The Land Beyond Promise: Power, Politics and Ideology from Begin to Netanyahu - Softcover

Shindler, Colin

Softcover

ISBN 10: 186064774X ISBN 13: 9781860647741

Publisher: I.B. Tauris, 2001

Synopsis

A critical appraisal of the right-wing Likud government's rule in Israel from 1977-1992. The different ideological origins of both Begin and Shamir are examined, as well as how far they were influenced by pre-war nationalist models in Pilsudski's Poland and Mussolini's Italy. Exploring Begin's involvement with revisionist Zionism since 1931 and his lifelong struggle to extend Israel's sovereignty, the book focuses on such key issues as Begin's election victory, his rationale for invading Lebanon in 1982 and his invocation of the Holocaust in political debate. Looking at Shamir's political background from his days in the Stern Group through to his sudden return to party politics, Shindler explains why he was able to hold on to power for so long, and looks at his confrontation with the Bush Administration.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

This is the first book to appraise critically the Likud government's rule - from 1977 to 1992 - and the version of Zionism that is central to Likud's ideology. Colin Shindler examines afresh the political forces which moulded the world outlook of both Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Shamir and shows how they were influenced by the pre-war nationalism of Pilsudski's Poland and Mussolini's Italy - as well as by the IRA's early campaign as an important example of anti-British revolt. Shindler details the political basis of Jabotinsky's revisionist Zionist movement and Begin's lifelong struggle to extend Israel's sovereignty to the West Bank and to the East Bank - the present-day Kingdom of Jordan. He explains such key issues as Begin's unexpected election victory in 1977, his rationale for invading Lebanon in 1982, and his regular invocation of the Holocaust in political debate. Shamir's background is examined in detail from his days in the Stern 'Gang' through to his sudden return to party politics and his meteoric rise in the Likud. The book then explains why - despite the grey contrast he presented to Begin's passion and melodrama - Shamir stayed in power longer than any other Israeli Prime Minister apart from David Ben-Guron. Also examined is Shamir's confrontation with the Bush Administration, his successor Benjamin Netanyahu's use of public relations and Likud attitudes towards Palestinian nationalism. The book concludes with further evaluation of Netanyahu and the crisis within the Likud caused by the Arafat-Rabin handshake.

About the Author:

Colin Shindler is Fellow in Israeli Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. He was formerly the editor of Jewish Quarterly and Judaism Today .

About this edition

• Publisher: I.B. Tauris
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 186064774X
• ISBN 13: 9781860647741
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 360