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?

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‘A masterly and poignant portrait.’

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‘[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.’

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‘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.’

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‘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.’

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‘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.’

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‘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.’

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