The Promise of Israel: Why Its Seemingly Greatest Weakness Is Actually Its Greatest Strength

Why Israel's greatest weakness is its greatest strength, and what its supporters and enemies can learn from its successIsrael's critics in the West insist that no country founded on a single religion or culture can stay democratic and prosperous—but they're wrong. In The Promise of Israel, Daniel Gordis points out that Israel has defied that conventional wisdom. It has provided its citizens infinitely greater liberty and prosperity than anyone expected, faring far better than any other young nation. Israel's ""magic"" is a unique blend of democracy and tradition, of unabashed particularism coupled to intellectual and cultural openness. Given Israel's success, it would make sense for many other countries, from Rwanda to Afghanistan and even Iran, to look at how they've done it.