A New Israel, Democracy In Crisis 1973-1988: Essays

420 pp. "This book is a collection of incisive and illuminating essays on Israeli politics and society written by Avishai, also author of The Tragedy of Zionism ( LJ 9/15/85). The essays, some of which appeared in The New York Review of Books , do not provide a history of Israel but rather a chronicle of one very astute observer's reflections as Israeli history unfolded before him. In hindsight, some of these essays turned out to be remarkably prophetic; others were considerably off-base. But all of them offer penetrating insights, especially on the causes and course of the ascent of the Israeli Right and the concomitant failure of the Left to respond effectively. This collection will be valuable for students and scholars and should also be well received by the thoughtful layperson."