Fortress Israel: The Inside Story of the Military Elite Who Run the Country--and Why They Can't Make Peace [Hardcover]

Patrick Tyler (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 18, 2012

“Once in the military system, Israelis never fully exit,” writes the prizewinning journalist Patrick Tyler in the prologue to Fortress Israel. “They carry the military identity for life, not just through service in the reserves until age forty-nine . . . but through lifelong expectations of loyalty and secrecy.” The military is the country to a great extent, and peace will only come, Tyler argues, when Israel’s military elite adopt it as the national strategy.

Fortress Israel is an epic portrayal of Israel’s martial culture—of Sparta presenting itself as Athens. From Israel’s founding in 1948, we see a leadership class engaged in an intense ideological struggle over whether to become the “light unto nations,” as envisioned by the early Zionists, or to embrace an ideology of state militarism with the objective of expanding borders and exploiting the weaknesses of the Arabs. In his first decade as prime minister, David Ben-Gurion conceived of a militarized society, dominated by a powerful defense establishment and capable of defeating the Arabs in serial warfare over many decades. Bound by self-reliance and a stern resolve never to forget the Holocaust, Israel’s military elite has prevailed in war but has also at times overpowered Israel’s democracy. Tyler takes us inside the military culture of Moshe Dayan, Yitzhak Rabin, Ariel Sharon, and Benjamin Netanyahu, introducing us to generals who make decisions that trump those of elected leaders and who disdain diplomacy as appeasement or surrender.

Fortress Israel shows us how this martial culture envelops every family. Israeli youth go through three years of compulsory military service after high school, and acceptance into elite commando units or air force squadrons brings lasting prestige and a network for life. So ingrained is the martial outlook and identity, Tyler argues, that Israelis are missing opportunities to make peace even when it is possible to do so. “The Zionist movement had survived the onslaught of world wars, the Holocaust, and clashes of ideology,” writes Tyler, “but in the modern era of statehood, Israel seemed incapable of fielding a generation of leaders who could adapt to the times, who were dedicated to ending . . . [Israel’s] isolation, or to changing the paradigm of military preeminence.”

Based on a vast array of sources, declassified documents, personal archives, and interviews across the spectrum of Israel’s ruling class, Fortress Israel is a remarkable story of character, rivalry, conflict, and the competing impulses for war and for peace in the Middle East.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“[A] readable and informative new history . . . timely.” —The Economist

“[A] revealing chronicle of Israeli foreign and defense policy . . . Tyler’s well-researched account illuminates an ugly and troubling dimension of Israeli policy and politics.” —Publishers Weekly

“Tyler presents a sharp critique of the close relationship between the Israeli government and the officer corps of the Israeli military . . . [he] researches deeply and does not pull his punches.” —Booklist

“Fortress Israel is the definitive historical and analytical account of the role that Israel’s military has played both in Israel itself and in the wider Middle East. In Patrick Tyler’s deeply reported and very well written account, one learns how a militarized Israeli culture has permeated the decision making of Israel’s governments for decades and how that culture affects the calculus of its politicians today. If you want to understand Israel’s future—and also how that future may play out in the Middle East—this book is mandatory reading.”
—Peter L. Bergen, author of Manhunt: The Ten-Year Search for Bin Laden from 9/11 to Abbottabad

“In this exceptional book, Patrick Tyler demonstrates with meticulous documentation and revealing interviews with the country’s national security experts how Israel’s founding military and intelligence leaders were essential to the survival of a young nation. Tyler also tackles the vexed question of our era: Will Israel’s warrior ethos and its legacy of zero-sum strategies for dealing with its Arab neighbors and the Palestinians prevent it from crafting a lasting peace? Tyler’s analysis of how much the world lost with the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin is definitive and heartbreaking. Fortress Israel is essential reading for students of the Middle East.”
—Howell Raines, former executive editor of The New York Times

“With Fortress Israel, Patrick Tyler takes his place in the first rank of historians of Israel and the modern Middle East. He presents a provocative but objective look at the militarism that has driven Israel’s leaders since the founding of the state and explains vividly—without ideological cant or bias—why generations of tough-minded sabras have found it so difficult to convert their battlefield successes into a lasting peace.”
—Terence Smith, Israel correspondent for The New York Times during the Six-Day and Yom Kippur Wars

“A rare and often disturbing portrait of Israel’s military elite, with all its foibles, rivalries, and vicious infighting.”
—Martin van Creveld, author of The Land of Blood and Honey: The Rise of Modern Israel

About the Author

Patrick Tyler worked for twelve years at The Washington Post before joining The New York Times in 1990, where he served as chief correspondent. His books include Running Critical, A Great Wall (which won the 2000 Lionel Gelber Prize), and A World of Trouble. He lives in Washington, D.C.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 576 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (September 18, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374281041
• ISBN-13: 978-0374281045
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.4 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #56,767 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #11 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > Ideologies & Doctrines > Nationalism
  • #41 in Books > History > Middle East > Israel
  • #57 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Politics & Government > International & World Politics > Middle Eastern

More About the Author

Patrick Tyler was born in 1951 in St. Louis, Missouri, but grew up in Texas where he attended Ross Sterling High School in Baytown, and attended the University of Texas at Austin for one year (in Physics) before moving to South Carolina, where he graduated from the University of South Carolina in 1974 with a Bachelor's degree in Journalism. He edited two weekly newspapers in rural South Carolina (1974), before spending a year at The Charlotte (N.C.) News. In 1976, he joined The St. Petersburg Times. In 1978-79, he produced and hosted a PBS Network series, Congressional Outlook, and the next year joined The Washington Post, where he worked for 12 years covering defense, intelligence and national policy issues. From 1986-89 he was Middle East Bureau Chief for The Post. He resigned in 1990 to join The New York Times in Washington as military analyst, then resumed his career as a foreign correspondent based first in Beijing, then Moscow, Baghdad and London, from where he resigned in 2004. His books include a history of the nuclear attack submarine program under Admiral Hyman G. Rickover ("Running Critical," Harper & Row, 1986), a history of American relations with China ("A Great Wall," PublicAffairs, 1999) and a history of American presidents and the Middle East ("A World of Trouble," Farrar, Straus & Giroux, 2009). He lives in Washington, D.C. with his wife, Linda, an author and teacher. His home page is: www.patricktyler.org

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent history of Israel November 19, 2012

By Sydney reader

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book is 500 pages long and there isn't a boring page in it. Is it critical of Israel? Yes, it is. A constant theme throughout is that Israel is far too militaristic and has rarely tried diplomatic means to achieve its objectives. Whether true or not, there is a lot of information in here which appears in no other books on this topic. The author's knowledge of the main players is astounding, and the footnotes attest to meticulous research. While there will never be a last word on this topic, this book is an excellent contribution and a great read for anyone wishing to understand how the Middle East got into such a mess.

22 of 30 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read November 14, 2012

By Andrew M. Cockburn

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Books about Israel written by non-Israelis almost invariably fail to convey what makes the country tick. It is Patrick Tyler's remarkable achievement to have penetrated the veil and written what is essentially an insider's account of the country's military politics, drawing on an extraordinary range of sources and perceptive analysis. Anyone purporting an informed view of this vital subject must read this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

1.0 out of 5 stars Ignorance is Bliss? or A Reckless Road Travelled June 18, 2013

By Steven R. Ornstein

Format:Hardcover

This is a poor excuse for a "factual" and/or honest book on Israel and it's Military. Mr. Tyler doesn't even know Hebrew or Arabic and often confuses issues and situations that any child be he/her Israeli Jew or Israeli Arab would know. I suggest you strongly read a recent review by Historian Benny Morris on Tyler's book before thinking of purchasing this shame.
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22 of 33 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A well written and important insight October 8, 2012

By Karsten Tveit ( real name)

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I read trough "Fortress Israel" in two days. I read the first ten Chapters with more passion than I read an exciting novel.Tyler gave me new insight and I enjoyed his style. His sourcing of literature and primary contacts deserves credit.

The periode Tylor covered in the last elleven Chapters - from Menachem Begin in the Prime minister's office to War on Gaza - I know from my time as TheMiddle East correspondent for the Norwegian National TV & Radio. Here I also found Patrick Tyler's writings generally accurate and to the point. His first-hand sources are impressive, and his way of putting new, and known information into the greater picture, should be appreciated by every reader. Israel's military policy are exsposed.

One of the reasons I give Tyler a four star review, and not five stars, is his version of the april 1996 Operation Grapes of Wrath in Lebanon. "Fortress Israel" just briefly mention the grotesque bombardement of a UN Peackeeping camp, filled with Lebanese refugees.More than 100 lebanese civilian were killed in the bombardement. The UN camp was well known for the Israelis and well marked as a local UN HQ.

An investigative UN report, written by the Dutch general Franklin van Kappen, and his artillery expert, a British colonel, showed that the IDF bombarded the camp without hesitation. Later the top Israeli brass were lying to the UN-team, but were exposed. General van Kappen's UN report is a very intersting read and would have given readers of "Fortress Israel" important information on Israel's occupation policy in Lebanon. I also think that Tyler should have included how the US government protected the Israelis for further international investigations after Operation Graptes of Wrath....

Even if Tyler is too soft on Israel's war crimes in Lebanon, I think he gives a fair picture of the Israeli military might and how the elite is running the State.

I first read "Fortress Israel" on my Kindle. Now I have read the book in paperback. This was not a waste of time.

I can hardly wait for Patrick Tyler's next work, hopefully on the Middle East. Read more ›

14 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched and totally engrossing November 6, 2012

By Jaffa

Format:Hardcover

Well researched ents said - ignore the 1 star reviews. Clear bias in their agenda.
Very detailed and well researched account tracing right back to the early days of Israel. Some accounts of various statements may be challenged but you get the general consensus on the state of mind that created what we see today in Israel. Having been there and travelled through West Bank, across various crossings and experienced the attitude of some aspects (not all) of the Jewish state - especially the IDF - I find it hard not to agree with the general picture that Tyler portrays of Isreali mindset.
Great book - I'm reading for a 2nd time

12 of 18 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Thorough Look at Israel's Leadership and Strategy December 5, 2012

By MartyHeyman

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Few of those who write about Israel make ALL the links between the military and the government leadership. Tyler tells the story of the military actions and uses that as the basis for his analysis of government behaviors. Well documented.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Pro-Israel Readers can still appreciate this book... December 21, 2012

By Rajesh S. Raghavan

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The author of this book is critical of the militaristic direction of Israel's policies in the Middle East. And he marshals an impressive set of facts and insider accounts to support these claims. Yet one could still read this book, acknowledge the overall factual context of the book, yet still disagree with the author by still leaving one's encounter with the book as a supporter of Israel. (I am deliberately taking this point of view of disagreeing with the author, yet still appreciating his argument.)

As opposed to following a more idealistic foreign policy that the author would prefer, Israel has chosen to take the realist approach of Morgenthau, Waltz, and Mearsheimer in dealing with its immediate neighbors. Yes, one could make the case that Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion had a pattern of taking overly militaristic, often covert actions that set the tone for Israel's local foreign policy in the decades to come; yet keep in mind that Israel's founders were survivors of the Holocaust when the rest of the world ignored the plight of European Jewry, first during Kristalnacht and other events in Germany, and later even after learning during the war of the Final Solution. Ben-Gurion's covert acts may at times have been too provocative, yet they need to be understood by us in context, 70+ years removed from the Final Solution.

Furthermore, one cannot ignore the fact that Jews were returning to the land promised to them by God in the Bible, perhaps the most influential book in Western Civilization.... I can hold a personal view of skepticism towards this covenant, yet even a basic understanding of human psychology can lead a reader to see why Jews may want to expand their territorial foothold in the Middle East, including the conquest of East Jerusalem and the West Bank in 1967 when the main threat was actually Egypt's army in the Sinai.

And as for standing up to Nasser in 1956, well even then Nasser was making nationalistic pan-Arab noises, and the British and French shared Israel's hostility towards him. After World War Two, the international community has frowned on "military adventures of choice", yet how is the war of 1956 all that different from American wars of choice such as the 2003 invasion of Iraq? The author argues that in 1967 the Israelis could have stayed mobilized longer than the Egyptians without going to war, essentially forcing the Egyptians back into their barracks. Yet from a realist view of foreign policy, why not take advantage of the opportunity to smash the Egyptian Army?

The author is also quite critical of Israel's acquisition of nuclear weapons; yet all the conversations and events he cites can be viewed as a justifiable pursuit of policy given the Holocaust. One cannot be too critical of the Israelis' actions after the Holocaust and upon reaching the land promised to them by God; however, I will readily agree that the United States should have used its influence to leverage AGAINST this, as opposed to basically writing the Israelis one blank check after another with large weapons sales and a total absence of criticism after the 1967 war.

Basically, upon reading this book, I am quite enlightened by all the inner policy discussions of Israel's leaders which illuminate why pressuring the Israelis to make peace with the Arabs will be so difficult, primarily stemming from the militarization of Israeli society and the leadership of its government. Yet I am not as critical as the author is of the Israelis involved, as I tend to subscribe to the realist school of foreign policy. However, from the standpoint of American interests, I am quite critical of the fact the the United States has repeatedly written blank checks in support of Israel policy after 1967. Read more ›