One of the New York Times' 100 Notable Books for 2023

A correspondent who has spent thirty years in Israel presents a rich, wide-ranging portrait of the Israeli people at a critical juncture in their country's history.

Despite Israel's determined staying power in a hostile environment, its military might, and the innovation it fosters in businesses globally, the country is more divided than ever. The old guard - socialist secular elites and idealists - are a dying breed, and the state's democratic foundations are being challenged. A dynamic and exuberant country of nine million, Israel now largely comprises native-born Hebrew speakers, and yet any permanent sense of security and normalcy is elusive.

In The Land of Hope and Fear, we meet Israelis - Jews and Arabs, religious and secular, Eastern and Western, liberals and zealots - plagued by perennial conflict and existential threats. Its citizens remain deeply polarised politically, socially, and ideologically, even as they undergo generational change and redefine what it is to be an Israeli. Who are these people, and to what do they aspire?

In moving narratives and with on-the-ground reporting, Isabel Kershner reveals the core of what holds Israel together and the forces that threaten its future through the lens of real people, laying bare the question, Who is an Israeli?

About the Author
Isabel Kershner was born and raised in Manchester, England, and graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Oriental Studies. After working for a political-risk consultancy in London, she migrated to Israel. In 2007, she became a correspondent for The New York Times in Jerusalem, covering both Israeli and Palestinian politics and society. Previously, she was a senior editor for the Middle East and Palestinian affairs at The Jerusalem Report. She is the author of Barrier: the seam of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. She has been living with her family in Jerusalem since 1990.

Reviews

'A masterly and poignant portrait.'

-- Lloyd Green * The Guardian *

'Isabel Kershner's comprehensive mapping of the challenges facing the Zionist Dream creates a bold and compelling portrait of modern-day Israel - its complexities and polarising passions and commitments - and does it with great empathy and deep concern.'

-- Dorit Rabinyan, author of All the Rivers

'For all those looking for a book that provides an understanding of what Israel has become as it approaches its 75th year, this is it! The Land of Hope and Fear is a rich and wondrous tale told through the agonising and uplifting stories of Israel's many tribes ... Isabel Kershner brings a keen eye and a vivid style to her unique portrait of the Sabra nation.'

-- Martin Indyk, author of Master of the Game, and former US ambassador to Israel

'Once I started reading The Land of Hope and Fear I couldn't put it down until I finished. For someone living in this country it felt nonetheless as if I was learning about it for the first time. With masterful style, Isabel Kershner peels off all the outer layers of society's multifaceted aspects as these are seen by an onlooker, revealing them through the personal stories and eyes of the individuals themselves hidden behind their typologies. Whether one sympathises or not, one understands more. Israel in its tumultuous eighth decade is laid bare, its inner strengths and weaknesses enmeshed in a vibrant dynamic that both promises and forewarns.'

-- Sari Nusseibeh, author of Once Upon a Country

'One might not think that another book about Israel needed to be written. And yet Isabel Kershner has written one that needs to be read. For anyone trying to understand the reality of Israel today, its remarkable dynamism and its political, social, religious, and 'tribal' differences, The Land of Hope and Fear provides extraordinary insight.'

-- Dennis Ross, former US envoy to the Middle East and the author of Doomed to Succeed

'[The Land of Hope and Fear] delivers an in-depth look at the tribes that compete and clash within the Promised Land. Painstakingly researched, the book is the product of scores of interviews coupled with living on the ground for more than three decades. Kershner knows of what she writes.'

-- Lloyd Green * The Guardian *

'The Land of Hope and Fear details the bitter civil war for the future of Israel's soul. Seventy-five years after the birth of modern Israel, Isabel Kershner's book illustrates how the political and social conflicts that shaped the nation's founding have persisted, if not deepened ... In a crowded landscape of writing about Israel, Kershner's new book is an essential contribution ... it will spark critical conversation about the history and future of Israel.'

-- Alex Katz, Natan Notable Books judge

'Kershner reflects on both the history and future of the state of Israel by delving into the present and illuminating what is and always has been the soul of Israel: its people ... Kershner uses her many years as a journalist to bring out the stories that shape the Israeli narrative.'

'This excellent book ... paints a realistic, nuanced picture of Israel, exploring the Jewish state's spirit of innovation, its identity politics, its culture wars and its inability to agree a border with the Palestinians ... Kershner's comprehensive, accessible book should be compulsory reading before any trip to Israel.'

-- Colin Schindler * The Jewish Chronicle *

'Compelling ... [The Land of Hope and Fear] offers an insightful overview of Israel's complex struggles ... A well-reported study of Israel's rapidly shifting cultural and religious environment.'

* Kirkus Reviews *

'With the sharp eye of an experienced reporter, a profound understanding of Israel, its internal conflicts, weaknesses and strengths, and with a great love for the country and its people, Isabel Kershner went on a fascinating journey into the minds and souls of current Israelis, Jews, and Arabs. Seventy-five years after its birth, the Jewish state is still struggling over its identity. The Land of Hope and Fear is a must-read book for people who wish to understand why and how.'

-- Nahum Barnea * Yedioth Ahronoth *

'Masterful ... Kershner enriches her analysis of the forces roiling modern Israel through incisive conversations with individual Israelis ... Nuanced and persuasive, this is a valuable dispatch from a country in turmoil.'

-- Publishers Weekly, starred review

'Through outstanding writing, [Kershner] introduces us to a diverse cast of characters ... The book provides tantalising historical nuggets... Her narrative makes clear that the splits in Israeli society and politics aren't new, but go back to its earliest days.'

-- Alan D. Abbey * Hadassah Magazine *

'The New York Times correspondent's compelling history identifies the issues that have polarised a country now split by far-right extremists.'

-- Matthew Reisz * The Observer *


Awards
Winner of Natan Notable Books Award 2023 (United States).



Book Information
ISBN 9781915590220
Author Isabel Kershner
Format Hardback
Page Count 384
Imprint Scribe Publications
Publisher Scribe Publications
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 153mm * 30mm