Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I would like to express my deep gratitude to my academic home, the Ben-Gurion Institute for the Study of Israel and Zionism at the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, for providing me a stimulating environment for research. The institute’s profound commitment to the advancement of knowledge has been truly inspiring, and I am indebted to all my colleagues there. Our discussions have been invaluable in shaping and fostering my ideas.

I extend my sincere appreciation to Indiana University Press for believing in the importance of this work and for their dedicated efforts in bringing it to fruition.

Special thanks reserved to Professor Ilan Troen, the editor of the Perspectives on Israel Studies series, whose mentorship and guidance have been indispensable in this journey. I also wish to thank Professor Arieh Saposnik, Dr. Natan Aridan, Dr. Uri Mintzker, and Noa Ravinsky Raichel for their helpful comments on the manuscript drafts. To Dr. Emir Galilee, Dr. Tali Tadmor-Shimony, Professor Ruth Kark, Professor Gideon Kressel, Professor Anatoly Khazanov, the late Professor Emanuel Marx, and the members of the Azrieli Center for Israel Studies for your willingness to share your thoughts with me. All of you were critical in shaping the ideas presented in this monography.

I extend my heartfelt appreciation to the reviewers of this book. Their insightful comments and constructive feedback have significantly contributed to the refinement of the content and overall quality of the final work.

I am also thankful to Betsy Rosenberg, Dr. Yafit Marom, Hadas Blum, and Sefi Sinai for their linguistic and graphic contributions, along with their precious advice. To Yephim Maghrill for his resourcefulness in finding materials. Their expertise has greatly enhanced the clarity and contribution of this work.

I want to express my appreciation for the interviewees, who were willing to share their knowledge with me, as well as for the assistance I received in the archives and libraries that I have visited and for all those who have supported me in various ways but may not be mentioned individually. These include my friends and my students, who have enriched my academic journey in countless ways.

I extend my heartfelt thanks to my loving sister, Hagit, for her thoughtful perspectives, unwavering motivation, and exceptional enthusiasm during our long hours of discussions that had a lasting impact on this book. Thanks to her this manuscript was completed efficiently and on time.

To my beloved Eyal, I am eternally grateful for his invaluable insights and wise analyses that have contributed to the development of the ideas presented in this book. His endurance and unwavering confidence in my abilities have been my anchor during challenging time.

Last, but certainly not least, I would like to thank my loving children, Naama, Neta, Omer, and Ido, for bringing so much light, joy, and pride to my life. Each of you alone and the four of you together are the driving force behind my achievements. I am truly blessed to have such a remarkable family.

Thank you.

Omer, July 2023