Triumph of Military Zionism: Nationalism and the Origins of the Israeli Right

The move to the far right in Israel is often seen as a reaction to the increasingly nationalistic politics of Palestine, but this view is far too simplistic. How and why did Israel shift from a much admired state based on pioneering egalitarianism and ‘making the desert bloom’ to one which is chiefly known for its military might - as dramatically demonstrated against Hamas most recently in Gaza? The Triumph of Military Zionism examines the key players in Israel’s shift to the right, beginning with Abba Achimeir and the advent of Maximalist Zionism. This provocative study is also the first to critically appraise the relationship between Vladimir Jabotinsky and his alleged ‘disciple,’ Menachem Begin. The book uses new scholarship based on original and hitherto unpublished material to challenge the conventional wisdom that Begin was the natural heir to Jabotinsky. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict plays an indisputably important role in shaping the politics of the world as a whole, thus necessitating a comprehensive understanding of the histories and tendencies of the parties involved. Colin Shindler has here produced an invaluable addition to the study of Israel’s political history. He argues that Israel’s shift away from Jabotinsky’s Revisionism and towards Maximalist Zionism was due to the work of Begin and was accomplished through Begin’s selective interpretation of the words of his mentor. This new and fully revised edition of the definitive history of the subject is crucial to a thorough understanding of the view of Israel as a militaristic and even aggressive state. It will appeal to both Middle Eastern and military historians, as well as anyone with an interest in the defining conflict of the current and, undoubtedly, future generations.