My Friend, the Enemy [Paperback]

Uri Avnery (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book is like a long, intense conversation, filled with digressions but always returning to the tensions, hopes, and frustrations of ten years of effort to move the Palestinians and Israelis toward peace. Avnery, Israeli journalist and peace activist, traveled extensively to establish personal contact with PLO leaders similarly committed to argue, listen, and begin to trust, and he grew to respect and admire his country's enemies. Within Israel itself, he worked to persuade political leaders and the public to take steps toward peace instead of clinging to fear and hatred. Not even the assassinations of two colleagues and the fighting in Lebanon in 1982 could destroy his belief that peaceful coexistence can replace bloody confrontation. Political issues and possible solutions are presented clearly in this passionate report. Highly recommended. Elizabeth R. Hayford, President, Assoc. Colls. of the Midwest, Chicago
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Lawrence Hill & Co (January 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0882082132
• ISBN-13: 978-0882082134
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,928,419 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everyone who wants peace in the Mideast should read this book, March 7, 2009

By 

Marje (Leesburg, VA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Friend, the Enemy (Third World books) (Hardcover)

This is an important book for anyone who wants to understand the history of Israel and Palestine.

Author Uri Avnery, now 85, became an Irgun terrorist at age 15, but after three years he left the Irgun, because of his opposition to its policies against Arabs and its terrorism. He was seriously wounded in the 1948 war, and wrote about his experiences. After he recovered, he became a journalist, a peace activist, and a member of the Israeli parliament (Knesset).

This book tells the story of his courageous back-channel meetings in the 1970s with leaders of the PLO, including Yassir Arafat, in an attempt to forge a peaceful solution to the conflict. At crucial points in negotiations, the moderate PLO members with whom Avnery was conducting a dialogue (toward an agreement on a two-state solution) were assassinated.

Avnery today heads the Israeli peace bloc, Gush Shalom, and continues to fight for a two-state solution and equity for Israelis and Palestinians.

1 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars First he misjudged and then he joined the enemy, June 12, 2007

By 

Shalom Freedman "Shalom Freedman" (Jerusalem,Israel) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: My Friend, the Enemy (Paperback)

The enemy that Avnery befriended was Yassar Arafat. But Avnery not only befriended Arafat he joined him, and came to adopt Palestinian positions against Israel. Even at times when Israel was subject to the worst waves of Palestinian terror Avnery was there explaining how the Palestinians really wanted peace.
Avnery who for many years was a leading figure in Israeli journalism joined the other side. He has done much to deligitimize Israel, and for this certainly deserves the title of Israel's Benedict Arnold.