A Brief History of Israel explores the past of this modern country and its lengthy Jewish history with an ernphasis on the period since Israel's independence in 1948. It is a complex story of a people and their modern state, established thousands of years after the destruction of the old one. The story of the independent nation of Israel is narrated against a backdrop of exile, anti-Semitism, Zionism, and the Holocaust - all of which have helped shape the nature of the current state. Telling the story from the time of Abraham and the period of the Israelite kingdoms to World War II and the United Nations Partition Plan, this volume also focuses on the independent country of Israel, exploring in great detail the fabric of the modern state. Sidebars, including major documents, photographs, and maps, as well as extensive appendixes enrich this comprehensive volume. Placing the political, economic, and cultural events of today into a broad historical context, A Brief History of Israel is a must-have resource for anyone interested in learning more about this deeply religious country.