Israel is a land of stark contrasts. This beautifully illustrated book reflects the range of sights and issues crammed into this tiny strip of land along the coast of the eastern Mediterranean. Antiquity and modernity, peace and conflict, beaches and deserts--all jostle together to form a social, political and cultural environment pulsing with energy, nervous tension, creativity and beauty. Authors and photographer here combine to produce a wonderfully packaged portrait of the culture, history, archeology, architecture and social life of Israel, with its diverse and multi-ethnic population. We see the traditions of Jews, Christians, and Muslims deeply imbedded into a landscape of staggering beauty and infinite variety.