Thrilled to see a work on this subject by an author the caliber of Bartov. As a former IDF soldier, and a renowned scholar of genocide, Bartov speaks with both clarity and authority on the issue of Israeli culpability in war crimes, and crimes against human decency. Bartov sees the rightward slide of Israel under Likud as a tragedy that eerily echoes authoritarian tactics from the past. His erudite examination of Israeli/IDF actions in Gaza should be mandatory reading.

This is a deeply personal yet analytical work that traces how Zionism evolved from a movement seeking to emancipate European Jewry into what Bartov characterizes as ethno-nationalist state ideology. Bartov grapples with a devastating paradox: how a state founded after the Holocaust now stands accused of large-scale war crimes. His exploration traces the intertwining of Israeli independence with Palestinian displacement, the politics of Holocaust memory, and debates over terms like "genocide."
The author's moral clarity is matched by scholarly rigor. Bartov doesn't shy from controversial questions, including examining how many Israeli citizens support what he argues are war crimes. While some will find his conclusions challenging, the book's value lies in its intellectual honesty and willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. Bartov offers the kind of moral reckoning that only someone who loves their country can provide. It's painful, necessary, and deeply informed.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Given I’m reading this in the days of the fragile ceasefire where Hostages and prisoners are being released on both sides and they tiptoe towards fleshing out ‘Trump's Peace Plan’ - the author is one such voice I would want around the table
An incredible book, so balanced and informative that allows you to see the real history and therefore potential barriers going forward to lasting peace
Taking in the bredth of anti-semitism from Roman Empires times right up until the modern day, and seeing how that very term has changed and in some instances has been politicised
It was so insightful and helpful to get a real understanding of the situation, as finding the real ‘truth’ is becoming increasingly difficult in the media
A book that everyone should read