Between the flag and the banner : women in Israeli politics / by Yael Yishai.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 269-284) and index.

1. Between the Flag and the Banner: Dilemmas in the Political Life of Israeli Women -- 2. Women in the Elite -- 3. Women's Associations and Movements -- 4. Political Participation: Women in the Party-State -- 5. Women's Gender Identity: "Who am I?" -- 6. Labor Policy: The Problem of Economic Equity -- 7. Family Policy: Patriarchy in the Jewish State -- 8. Body Politics: The Right to Life and Its Challengers -- 9. Conclusion: From Integration to Mobilization?

Because Israel has endured perennial armed conflict, its national agenda places overriding importance on national security and family life. At the same time, Israel is a democracy that fosters equality for all its citizens. Thus Israeli women are caught in a dilemma: whether to show allegiance to the national cause or to raise the banner of feminism and focus on women's rights. This book presents a broad perspective on the political life of Israeli women, both Jewish and non-Jewish.

It is the first book to explore Israeli women's political participation, political identity, and political organizations, as well as public policy toward women. Situating Israel in a comparative theoretical framework, Yael Yishai focuses on the enduring tension between women's drive for power and their desire to belong and integrate from within.