Oz, Amos

(b. 1939)

   Israeli writer. Oz was born in Jerusalem, but was educated on Kibbutz Huldah. He is the author of several novels about Israeli life including Makom’Aher (‘Elsewhere Perhaps’, 1966), set on a kibbutz, Micha’el Shelli (‘My Michael’, 1968), set in Jerusalem, Ad Mavet (‘Unto Death’, 1971), an allegory about anti-Semitism, Laga’at Bamayim, Laga’at Baru’ah (‘Touch the Water, Touch the Wind’, 1973), Menuhah Nekhona (‘A Perfect Peace’, 1982.) and Kufsah Shehora (‘The Black Box’, 1987). Oz is also a social critic. He is a determined ‘dove’ and is anxious for a peaceful solution to Israel’s diplomatic problems. He also perceives that Israeli society needs constructive influences from the Diaspora and is well known for characterizing Israel as a theatre of debate conducted between lunatic extremists.