Friends Indeed:Special Relatio [Library Binding]

Norman Finkelstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

Explores United States-Israeli relations since the founding of Israel in 1948 within the context of ongoing strife and attempts at peace in the Middle East, the political climate in the U.S., and the opinions of the Jewish community.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8 UpAThe history of these nations has been intertwined since Israel became a state in May 1948. As in many political friendships between powerful countries, the relationship has not always been a smooth one. Finkelstein succeeds in chronicling the drama and emotional upheaval in Israel's short history and its unique ties to the U.S. In a clear, articulate style, the author holds readers' attention from Israel's conception to Benjamin Netanyahu's election as prime minister. An introductory chapter provides background on the origins of the state while others are devoted to significant dates in Israel's history. Incorporated throughout are fascinating anecdotes, including an incident involving Frank Sinatra. A sprinkling of black-and-white photographs enhances the narrative. There is an excellent time line and a complete index. Most collections will benefit from this readable account.AMalka Keck, The Temple Tifereth Israel, Beachwood, OH
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Gr. 7^-12. With its principles of religious freedom, the U.S. was a beacon toward which persecuted Jews from all over the world set their course. But even in the U.S., anti-Semitism loomed, causing such influential American Jews as Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis to listen to and support Theodor Herzl when he agitated for a Jewish homeland, where Jews, "no matter how assimilated or patriotic," would not be viewed as strangers. Yet a Jewish state might never have been realized without the backing of President Harry Truman, whose ear was turned to the needs of the Jewish people by his former business partner and long-time friend, Eddie Jacobson. The story behind that influential friendship as well as inside perspectives on the relationships between subsequent American administrations, their Jewish-American constituency, and the state of Israel comprise this focused history. Libraries with large Jewish collections and strong demand for U.S.^-Middle East coverage will find this readable treatment a beneficial addition. Time line; notes; bibliography. Ellen Mandel

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Library Binding: 176 pages
• Publisher: Millbrook Press; 1St Edition edition (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0761301143
• ISBN-13: 978-0761301141
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,307,173 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Norman H. Finkelstein is the author of eighteen nonfiction books, mainly for young readers. He recently retired as a school librarian for the Brookline (Massachusetts) Public Schools but continues into his 29th year of teaching history in the Prozdor Department of Hebrew College. Among his writing honors are two National Jewish Book Awards, the Golden Kite Honor Book Award for Nonfiction and a "highly recommended" award from the Boston Author's Club.

His interest in history and biography developed early. "I was the only kid in the sixth grade who regularly read the New York Times," he said. His books reflect an eclectic view of his world. From his love of old-time radio came Sounds in the Air: The Golden Age of Radio and from his fascination with plastics came a social and cultural history called, simple enough, Plastics. He also serves as the series editor for the Jewish Publication Society's JPS Guides.

He is married to Rosalind who he calls "my first-line editor". They have three grown children and three grandchildren. Finkelstein lives in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fine introduction, May 5, 2001

By 

Alyssa A. Lappen (Earth) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Friends Indeed:Special Relatio (Library Binding)

This book is a fine introduction for young people to the history of Israel and its relationship with the U.S. Unfortunately, much that has been written today consists of revisionist history that ignores the facts: In 1947, six months before the declaration of the Independence by the state of Israel, Arabs were already fighting against her, with help from the British. In the war that ensued, some 6,000 Israelis were killed, fully 1% of her population. That was roughly equal to the half the U.S. losses of the Civil War--still the most devastating both proportionately and absolutely--of all U.S. wars. It is only a third of the proportionate U.S. losses of World War II. Israel nearly lost--and won with no help whatsoever from the U.S.

Subsequently, Israel fought four other defensive wars against Arab aggressors. Arab officials admitted last November and again in March that current low-level war, which makes six, was planned by Arafat during the Camp David talks. They began attacks on September 24 with bombs at Netzarim junction, one of which murdered Israeli David Biri--days before Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount.

Israel, now 53 years old, has lived in a virtual stage of siege since her founding. Of 22 Arab nations, only two are officially at peace with her. The other 20 remain officially at war, by their choice. Mr. Finkelstein's work is an important--and honest--contribution to the understanding of this history. It is a positive contribution, being a much-needed antidote to the propaganda war that the Arabs have mounted, with increasing success, for the last 25 years.

---Alyssa A. Lappen

14 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Introduction, May 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Friends Indeed:Special Relatio (Library Binding)

This book is a fine introduction for young people to the history of Israel and its relationship with the U.S. Unfortunately, much that has been written today consists of revistionist history that ignores the facts: In 1947, six months before the declaration of the Independence by the state of Israel, Arabs were already fighting against her, with help from the British. In the war that ensured, some 6,000 Israelis were killed, fully 1% of her population. That is roughly equal to the half the U.S. losses of the Civil War--still the most devastating both proportionately and absolutely--of all U.S. wars. It is only a third of the proportionate U.S. losses of World War II. Subsquently, Israel fought four other defensive wars against Arab aggressors. The current low-level war, which makes six, was planned by Arafat during the Camp David talks, and started by Arabs on September 24 with bombs at Netzarim junction, and the murder of Israeli David Biri.

Children should learn that Israel, now 53 years old, has lived in a virtual stage of siege since her founding, with 20 of the 22 Arab nations remaining officially "at war" with her. Mr. Finkelstein's work is an important contribution to the understanding of this special friend to the U.S. Mr. Finkelstein's is a great contribution to the body of work on Israeli history. It provides a much-needed antidote to the propaganda war that the Arabs have mounted, with increasing success, for the last 25 years.