During my visits to Israel in the 1970s I met some of those who were to become my friends and guides in years to come, among them the then President of the Hebrew University, Avraham Harman, the archaeologist Yigael Yadin, and the then Minister of Transport and Communications, Shimon Peres. Each of them, in different ways, influenced me to see the history of Israeli life and society as a dynamic, creative, often tormented, sometimes misguided, but essentially uplifting story. Shimon Peres also read my manuscript and made many valuable suggestions (without in any way being responsible for my portrayal of his own role and contribution to Israeli life).
My own conversations and correspondence over the past twenty-five years have been a source of many aspects of this book. I would like to thank those whose letters to me I quote, and whose archival material I have used, including David Harman, Gideon Raphael, Hannah Ruppin and Robbie Sabel, I thank. I am grateful to all those who have sent me material or responded to my historical queries: Clinton Bailey, Mark Faber, Jawdat Ibrahim, Rasie Ilan, Jack Kagan, Nicki Lyons, Yoram Mayorek (Central Zionist Archives), Stanley Medicks, David Neuman (Central Bureau of Statistics, Israel), Glenn Richter, Jay Shir, Sarah Zarfaty and Atara Rozik-Rosen, who also read the book in typescript. I am also grateful to Colette Avital, the Israeli Consul General in New York, and Carrie Riegelhaupt; and to the publisher's readers, Jennie West and Gillian Bromley. My particular thanks are due to my Publishing Director, Marianne Velmans, and to my Managing Editor, Katrina Whone. Kay Thomson made her usual substantial contribution to the work.
The book was also read in typescript by my friends, Walter Eytan and David Harman. Special thanks for her persistent and successful efforts in tracking down many sources for me are due to Enid Wurtman; and also to Yehuda Avner for generously giving me the full benefit of his long experience of Israeli public life.
