Every Spy a Prince: The Complete History of Israel's Intelligence Community [Hardcover]

Dan Raviv (Author), Yossi Melman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1990

The first comprehensive and balanced account of the most controversial and well-known espionage organization in the world, taking readers through the complex web of politics and personal ambition that led to such disasters as the brutal violence on the West Bank. 8 pages of photographs.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The Israeli secret service's exalted reputation declined in 1973 with Mossad's failure to foresee the Yom Kippur War, setting off bitter and demoralizing feuds among the country's intelligence agencies, such as Shin Bet and Aman, and was further complicated by a succession of scandals in the 1980s that included the Jonathan Pollard and Mordechai Vananu arrests. Basing their work on interviews with former operatives and on declassified documents, CBS news correspondent Raviv and Israeli journalist Melman here produce a revealing critical history of the rise and decline of Israel's vaunted security and intelligence arm, from the idealistic pioneering days to the current disarray in the face of the Palestinian intifada and the shocking vulnerability of the intelligence community to material corruption. In today's Israel, claim the authors of this controversial book, "making money has become a Golden Calf, before which much of society--including its intelligence and military circles--kneels." Photos.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The amount of detail in this book certainly lends some credence to the book's subtitle, and the journalist authors have also uncovered some fascinating new information: Israel has a number of top secret agencies, including one devoted to protecting their nuclear program and another for rescuing Jews from unfriendly countries; nuclear weapons using submarine-based launch platforms are nearly a reality; and Israel has been spying on the United States for years. The authors work diligently in this book to convince the world of the high morality of the Israeli cause. Israeli intelligence has been a popular subject for fiction and nonfiction, but there has yet to be a definitive nonfiction account on the subject. This readable and entertaining book is recommended for larger Middle East collections. --David P. Snider, Casa Grande P.L., Ariz.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 466 pages
• Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (T); 1St Edition edition (July 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0395471028
• ISBN-13: 978-0395471029
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Good History on the Mossad, October 8, 2008

By 

Michael Mandaville "Author: Citizen Soldier H... (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Every Spy a Prince: The Complete History of Israel's Intelligence Community (Hardcover)

The Israeli Intelligence Services are wreathed in a certain veil of secrecy. While all intelligence services can benefit from some legendary creating mystery, the David sensibility of Israel's services against numerous Goliaths is especially fascinating. This book delivers a great history of the Mossad in all its glory and decline. The 1973 Yom Kippur War was a massive failure for the agency, setting the two primary agencies of Domestic Intelligence, Shin Bet, against the Foreign Intelligence service, Aman. It is an enthralling and detailed history of its successes and failures, dovetailed with strong descriptions of operations and personalities. We also learn about their nuclear program, spying on America and their nuclear deterrent of diesel-electric subs equipped with nuclear tipped cruise missiles. I have had exchanges with Yossi Melman who is a forthright and conscientious journalist. This is a critical revelation that lifts the veil of mystery on Israel's intelligence service which also exposes critical weaknesses in terms of graft and corruption. A sad departure from its early days of pioneer spirit.

Michael Mandaville, Author - "Stealing Thunder"

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Book Ever, August 8, 2011

By 

Bob - See all my reviews

This review is from: Every Spy A Prince The Complete History of Israel's Intelligence Community (Paperback)

I read this book years ago, loaned it to somebody and didn't get it back. I bought another copy from a used books store and read it again. Whenever people ask me my favorite book of all time, this is the one I mention. I was blown away with how Israel was involved in everything going on in the world. I was impressed, intrigued, and yes - it was a book that I couldn't put down. I am lending this book to a coworker tomorrow, which is why only now am I rating it. If you couldn't tell, I LOVE this book.

2 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Only in The Eastern Countries., August 30, 2005

By 

Betty Burks "Betty Burks" (Knoxville, TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Every Spy a Prince: The Complete History of Israel's Intelligence Community (Hardcover)

From its earliest days, the State of Israel had earned a reputation for success in the field of espionage and covert action. They declared their independence in May, 1948 commanded by Ben-Gurion. There was a major motion picture made about this creation and Pat Boone, a singer from Tennessee, composed and sang the title song.

This book names the key figures and dates from 1948-1998. After 1989, the names of the directors of the Mossad and directors of Shin Bet are forbidden by Israeli law to be disclosed.

The structure of Israeli Intelligence starts with The Cabinet (major authority) to the Prime MInister, Inspector-General on down to the commandos (sayeret). "The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Send men that they may spy out the land of Canaan, which I give to the children of Israel." We also learn in the Bible that "the wages of sin are death."

Hussein ordered an invasion of Kuwait by Iraq on Augiust 2, 1990. This caused chaos everywhere. It was an instant reminder of a simple fact: "surprises cause crisis." They had to turn to the Israeli Intelligence for a way to challenge this transaction. It is good that the United States has a working relationship with Israel as many of our natives live and work there. One such was the daughter of Stanley and Fannye Cohen.