34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah, and the War in Lebanon [Paperback]

Amos Harel (Author), Avi Issacharoff (Author), Ora Cummings (Translator), Moshe Tlamim (Translator)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0230614361 | ISBN-13: 978-0230614369 | Publication Date: May 12, 2009 | Edition: Reprint

The border abduction of two Israeli soldiers on the morning of July 12, 2006 set in motion what would eventually become known as the Second Lebanon War. After 34 days and more than 5,000 casualties - including those injured - a ceasefire was signed, and the geopolitics of the region were changed immeasurably. A #1 bestseller in Israel for months, 34 Days brilliantly reconstructs the progression of the war, from the soldiers' abduction through the hasty Israeli decision for an agressive response; the fateful discussions within the Cabinet and among senior Israeli command; and the heavy fighting in south Lebanon. It also delves into the raging diplomatic battles that took place in Paris, Washington, and New York, which would eventually end the war.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“A gripping account of the Israel-Lebanon conflict.”--Newsweek

“Based on hundreds of interviews with players on both sides, the book is a thorough, clear-eyed (neither side escapes hard censure) view a of short-lived war, the influence of which is, and will continue to be, widely felt.” --Globe and Mail, Canada

Praise for Harel and Issachorff’s The Seventh War:
“In this book, journalists Harel and Isacharoff trace the trajectory of the conflict. Though the authors are Israeli they take both sides to task.” --Newsweek
“Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Amos Harel’s and Avi Isacharoff’s excellent book, The Seventh War is that for the first time in more than four years of warfare, one can take a break and read a comprehensive work of journalism which allows a degree of perspective.” --Jerusalem Post

About the Author

AMOS HAREL is the Ha'aretz newspaper's military correspondent. AVI ISSACHAROFF is the newspaper's Arab affairs correspondent. They collaborated previously on The Seventh War: The Real Story of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, a bestseller in Israel and France, and winner of the prestigious Tshetshik Prize from The Jaffee Center for Strategic Studies at Tel Aviv University as the best military study in Israel in 2005. They live in Tel Aviv.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan; Reprint edition (May 12, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0230614361
• ISBN-13: 978-0230614369
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.9 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #368,781 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #31 in Books > History > Middle East > Lebanon

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Neutral Text providing mostly Israeli political coverage, May 24, 2009

By 

Munawar Ali "Munawar - blog.munawarali.com" (Toronto, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah, and the War in Lebanon (Hardcover)

An insightful book, which appears to be modeled after Bob Woodard's "Bush at War" series, tackling the Lebanese War 2006 primarily from the the offices of the Israeli Prime Minister.

The book covers all aspects of the war from UN negotiation, events leading to the war, minimal details of what happened militarily during the war, and how it ended. The entire book moves chronologically: Prewar, war, Ceasefire, future.

I was looking for something providing details on the actual military excursion, but that was not forthcoming in this text.

I gave a 3 star rating because the book was confusing at times, jumping back and forth in time and place. So organization was a problem. As well, the focus on Olmert was annoying. I was not interested in why Omlert did this or Olmert did that. Many times, his actions were recorded which had only minimal relation to the war.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars No achievable aim, October 31, 2010

By 

BernardZ (Melbourne, vic Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 34 Days: Israel, Hezbollah, and the War in Lebanon (Paperback)

This is not a military study but a political study of a short war between a divided democratic government and a paramilitary political group Hezbollah with very limited support from the locals.

The problem often that democracies have is that they have too many decision makers. I am reminded of a general who said "With one leader, I can do wonders and with many nothing."

What seemed to have happened according to this book is that too many Israeli leaders went into Lebanon with different views on what was to be done. As the conflict progressed Israel kept changing the goal post. No where was an overall achievable objective goal made. As such Israeli troops were killed for nothing. As such to their credit officers in the Israeli army sometimes refused to carry out some of their orders. Since no achievable goal was established, Israel finally ended with what many argued was a defeat.

One point I was struck about in the book was a comment that no other government would have gone to war over the kidnapping of its soldiers. This saids much about Israel.

Another point the writers do not make through that should be made, is that no-one has kidnapped Israeli soldiers since and it also ended much of Hezbollah's independence in Lebanon so it was not as useless a conflict as the writers seem to feel.

However, the clear lesson from this book is that before going to war a country should have a unified leadership with an achievable aim.