In Israel, changes in history teaching and the publication of new history textbooks in recent years triggered a stormy public controversy that went far beyond the content of the books themselves. The disputes over how history should be taught revealed the state of transition that had characterized Israeli society since the beginning of the 1990s.…

This essay is based on the author's book, "The Palestine Mandate and the Creation of Israel." As the sixtieth anniversary of Israel's independence in May 2008 approaches, that country remains a focal point of world attention. Israel's origins do much to explain why the Arab-Israeli conflict has been so hard to resolve, but also provide a…

Argues that the subject matter of history should be presented in terms of conflicting ideas and agenda rather than merely outcomes. Reviews theoretical approaches to history instruction and related policies in Israel, highlighting progressive and reactionary movements. Describes the Oranim group, history teachers who incorporate social-democratic…