Winner Takes All

A portrait of a deeply complex society, laying bare the contradictions that make Israel both problematic and fascinating. The author views it as a country in a constant state of military alert and at the same time the least militarist by inclination. He describes it as a secular state increasingly dominated by ultra-Orthodox forces. The founding fathers were European Jews who now find themselves outnumbered by Oriental Jews. Israelis, whatever their origin and politics, now find themselves increasingly in confrontation with a rapidly growing Palestinian population. The clash of rival Jewish and Arab nationalism seems increasingly intractable. The kibbutzim, repositories of political idealism are close to bankruptcy. Although he found Israelis to be urban and highly cultured people they could at the same time be curt and ill-mannered. Aggression and fear, the author reveals, walks hand in hand and Jerusalem, a beautiful and unique city is filled with tension. Stephen Brook has also written "The Club: The Jews of Modern Britain".