Rubber Bullets: Power and Conscience in Modern Israel

I found this book to be a highly illuminating one about modern Israel from a sociocultural, Historical perspective. One need not agree with the analysis completely to appreciate the thoughtfulness and conviction that went into it or to learn from one man's compelling study of the dichotomy between individualism and communal values in contemporary Israel. Similarly it is a fine insider's view of the author's thinking about the pluralistic nature of Israli society today, contrary to the belief that Israel is a homogenous society, held by so many outsiders. The moral dilemma for Jewish Israeli citizens posed by the distinction between a deliberate show of military force in defense of survival versus the extention of unnecessary militarism beyond that to an illigetimate use of power, is one of the central themes of the book. The title, "Rubber Bullets" is intended as a symbol of Israel's moral compromise between the alternatives of shooting real bullets at stone throwing Plesinian youths or doing nothing in the face of such hostility and ensuing danger. Ezrahi does not argue that the compromise was particularly effective on a practical level, hence the characterization of it as symbolic. In my view, the author is a loyal Israeli who wishes to minimize military force to that which is necessary and to maximize the search for new ways of establishing peace amongst the parties involved. Because he does not subscribe totally to the communal values of collectivism and solidarity at the expense of the type of indiviualism and a subjective voice that is necessary for a liberal democracy to thrive, he will undoubtedly incur the wrath of those who will not tolerate any critical commentary about Israel.One quarrel I do have with Ezrahi is based more on omission than commission. Perhaps it can be remedied through an updated and expanded version of the book yet to come. That is, I would like to read the author's recent analysis and proposed solutions to the ethical dilemmas that the Israelis are facing because of the repeated lethal barrage of suicide bombers in their state by terrorists.

Yaron Ezrahi is a very smart political observer. He feeds many other writers with his original insights. I liked the personal feeling at the beginning of the book, the story of almost losing his manuscript, the scene with his father and son watching TV. Those kind of images brought me into Israel and a relation with the author. Maybe I'm not as interested in theory as others. Or maybe the writing in "Rubber Bullets" becomes too dense, but the second 2/3r's of the book were more theoretical, less effective for this reader. But an important scholar and this reader hopes his next book will be more personal.

I would recommend this book for any Jew or Israeli with an open mind and a will to understand that there are other opinions.