Israel: A History, Martin Gilbert, (1998) was a Christmas present from my brother which I had been saving until I had time to read 700 pages of history in one go. It is strange reading a history which I have also watched on television and read in my newspapers  throughout my life. Some I remember with clarity, other bits surprised me - was the invasion of Lebanon really in 1982 at the same time as the Falklands War? I had never put the two events together. 

Gilbert argues that the Jews have created a thriving nation out of barely occupied wilderness and desert, creating one homeland for the Jewish Diaspora whilst the Arabs have 5 nations in which to live and express themselves. There should be space for both communities to live together. He contrasts the way in which Jewish refugees were integrated into the new nation whilst Palestinian refugees were left in refugee camps by their Arab hosts in a deliberate policy of fermenting aggression towards Israel. He argues that the ideal of Zionism expressed through the first twenty years of Israel as a nation benefited Israeli Jew and Israeli Arab alike but that from the moment Israel became an occupying power on the West Bank and Gaza that the ideal was running into problems. With the political change from Labour's social democratic principals to Likud's hardline nationalist agenda and the rise of a more militant Islamic movement a peaceful solution was always going to be harder. Gilbert clearly believes that The Oslo Agreements were a chance, but he concludes the book still grieving the death of  Rabin and concerned by the renewed settlement policies of Netanyahu.

I found myself reflecting on my own attitude towards Israel - sympathy for the need for a homeland; the logic of going ahead in 1947; amazement at the way in which they defeated their more populous better armed neighbours in 1948, 1956, 1967 and 1973; wonder at their ability to create a sustainable economy from refugees moving into a desert; but then sadness when confidence increased aggression: anger at their policies on the West Bank; confusion at those who work against any peaceful solution; sympathy for the plight of the Arab population and then the frustration of the missing last ten years! - although it looks like there is an updated version being published in September - I will need to sneak into the corner of a bookshop and read the last two chapters.

For anyone who wants a broad overview of the history of Israel - the idea, the implementation, the political and military campaigns - this seems like a good source.

And then it was time to move onto something completely different - a book that has been doing the rounds of St. Andrew's Coffee Morning.  Unveiled: Nuns Talking, Mary Loudon (1992) is ten conversation with Nuns and Sisters living in Religious Communities. It is a fascinating read as they tell of their background, their calling - some to enclosed communities, some to apostolic communities (living in a community but working in the wider world), their life, their frustrations and their faith. There was much to think about - the way in which God calls each of us to the place we are to be; the way in which we respond to Gods call; what it means to live in poverty, what they understand and how they have been impacted by chastity and obedience; the changes there have been as each Order responds to a changing society; the different ways of life that each woman has led and is leading; the challenges of contemplative life or an apostolic life. If you spot a copy somewhere - well worth a read.

Anyway, time to go and pack ready for Stokes Bay Festival, which starts tomorrow - I will return when I find and then figure out how to use a wi-fi hotspot.