Book reviews: Atlas of Israel

This review evaluates the 1970 English edition of the Atlas of Israel, a technically accomplished national atlas covering physical geography, population, economy, history, and infrastructure across more than seventy double-page plates. Its compact territorial scope enables unusually detailed thematic mapping and effective temporal comparisons, revealing agricultural development, settlement growth, industrialization, groundwater salinization, changing Bedouin land use, and the energy demands of water supply. The reviewer notes inconsistencies caused by Israel’s rapid territorial and socioeconomic change, as well as an uneven allocation of space among sections. Particular criticism is directed at historical maps whose boundaries and topographical identifications lack sufficient evidence and may serve national narratives. Nevertheless, most maps maintain high scientific standards, even on politically sensitive demographic issues. Overall, the atlas is judged both an exceptionally rich reference work and an important expression of Israeli historical memory and national self-understanding.