Suggested Readings About Israel
Key Dates for Eretz Yisrael
A chronological foundation — from ancient roots to the present day.
Ancient & Classical Period
Mandate Era & Founding of the State
Recent Decades
Books by Subject
Organized thematically for focused, progressive reading.
Jerusalem
Dome of the Rock seen from the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Creative Commons
Archaeology
Archaeologist at Tel Zeitah, courtesy of Uzi Baram
The Region
Israel shown on Google Earth
Geography plays a key role in the conflict, starting with the British survey and then historical maps — opening an avenue for studying the spatial aspects of history.
The Ottoman Empire:
Map of the Ottoman Empire at its Height. Creative Commons
British Mandate for Palestine:
Arrival of Sir Herbert Samuel, British Mandate High Commissioner 6/30/20 Library of Congress
Colonialism came to the eastern Mediterranean in the aftermath of the First World War. In hindsight, some see the decades of their grandparents or parents in a positive light — that is a colonial amnesia.
Zionism:
Arrival of Sir Herbert Samuel, British Mandate High Commissioner 6/30/20 Library of Congress
Discussions of the nationalist movement are varied; reading Herzl's vision, the debates of the 2010s, and having an introduction is probably a good start.
The State of Israel:
There are many books on Israel and everyone has their favorites. Here is a sampling to start broadening the view.
Palestinian History & Identity:
The contest over Palestinian identity and life in Israel makes for a challenging intellectual terrain. Here is a sampling that offers important entry points for understanding the Palestinian nationalist movement.
Proposals — A Sampling of Solutions:
There are more publications on solutions to the conflict than histories.
Key Names:
Key Names from Ottoman Imperial Rule to early Israeli Statehood
Ancient & Classical Period
Prime Ministers of the State of Israel
Key Primary Documents with Links
Key Names from Ottoman Imperial Rule to early Israeli Statehood