“This is a diplomatic history like no other. Emmanuel Navon takes us through the whole of the Jewish experience, from remotest antiquity to the present, drawing out the beliefs and events that explain Israel’s approach to foreign states and world powers today. If Israel is to flourish, even survive, it will have to learn the lessons this unique book teaches about the past. A tour de force.”—Martin Kramer, chair of Middle Eastern and Islamic studies, Shalem College
“Emmanuel Navon’s far-ranging work on Israeli and Jewish diplomacy through the centuries helps us better appreciate the political and moral implications of Israeli efforts to win acceptance among the nations.”—Yossi Klein Halevi, senior fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute, and author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor
“The underdeveloped field of Jewish political studies has much to gain from Emmanuel Navon’s ambitious, authoritative survey of Jewish diplomatic history from biblical origins to Israel’s latest oil and gas treaties. As well as providing reliable and firm guidance through minefields of explosive national history, the book develops a level-headed concept of modern Israeli foreign policy. It is a good read and a lasting resource.”—Ruth Wisse, emeritus professor of comparative literature, Harvard University
“With encyclopedic breadth this important, timely, and insightful book provides an extraordinary account of Israel’s determination to survive and flourish against all odds. It is a fascinating chronicle of both great events and individuals, from Jacob, Moses, and Jeremiah to Disraeli, Churchill, Ben Gurion, Kissinger, Golda Meir, Rabin, and Netanyahu.”—Hillel Neuer, executive director, UN Watch
“Devoid of jargon and rhetoric, Navon paints a fascinating overarching picture of Israel’s trials and tribulations in the journey toward normalization and acceptance among the comity of nations.”—P. R. Kumaraswamy, professor of Middle Eastern studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
“The Star and the Scepter offers deep insight about how faith, history, and profound determination shape the unique diplomatic history of the Jewish people and the nation of Israel. Emmanuel Navon convincingly argues that Israel’s foreign policy is best understood in the light of history and faith, which he masterfully analyzes. I highly recommend The Star and the Scepter to those passionate about Israel, the Jewish people, and contemporary diplomacy in the Middle East.”—Kenneth Weinstein, president, Hudson Institute