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Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations by Ronen Bergman
jerrylwei's review against another edition
4.0
A gripping, detailed book that reveals how the tactical intelligence and military successes of Israel's intelligence agencies changed Israeli political and security culture.
I wish Bergman had dealt more comprehensively with three topics. First, Israeli intelligence agencies' relationship with the CIA. To the Israelis, the CIA had frustratingly close ties with the Palestinians but left unexplained is how that changed to the close CIA-Israeli relationship of the the 2000s. Second, how intelligence agencies responded to the rise of right-wing Israeli extremism. Finally, the issue of intelligence agency defectors to Israel's enemies. How big of a problem was it? How did the agencies respond? It's unclear from this otherwise excellent history.
I wish Bergman had dealt more comprehensively with three topics. First, Israeli intelligence agencies' relationship with the CIA. To the Israelis, the CIA had frustratingly close ties with the Palestinians but left unexplained is how that changed to the close CIA-Israeli relationship of the the 2000s. Second, how intelligence agencies responded to the rise of right-wing Israeli extremism. Finally, the issue of intelligence agency defectors to Israel's enemies. How big of a problem was it? How did the agencies respond? It's unclear from this otherwise excellent history.
enno's review against another edition
5.0
I learned a lot, and got a lot of extra context for past events that I was aware of, but never thought this much about before. A remarkable deep dive into the history of the state of Israel and its use of assassination as a political tool. The author has incredible access to some leading figures, and I'm frankly surprised this book exists.
tbloehrlein's review against another edition
4.0
The information provided by the author is very detailed and gives you a better idea of what Israel’s spy agency is doing. Not only does the author detail the events, but he presents thoughts/beliefs of his own, the actors, and the world. Why Israel commits such clandestine acts, the morality of committing such acts, the damage done on both sides that result from the acts, and the world’s reactions to the acts. I particularly appreciate that the author presents the acts as sometimes being very “grey,” that it is not as “black and white” as we make it out to be. The nuisances allow the reader to wrestle with their own beliefs. If they were in such a position or a citizen living in Israel, what would we believe as the right course of action?
I did give it four stars because the ending. I believed it suddenly ended with little debate on the questions that arose during most of the book. I thought the author missed the opportunity to present to the reader the questions one last time which would help the reader wrestle with such questions after putting the book down.
I did give it four stars because the ending. I believed it suddenly ended with little debate on the questions that arose during most of the book. I thought the author missed the opportunity to present to the reader the questions one last time which would help the reader wrestle with such questions after putting the book down.
veryperi22's review against another edition
5.0
This book evoked all kinds of conflicting emotions.
On the one hand, as the title itself indicates, the gemara counsels "If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first”,
On the other, it becomes problematic when the lines blur when defining who it is that is the "someone" that comes to kill you.
More than once, the attitude one encounters by various members in key roles is that if they're Arab, they're all terrorists. Ma Bayah?.
It echoes horribly and familiarly of any other broad-brush strokes, only this time with deadly consequences.
While the targeted killing policy so central to Israel's strategy has been crucial to the country’s defense, it is also rife with moral dilemmas.
It's a book that has made me deeply uncomfortable.
I think the author says it best, and most concisely, at the end of his book:
"Indeed, in many respects the story of Israel's inteligence community as recounted in this book has been one of a long string of impressive tactical successes, but also, disastrous strategic failures".
On the one hand, as the title itself indicates, the gemara counsels "If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first”,
On the other, it becomes problematic when the lines blur when defining who it is that is the "someone" that comes to kill you.
More than once, the attitude one encounters by various members in key roles is that if they're Arab, they're all terrorists. Ma Bayah?.
It echoes horribly and familiarly of any other broad-brush strokes, only this time with deadly consequences.
While the targeted killing policy so central to Israel's strategy has been crucial to the country’s defense, it is also rife with moral dilemmas.
It's a book that has made me deeply uncomfortable.
I think the author says it best, and most concisely, at the end of his book:
"Indeed, in many respects the story of Israel's inteligence community as recounted in this book has been one of a long string of impressive tactical successes, but also, disastrous strategic failures".
lahendren's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
5.0