Elvis in Jerusalem: Post-Zionism and the Americanization of Israel

Historian and columnist Tom Segev contributes to the long series of books on the Middle-East with a book that fascinates and thrills. It made me look at Israel and the country's near history with new eyes. This small book makes you reflect on accepted truths and myths about the country and it's inhabiltants. Segev's book represents someting new and different, and inspired me to buy a couple of other of his books on the subject. Consider "Elvis in Jerusalem: Post-Zionism and the Americanization of Israel" an appetizer for further reading of this "new historian's" books.

I came to appreciate Segev after reading his writing in Ha'aretz, an Israeli daily newspaper, and his book, "One Palestine Complete". While the latter was an impressive historical work, "Elvis in Jerusalem", is more closely related to his work as an editorial journalist. It is not a comprehensive or academic look at Israeli society. I have studied the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in considerable depth and have lived in the West Bank, where I gained the kind of intimate knowledge of Palestinian society that is usually ignored in literature on the conflict. I lack this understanding of Israeli society, though, so I picked up this book hoping for a little glimpse into the evolution of Israeli society. In this, Segev succeeds. "Elvis in Jerusalem" is full of great insight, consistently interesting and perceptive. Divided into four sections, Segev first tackles the development of Zionism prior to the establishment of Israel and during its early years. He then presents the slow shift of Israel from its collective and essentially socialist roots towards the predominately American ideal of the individual. Next he talks about several of the increasing divisions within Israel, including its conflict between secular and religious attitudes and the ethnic tensions involved in a country based largely on culturally diverse immigrants. His fourth and final section details a decreasing faith in Zionism and an increase in post-Zionist attitudes and policies in Israel. While these sections are outlined with a historian's eye, they are entirely different in content, focusing heavily on not just the ideology developed, but the way those ideas lived and moved in the people. All of this is put together in a tight package. Segev structures his writing in concise arguments and logical sequences, and Haim Watzman has done a fantastic job translating this work into engaging and accessible prose, never meandering or obfuscating the message (for instance, he doesn't use words like "obfuscating"). I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as long as they have considerable knowledge of the conflict's history and at least some knowledge of the Israeli social/political map (can you identify some of the political parties besides Labor/Likud?). In addition, familiarity with concepts or events such as aliyah, Greater Israel, the difference in Israeli perception of the wars of 48 and 67 vs. Yom Kippur and Lebanon, and the political shift from Labor to Likud will aid the reader tremendously. [...]

Tom Segev, PhD historian turned journalist, produces a series of fantastic commentaries for this extremely short work. Those familiar with Segev's other work will notice that Elvis lacks one of the trademarks of his previous works: extensive (almost mindnumbing) footnotes.After reading Segev's three other mammoth works (One Palestine, Complete; 1949: The First Israelis; and The Seventh Million), I was immediately struck by the simplicity of the book. Using his journalistic skills he produces a fascinating look into the changing society that is modern Israel.While his other works may have broken new ground with his theses, this book mostly rehashes many of the ideas he writes about in his other books. Nevertheless I found the book immensely interesting. He writes it almost as if it is a non-fiction black comedy, weaving in obscure stories into a rich history.As far as readability goes, this is probably Segev's best. It may not be for those who are beginners to the subject, but if you have already read a bit about Israel, the Palestinians, and the Middle East in general, it will give you a whole new insight into Israel.

Not only does Tom Segev talk about Israel's future, he also talks about its past. He tells facts as they are including some shocking facts regarding Zionism that are unattractive and brutal. This book provides important insights -- only the truth will set people free to pursue peace.

Is VAPID Americanization bad for Israel? Is national unity a pejorative? According to Segev, social collectivism is dead, Americanism is thriving in Israel. Private parties now supplant group celebrations. If Paul Newman were to reprise his role as Ari Ben Canaan from the 1961 film, "Exodus," he might portray a capitalist in Ramat Aviv Gimmel, and not a committed Kibbutznik. Segev feels that more Israeli's pay homage to the Elvis statue at an Elvis Diner on the road to Jerusalem, than to a Herzl statue that stands outside of Herzliya, that beachside bastion of prosperous capitalism. Personally, aside from this post-Zionist's thesis, the book is worth reading if only for the bounty of tidbits of Israeli social history and the voices of Israel's scholars that are included. Segev smartly uses a recurring theme of statues, and the reader is left with a fresh look at the future of Israeli society.