recent years) ...... But My Promised Land is a really good, thought provoking book, a quality piece of work.

A VERY well-written, in-depth look inside Israel, and at all that surrounds it.Whatever you think of how the nation was born, and how it has handled itself since, it's a fascinating, mostly dark story.I hope the future - for Israel and its neighbours - is brighter, and there are some things here to give you hope, along with more things to make you worry.How could a people who suffered so much then inflict suffering on others, and kick them off their land? Why in 70 years haven't all sides been able to sit down and talk, and why when it was attempted did one side or other refuse to listen?What has the outside world done to help, and why has it helped one side at times, and the other side at times? There are a million questions, that a lot of very intelligent people over the years have been unable to answer.Interesting, how secularism could alter everything, and how the Arab Spring has kept people otherwise engaged, or things could have reached a head already. Interesting, some critics' take on this book, how it is an exercise in liberal hand-wringing, concealing another agenda, an apologist's agenda. And interesting how passionately he can write on behalf of his non-Jewish friends, and see it from their perspective and agree, over and over, that the way Israel took land was wrong and still needs to be addressed.It's a subject that splits us, and confuses outsiders from every side, but I think this book has great value for those of us too far away to properly grasp every single detail. I went to Tel Aviv once, found it fascinating but with an unmistakeable paranoia and a bit intimidating, too. I have seen parallels much closer to my home, with a lot of what happened in Northern Ireland and all of Ireland.At least this book made me think about it all, and view it from new perspectives, and witness an Israeli who admits openly there have been plenty mistakes on both sides.Clearly, a country that will be in the news for years to come. Wouldn't it be nice if we could all get along, settle historical differences and find a liveable solution for everyone? Sadly, it's unlikely. Meantime, Israel does have to protect itself, and Palestine does have to keep asking when they will get their land back. I wouldn't want to be the politician who is left to sort it all out.Thank you, sir, a very interesting book.

It is an important book to read but it has its blind spots. Overall his love of Israel and pride in its achievements shines through and it is a thoughtful and cutting analysis. Key personalities with their strengths and weaknesses loom large on the page. Like so many Israeli's of conscience it is not reticent in pointing out where in his judgement mistakes and wrongdoings have been committed. But while he highlights the 'blindness' of the early Zionists in recognising the significance of the Arabs who also regarded the land as their home, he continues to be blind to the Palestinians as dynamic counterparts to the story of Israel and as key players in the current dilemma's. They are not given agency or responsibility.

I grew up after the war when information about the holocaust was being made known. I remember the shock and horror that overwhelmed me as a child and has stayed with me all my life. In the 60's I had many Jewish friends some born in Israel some who had fought for Israel. We were all enthusiastic about changing the world and the vision and energy of The State of Israel was inspiring. I admit that my reactions to the events happening in Israel since then have been simplistic and fuelled by my gut reaction that we cannot allow Israel to be wiped off the map.Reading this beautifully written ruthlessly honest book has opened my mind to the complex multi-faceted society Israel has become.Ari's book has me exultant about the triumphs, weeping about the tragedies and horrified by the actions some Israelis have and are taking to defend themselves.My heart aches for all the Jews and Arabs caught up in this painful painful situation.

Have finished the excellent My Promised Land. I learnt lots either that I did not know at all or colouring in of stuff I sort of knew, by explaining and linking the history in a human and unbiased fashion. I'm no expert about books on this topic, but it certainly seems to be a book of its time for its time: a balanced 'must read'.As I read the first half of the book I wished the story telling and clear balance was augmented with Palestinian voices. And then in the second half, there they were. Perhaps all the more powerful for having held off these testimonies until then.In a few places the style was arrogant. More often it was repetitive in the reflective passages. And, especially towards the end, it was too eulogistic about Israel and Israelis. I'm not referring to the right or wrong of the merits of Israel or Israelis, but to the eulogising itself. It serves only to undermine the otherwise balanced narrative by hinting at bias.I felt the last third of the book lost the focus of what had come before and, as more reflective sections came in made me think, as I was reading, that one of his interviewees might have been right in accusing Shavit of 'thinking too much'. That said, once I finished and reflected on what I'd learnt, I admit I found it helpful to follow Shavit's introspective thoughts.However, these are relatively petty asides, the book was unputdownable. It's just a shame that (in my humble opinion) these petty asides give the critics of this liberal left opinion their entry points for attack.

"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but they're not entitled to their own facts." according to US Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. One might indeed be entitled to an opinion, but actually, unless it is informed by facts, it's worthless. So much of what gets said and written about what is happening in Israel is vacuous and uninformed - that's a fact, not my opinionIf you want a brilliant perspective on Israel, I strongly recommend that you read My Promised Land by Ari Shavit. I promise that your opinion will be worth hearing after reading his fantastic book.