The Elite: The True Story of Israel's Secret Counterterrorist Unit [Paperback]

Samuel M. Katz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 1992

A look at the Israeli military unit responsible for the raid at Entebbe and the assassination of Abu Jihad recounts the history of the Israeli General Headquarters Reconnaissance Unit.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (May 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671724789
• ISBN-13: 978-0671724788
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #532,717 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Overview, August 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: The Elite: The True Story of Israel's Secret Counterterrorist Unit (Paperback)

A great insight into one of the world's most capable, and deadly fighting force. The book takes you from Israel's Special forces infancy, to today's complex, and secretive world of Isarel's most elite units. It's a must read for anyone interested in the military, Israel, terrorism, espionage, or real-life action.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VERY INFORMATIVE LOOK AT ISREALI SPECIAL OPS..........., January 21, 2009

By 

HISTORY GOURMET (PENNSYLVANIA,U.S. OF A.) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Elite: The True Story of Israel's Secret Counterterrorist Unit (Paperback)

A VERY WELL RESEARCHED BOOK,IT COVERS THE HISTORY AND OPERATIONS OF SAYARET MATKAL,ISREAL'S EQUIVALENT OF THE SAS AND DELTA FORCE,UNTIL THE EARLY 1990's.THE AUTHOR DISCUSSES PERSONALITIES WITHIN THE UNIT WHERE HE CAN, BUT MANY OF THE MEN ARE ANONYOMOUS,IDENTIFIED ONLY BY THE FIRST LETTER OF THEIR NAME ("A." OR "J."),DUE TO THE ONGOING TERRORIST THREAT TO THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES.THESE GUYS HAVE A LONG,DISTINGUISHED AND SECRET HISTORY THAT IS NOT EASILY EXPOSED TO THE PUBLIC EYE, BUT AUTHOR KATZ HAS DONE AN EASILY UNDERSTOOD AND VERY READABLE JOB. I WAS UNAWARE OF HOW MANY COUNTER-TERRORIST OPERATIONS THEY HAVE UNDERTAKEN, BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF ISREAL'S BORDERS,AS WELL AS THEIR WARTIME MISSION OF STRATEGIC RECON AND RAIDS,AMBUSHES,ECT. IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR ONE BOOK ON ISREALI SPECIAL FORCES, THIS ONE IS IT !!!!!!!!

0 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great reading, March 26, 2010

By 

Jon Stevens "Journalist" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Elite: The True Story of Israel's Secret Counterterrorist Unit (Paperback)

This is a great true story about a Canada born Beverly Hills raised Jewish boy who becomes obsessed with serving in an Elite Israeli commando unit, and the journey changes him from an imature boy to a man as he endures physical and emotional hardships in the process of becoming an Israeli warrior. The story opens with the author already serving with the military, experiencing the profound shock of an Israeli teenager dying in his arms after a terrorist bombing of a busy mall in Tel Aviv. We are then thrown back in time to the beginning, his motivation for leaving his pampered life to go serve Israel with honor, and his adventures are page turners to the end, especially the tense action scenes behind enemy lines.