Now updated to cover the prime ministership of Benyamin Netanyahu and the election of Ehud Barak, this is the most current introduction to Israeli politics and society available today. An enormously engaging and readable book, it conveys a strong sense of everyday life in Israel, the nuances and contradictions of Israeli identity, the ethnic composition and institutional structure of Israeli society, as well as Israeli political culture and the issues that dominate the country's domestic and foreign policy. All of these qualities have made it a favorite not only of students but also of tourists and travelers.