I think this fascinating book goes a little overboard. But it makes some excellent points. Still, it could be that this book was not really written primarily for a polytheist such as myself.

Sper begins by noting that many people have enemies that persecute them. Some overcome them. Others succumb. The Jews have done neither.

He then gives an unforgettable example of Rabbi Johanan ben Zakkai, who berated a starving Jewish girl but gave gifts to the Romans who persecuted her.

After that comes a section on Jewish history which I think is a little biased and misleading. I think Jews often overestimated their strength and suffered the consequences. In my opinion, Sper also overestimates the potential of the Jews to compete against the Roman Empire. Still, I think it is worth reading what he says.

The author makes a good point about truth: some folks have sacrificed it in favor of convenience. And that has led to some great absurdities, such as terrorists being called "freedom fighters" (although the only fighting they do is against freedom) and Yassir Arafat getting a Nobel Peace Prize.

Sper discusses the Jewish right to the land of Israel. He mentions that Arabs left the land desolate. I think that's a very good point! Mongols left Russia desolate, and that was a big clue that Russia, not Mongolia, was going to have a better claim to the land. He also mentions that Arabs have 500 times as much land as Israel. That means that Israel can afford to buy its land while the Arabs can not afford to buy theirs. Another good point!

Some Arabs say that they want the land of Israel. But when they did have the West Bank, they used it for little more than a base from which to try to destroy Israel. I believe that Abraham Lincoln said that those who deny freedom to others do not deserve it for themselves, and Sper surely makes that point as well. And I have to agree. Just as the Sudetens forfeited their rights to Czechoslovakia by denying rights to the Czechs, I think Arabs who do not abide rights for Jews have forfeited their rights to Israeli land.

The author wants Israel to make use of its strengths and build on them. That makes sense. And if one looks at it from the point of view of the Arabs, it makes even more sense. As Sper says, the Arabs (not Israel) are the source of political instability in the Middle East. If they can't stop fighting their neighbors, they'll eventually run into opponents who make full use of their abilities to fight back, whether they be Jews or others or both.

I agree with Sper that Israel ought to declare some borders and state its case for them. That would get others to realize that Israel has both a goal and a case to support it. As it stands, many folks believe that Israel has neither. And the author correctly points out that there has never been a "peace process," only a "surrender of land" process in which Israel loses land and gets its people killed.

I was going to give this book three stars. But I'm adding one because Sper says that it is a lie that the Levantine Arabs "are a unique people, different than other Arabs, and it is a lie that their goal is to build a state. Their goal, as demonstrated time and time again, is not to build but to destroy, to destroy Israel." They do not have a constructive national movement.

All this is pretty obvious, but very few people have said this in print! We need more people than Sper to point out that the Emperor is underdressed!

The Future of Israel is a book that had to be written. Devin Sper makes a solid, compelling and passionate case for why the Israeli people must take charge of their future and renew their sense of purpose. The book also offers a number of practical steps that Israel can take now to insure her survival, provide security for her people and finally end Jewish suffering. The book is must reading for anyone who cares for the future of Israel and her people. I can't recommend it highly enough!