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A review by jerrylwei
Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations by Ronen Bergman
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.