Dennis Ross has been a Mideast negotiator for the US State Department for several administrations and has been at the heart of negotiations with the Middle East during that time. He and Makovsky have written a well-researched book with great insights into the Palestinian-Israeli conflicts over the last 70+ years. The book focuses on four of the prime ministers who made decisions and led negotiations that in their way led Israel to where it is as a nation today. David Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin, and Ariel Sharon. I think it is interesting that Golda Meir was not included in these portraits of Israel’s leaders.
If you haven’t studied at least some of Israel’s history, it may be difficult to follow, but it is interesting and provides important information about both Israel and Palestine. Initially, it read as though it was going to be a balance looked at both groups. Unfortunately, as the book progressed the authors personal opinions began to come through and by the end their own agendas were set forth. Still, I enjoyed reading and for the most part it was a fair look at the Middle East.

Thank you to Net Galley and Perseus Books for the ARC. My opinion is my own.

This is a history of the first men/women who's idea of a home for the (Hebrew) Jewish People lead to the creation of Israel. Almost all of the early Zionist were from Eastern Europe. This was easy enough to understand when you look at the pograms in Russia and Austo-Hungary in the late nineteenth century. At this time when the Ottoman Empire was in control of the Holy Land, though Hebrews were second class citizens (as were Christians) and lived under the rules of the Sultan, mostly they were able to lead quiet lives and live as merchants and such.

In 1897, the first of the Kishenev (modern Chisinau, capital of Moldova) Pograms, was propagated by the Russian Tzar's government. Zionism and the "Judenstat" were first described by Theodore Hertzl in 1896. We then follow Hertzl and the other founders of "Israel" through the UK's "Balfour Declaration", though the capture of Jerusalem by the British Army of WW1. After the war, the League of Nations, declared a mandate over the Holy Land under the control of the UK.

After the Shoah (the Holocaust) all of the early leaders were involved in helping to bring survivors to Israel and working against the British. On May 14, 1948 Ben-Gurion declared Israel independent.
From then on all the founders are involved in the early wars and the development of the new State, Army and political parties.

Ross does a yeoman's job in trying to keep this story rolling without getting bogged down in too much detail. I felt that he did a slight disservice to the reader by playing down the enmity between some of the Founders. All in all it's a good read for those who no nothing about the birth of Israel and the background to the current situation in the Middle East.

zeb kantrowitz zebsblog@gmail.com

A fascinating read on the shaping and history of Israel by the courageous men and women who have helped lead the country. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to review.

Dennis Ross has resided in the US State Department as a Mideast negotiator through at least four different administrations and has played a major role in Middle East negotiations. Having a Ringside seat has allowed Ross and his cowriter Makovsky to produce a brilliantly written, well-researched book that provides great insights. That being said, the book's conclusions merit some criticism.

The book addresses the subject of Middle East negotiations through I the lenses of four of the founding fathers of Israel who eventually became prime ministers (Golda Meir who would be considered a founding mother is not included), David Ben Gurion, Menachem Begin, Yitzhak Rabin, and Ariel Sharon, providing portraits of each of these men and the forces that shaped their approaches to Middle East negotiations. These are tightly-weaved mini-biographies which provide in short form considerable detail. Nevertheless, for those without sufficient background in the subject area, it might prove a difficult book to dive into. It is not designed for the casual reader.

Ben Gurion was the George Washington of Israel, the first prime minister, and the one who led the country through its war of Independence, attacked at once by massive armies from surrounding countries after the Mandate was divided and the Arab world refused to accept the Israeli state. Begin was early on the firebrand, the one no one thought would ever compromise until Camp David and each long fruitless day of those negotiations is drawn out here. Rabin saw new realities after the fall of the Soviet Union and the changing of the world order. And, Sharon attempted to deal with negotiations strategically, keeping the strategic high ground.

Ross and Makovsky have an agenda which becomes clearer as the book goes on. Putting moral and strategic needs aside, they see a ticking demographic time bomb in the population growth of Judea and Samaria (often referred to as the West Bank) and conclude that Israel, to keep its character, must withdraw from much of the area. They do recognize however that others disagree with the population projections and do not believe the numbers are accurate. Moreover, the conclusions here do not address the security needs of the dangerous neighborhood where rockets are often launched.

Many thanks to the publisher for providing a copy for review.