Some of the people who fled Israel in 1948 were forced out for demographic reasons. The Palestinians refer to May 1948 as the knock. As the catastrophe, and they're right. I mean for their people it is a catastrophe. Many people who care about Israel support Israel many Jews find the word knock but offensive. But somebody like me who loves this country doesn't have any problem acknowledging that it was a horrible catastrophe for them. And then a certain point it wasn't even really matter whose fault it is for the individual men and women who took their kids and left. That's a catastrophe because of which Israel is illegitimate.
As Israel turns 75, has it fulfilled the promise of its founders? Daniel Gordis of Shalem College talks about his book, Impossible Takes Longer, with EconTalk's Russ Roberts looking at the successes and failures of Israel. Topics discussed include the history of Zionism, the plight of the Palestinians, the Jewishness of the Jewish state, and the current debate in Israel over judicial reform.