This book is a study of the roots of present day Israeli policy towards the Arabs. The point of departure is that Israeli olitical thinking was moulded during the pre-state period and in its crystallisation made a ritual of several basic concepts: gradual build-up of an economic and military potential as the basis for achievement of political aims: alliance with a great power external to the Middle East: noon-recognition of the existence of a Palestine national entity: Zionism's civilising mission in an undeveloped area: economic, social and cultural regregation as prerequisited for the renaissance of Jewish national life; the concept of 'peace for strength'. Part one of the bood describes the attitudes of the Zionist leaders in the pre-state period of 1917-48 towards the Arab national movement in general and towards the Palestinian Arabs in particular. Part two deals with the application of these attitudes in a number of critical situations which constituted turning points in Jewish-Arab relations: the Arab Revolt and the Zionist struggle for partition in 1936-8; the "White Paper' policy 1939-45 and the 1948 war in Palestine.

For more than a half-century, Israel has been forced to defend its existence against international political disapproval, racist calumny, and violence visited upon its citizens by terrorists of many stripes. While nations have always been made to defend their moral, political, economic, or social actions, Israel has the unique plight of having to defend its very right to exist. Covering Israel’s struggle for existence from the British occupation and the UN’s partition of Palestine, to the dashed hopes of the Oslo Accords and the second intifada, Yaacov Lozowick trains an enlightening, forthright eye on Israel’s strengths and failures. A lifelong liberal and peace activist, he explores Israel’s national and regional political, social, and moral obligations as well as its right to secure its borders and repel attacks both philosophical and military. Combining rich historical perspective and passionate conviction, Right to Exist sets forth the agenda of a people and a nation, and elegantly articulates Israel’s entitlement to a peaceful coexistence with its surrounding Arab neighbors and a future of security and pride.