Gates of Zion

Book one of the Zion Chronicles series is set in Palestine in 1947. Ellie Warne is an American photographer who is staying with her Uncle Howard, an archeologist. She thinks she's in love with Moshe Sachar (whose brother, Eli, was one of the main characters in "Jerusalem Interlude"). Moshe is a Professor by day and a member of the Hagenah in his other time. Ellie doesn't know this, though, for her own safety. Her uncle is away when two Bedouin herders show up with ancient scrolls. Ellie photographs them and the Bedouins leave. Ellie is able to consult with a Rabbi Lebowitz in the Old City, who confirms the scrolls are the Book of Isaiah but cannot tell how old they are. Rabbi Lebowitz has a grandson named Yacov (who was smuggled out of Warsaw in "Warsaw Requiem" as the rest of the Lubetkin family went to Auschwitz). Eldest Lubetkin daughter Rachel gave her forged British passport to Eva (Eva was a main character in "London Refrain" and "Paris Encore"). 

Moshe ends up rescuing a young Jewish woman he's helping to smuggle into Palestine, and she turns out to be Rachel Lubetkin. There was a lovely reunion with Rachel, Yacov, and their grandfather until it took a tragic turn. The Mufti are after Ellie because of the pictures she took of the scrolls, which Uncle Howard and Moshe determine are on leather, not parchment, dating them 2,000 years old. They're desperate to get them back. Meanwhile, the world has voted to give Jews their own nation, and the British are planning on leaving Palestine. Jews will finally have a homeland again--if they can survive the Arab onslaught. Oh, and Ellie's boyfriend from California shows up--David Meyer. Who we last saw planning to marry Annie in "Dunkirk Crescendo". Not sure what happened there, but I'm not holding out much hope I'll find out. Thoene doesn't seem to care overly much about loose ends.