Sachar (emeritus, history, George Washington U.) presents a general political and economic history of Israel intended in large part for university students and general readers that begins with the forerunners of the modern Zionist movement in the late 19th century and, with this new edition, continues through 2006. While generally sympathetic to the Israeli national project, Sachar is not uncritical of some of its political tendencies, be they from "an aggressive minority of fundamentalist zealots," "colonialist militants," or "transgressors of public morality." Annotation ©2007 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)