From the archive
Revisiting "The Classical Liberal Case for Israel"
Walter E. Block and Alan G. Futerman's book, which was published in 2021, has taken on ever greater import since the October 7th attacks. In this essay, historian Paul Gottfried questions some of the book's assumptions and its use of history.
The Classical Liberal Case for Israel by Walter E. Block and Alan G. Futerman has received considerable attention from Murdoch-owned media companies, especially The Wall Street Journal, ever since it appeared in 2021. This work is written from a passionately pro-Israel perspective, and already in the introduction the reader is overwhelmed by both the praise showered on Israel and the obloquy hurled at its Arab neighbors: "Israel is the most liberal state in the Middle East, surrounded by murderous dictatorships, autocratic regimes, and closed societies that dramatically oppress their citizens and shut down their voices."
Moreover, "the Jewish state is the only real free society in the area, respecting private property and all that follows from it. It is innovative and strong because it is free." [Emphasis original]
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