Gregory Mahler is Research Professor of Politics and Academic Dean Emeritus at Earlham College. He is the author or editor of over thirty volumes in comparative politics, focusing on political institutions and behavior, with a particular focus on Israel and the Middle East. His most recent works include: Comparative Politics (6th ed., Lynne Rienner, 2019), in print since 1983; Politics and Government in Israel (3rd ed., 2016, Rowman and Littlefield); and The Arab-Israeli Conflict (2nd ed., Routledge, 2019).

Politics and Government in Israel (4th ed.) is a balanced and comprehensive text that explores Israeli government and politics from both institutional and behavioral perspectives. After briefly discussing Israel’s history, authors Gregory S. Mahler and Reuven Y. Hazan examine the social, religious, economic, cultural, and military contexts within which Israeli politics takes place. They explain the operation of political institutions and behavior in domestic politics, such as the constitutional system; parliamentary government; and the executive, legislative, and judicial machinery of government, including discussion of elections and voting, political parties and civil society, and democracy in Israel. Finally, Israel’s foreign policy setting and apparatus are considered, as well as the challenges faced by the Palestinians in Israel and the peace process between Israel and its neighbors. Clear and concise, Politics and Government in Israel provides an invaluable starting point for all readers needing a cogent introduction to Israel today.