"I do not think there is any other serious history of this period that is so well written and which makes such good use of the best up-to-date scholarship."-Alan Dowty University of Notre Dame

"Eminently readable, this book presents a balanced, sensible and accurate rendition of the major events leading up to the formation of the State of Israel. It would appeal to the knowledgeable and non-informed reader alike."-Anita Shapira Tel Aviv University

"This is a concise and reliable history of the establishment of the state of Israel from the beginnings in the 19th century to the War of Independence based on wide reading of all the relevant literature, both the classic works and the more recent studies. It is matter of fact, refreshingly free of academic jargon and current fashions such as post-Zionism."-Walter Laqueur Center for Strategic and International Studies

"Leslie Stein's book, The Rise of Modern Israel, is an excellent and balanced summary of a subject of enormous difficulty. Almost everyone who has written about the creation of Israel amidst repetitive clashes and wars with the Palestinians has been very much a partisan. This summary statement by Leslie Stein is as fair as one can be. For anyone who wants to understand the beginnings of Israel, this new book is a trustworthy introduction."-Arthur Hertzberg New York University