By
– August 25, 2011
Uri Avnery was the first Israeli to publicly meet Arafat and the first to advance the idea of peace through a two-state solution. He is also a captivating and prolific writer. In his latest book, Avnery leads the reader through the exciting story of Israel’s 1948 War of Independence. In Avnery’s hands, the romance, the humor, the fun, and the tragedy are palpable.
The War of Independence came on the heels of the Holocaust. The need for survival was strong and the tragic consequences of disunity were still fresh and stinging. Religious soldiers stood alongside non-religious comrades; left stood next to right, old timers fought alongside newcomers, and everyone worked for a common goal. The odds of surviving, let alone emerging victorious, were poor, and the paucity of equipment was pathetic.
Avnery describes how, with just a few people and almost no weapons, a handful of Jews not only defended Israel but created the State of Israel.
Micah D. Halpern is a columnist and a social and political commentator. He is the author of What You Need To Know About: Terror, and maintains The Micah Report at www.micahhalpern.com.
