This is the only book you need to read in order to understand the complexities of the modern Middle East. Unlike most writing on the Arab-Israeli conflict, which combines myth and polemic, How Israel Was Won is a balanced, well researched, and insightful history of Israel in the twentieth century. Baylis Thomas's concise history synthesizes for the general reader the vast number of historical studies and recently declassified documents from the United States and Israel to create a sophisticated and completely original interpretation of this conflict. The narrative examines the charged ideological minefield of Israeli and Palestinian relations to reveal the complex story behind Israel's founding, its early struggle for survival, and its movements toward reconciliation with its Arab neighbors. Thomas also investigates the critical, self-interested roles played by Great Britain, France, the Soviet Union, and the United States, and he explores the political and psychological attitudes of the protagonists and the international community at large. How Israel Was Won is the most current and most accessible account of the Arab-Israeli conflict written to date. To understand the events behind tonight's breaking news in the Middle East, read this book.