Simon Sebag-Montefiore, One Night in Winter (Century 2013) pp456 Several years ago, when I read Simon Sebag-Montefiore’s books on Stalin, I had approached them with preconceived notions about such ‘popular’ works. I quickly realised how wrong I was and literally could not put them down. Sebag’s new novel, based in part on real events … Read more
Extremist firebrand Rabbi Meir Kahane embraced by supporters in 1984 (Photo: Getty images) The Triumph of Israel’s Radical Right By Ami Pedahzur Oxford University Press, £18.99 In 1969, 32 per cent of the Israeli electorate voted for the centre right and its allies. Forty years later, this had increased to more than 52 per cent, … Read more
Mordechai Bar-On, Moshe Dayan: Israel’s Controversial Hero (Yale University Press 2012) pp.247 Patrick Tyler, Fortress Israel: The Inside Story of the Military Elite who run the Country and why they can’t make peace (Portobello Books 2012) pp.562 Reviewed by Colin Shindler Moshe Dayan was charismatic, courageous and innovative as well as conniving, ruthless and devious. … Read more
Ian J. Bickerton, The Arab-Israeli Conflict: a History Published by Reaktion Books (London 2009), pp. 244, price £15.95 This is a broad and familiar narrative of the Israel-Palestine conflict. The author believes that violence has not solved anything and argues concisely that only concerted diplomacy will bring results. While this is clearly logical and … Read more
The Balfour Declaration: The Origins of the Arab-Israeli Conflict By Jonathan Schneer Published by Random House, (New York 2010), pp. 432 price $30 The Balfour Declaration was the British charter of November 1917 that viewed “with favour” the establishment of a national home for the Jewish people in Palestine. Of course, David Lloyd George and … Read more
The Prime Ministers: An Intimate Narrative of Israeli Leadership by Yehuda Avner Published by Toby Press, pp. price £19.99 This is a work of recollections, reminiscences and vignettes. Yehuda Avner’s life spans the lifetime of the state of Israel – and in one sense, he tells the traditional story from his earliest days in … Read more
The definition and meaning of Jewishness is an ongoing and indeed eternal preoccupation of the Jewish people. The British writer Howard Jacobson is no exception to the army of explainers. In his latest novel, he looks at the 70 faces of Jewish identity through fictional characters – and leads the reader into a House of … Read more
Israeli recruits gather last month at the graves of fallen soldiers and other victims of war, Mount Herzl cemetery By Efraim Karsh Yale University Press, £20 Palestine Betrayed is a detailed riposte to the version of the Israel-Palestine conflict that places the blame solely at Israel’s doorstep. Efraim Karsh, Professor of Middle East and Mediterranean … Read more
Defend the Realm By Christopher Andrew | Knopf | 1,056 pages | $40 In October 1909, Commander Mansfield Cumming of the Royal Navy and Captain Vernon Kell of the British Army started work in a small office in London’s Victoria Street which had been rented by a private detective. Thus began Britain’s security service, known … Read more
Right-hand man: Avigdor Lieberman’s Yisrael Beiteinu party appeals to ordinary Israelis’ deep-seated fears By Dani Filc Routledge £75 Why do so many impoverished Israelis vote for the Right? Netanyahu’s policies of privatisation and empowerment of the private sector clearly seem to be against their interests. Yet they shout: “Long live Bibi and Israel”. Dani Filc … Read more