This publication offers the most wide-ranging examination to date of an intriguing country, one that is often misunderstood. It serves as a comprehensive reference for the growing field of Israel studies and is also a significant resource for students and scholars of comparative politics, recognizing that in many ways Israel is not unique but rather a test case of democracy in deeply divided societies and states engaged in intense conflict. The Oxford Handbook of Israeli Politics and Society considers the role of external hostilities, but this is not taken as the main determinant of Israel's internal politics. Rather, the Handbook presents an overview of the historical development of Israeli democracy through chapters examining the country's history, contemporary society, political institutions, international relations, and most pressing political issues. This comprehensive volume offers contributions by internationally recognized authorities on their subjects, outlining the most relevant developments over time while not shying away from the strife both in and around Israel. It presents opposed narratives in full force, enabling readers to make their own judgments.

Reuven Y. Hazan is Professor of Political Science and Chair in Israeli Democracy and Politics at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Alan Dowty is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Notre Dame. Menachem Hofnung is Professor of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Gideon Rahat is Professor of Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Senior Fellow at the Israel Democracy Institute.

Introduction to Israeli Politics and Society Reuven Y. Hazan, Alan Dowty, Menachem Hofnung, and Gideon Rahat Part I: Introduction 1. Israel as a Field of Study: A Historical Overview Ilan Troen 2. A Minimal Demographic History of Israel Sergio DellaPergola 3. State and Society Building in Early Israel Orit Rozin 4. Political History of Israel Anita Shapira 5. Democracy in Israel Alan Dowty 6. Israel's Wars David Tal Part II: Israeli Society 7. Sociopolitical Cleavages in Israel Uri Ram 8. Arab Citizens in the "Jewish" State of Israel Itzhak Galnoor 9. Religion, Society, and Politics in Israel Asher Cohen 10. Immigration Dynamics and Changing Constructions of Jewish Nativeness in Israel Adane Zawdu and Sarah S. Willen 11. The Jewish Ethnic Divide and Ethnic Politics in Israel Sammy Smooha 12. Gender in Israel Reut Itzkovitch-Malka 13. Conceptualizing Palestinian Politics in Israel in the Shadow of the Arab Spring Amal Jamal 14. Public Opinion in Israel: The Sociodemographic Nexus Tamar Hermann Part III: Israeli Political Institutions 15. The "Constitutional" System of Israel Gregory Mahler 16. The Executive Branch in Israel Ofer Kenig 17. The Legislative Branch in Israel Chen Friedberg and Reuven Y. Hazan 18. The Judicial Branch in Israel Menachem Hofnung and Mohammed S. Wattad 19. The Electoral System of Israel Matthew S. Shugart 20. Parties and the Party System of Israel Reuven Y. Hazan 21. Bureaucratic Politics in Israel Sharon Gilad and Nissim Cohen 22. Political Reform in Israel Gideon Rahat 23. The Political Institutions of the Palestinian Minority in Israel As'ad Ghanem Part IV: Israel and the World 24. Israel's National Security Policy Chuck Freilich 25. Israel's Policy in and toward the West Bank and the Gaza Strip Oren Barak 26. Israel and the Palestinians Avraham Sela 27. Israel and the Arab World Itamar Rabinovich 28. US-Israeli Relationship Kenneth W. Stein 29. Israel's Global Perspective Colin Shindler 30. Israel and the Jewish Diaspora Mira Sucharov Part V: Issues in Israeli Politics 31. The Territories in Israeli Politics Arie Perliger and Ami Pedahzur 32. Religion in Israeli Politics Guy Ben-Porat 33. The Military in Israeli Politics Yoram Peri 34. Civil Society and Israeli Democracy Yael Yishai 35. Political Culture and Israeli Politics Gal Ariely 36. Electoral Behavior in Israel Assaf Shapira and Gideon Rahat 37. Political Communication and Israeli Politics Dana Markowitz-Elfassi, Tamir Sheafer, Yariv Tsfati, Gabriel Weimann, and Gadi Wolfsfeld 38. The Political Economy of Israeli Neoliberalism Ronen Mandelkern and Michael Shalev