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The Longest War: Israel in Lebanon by Jacobo Timerman

gbjt's review

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3.0

A personal reflection in journal form that offers insight into a specific historical event in Israel's history but also opens a conversation on a significant paradigm shift in Israel. That shift being from defender to aggressor. This shift was very disturbing and it seems to the point of being heart wrenching for Timerman as he watched Israel's leadership take their nation down a violent and dangerous path.

Timerman voices concern for the authoritarian behaviour of Israel's leadership. Timerman's own personal circumstances forced him to experience an authoritarian regime first hand. Timerman devoted many years of his journalistic work to exposing the violence and corruption of the military regime in Argentina during the "Dirty War". Timerman highlights the similar behaviours and tendencies now being exhibited by Israel's government.

The book is small in size but a dense and deeply personal examination of a country moving dangerously close to authoritarianism and militarism. Timerman's own arrest, torture and imprisonment in Argentina gave him very personal and unique insights into the damage he was convinced was being caused by Israel's 1982 invasion of Lebanon. Given current events in Gaza (April 2018) one can't help but view Timerman's "The Longest War" as prophetic.
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