Customer Reviews

THE REVOLT

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The revolt is the Menachin Begins personal account, as the leader of one of the Jewish underground factions, of the founding of the state of Israel. Those who discount the idea of Zionism (Jewish nationalism) as nothing more than western colonialism need to read this book. Perhaps Begin in later years said it best: When asked to give up Jerusalem (the capital of Israel) in the same manner that the French gave up Algeria, Beign replied that the French would not give up Paris and the British would not give up London.

This book takes you into and underground with the Irgun Zvi Leumi. The jewish freedom fighter organization led by Begin during the years leading up to the establishment of the state of Israel. It was very interesting getting Begin's view on the contraversal organization on subjects such as Ben-Gurion and Dier Yassin. Begin takes you into this underground world that reads with the excitment of a ficticious novel. Every reader will come away inspired by the charasmatic leader. However, to get a true prospective on Begin himself, this is not the book. Begin is very modest about his leadership and focus's more on the organization rather than himself. Although, some is lost in the translation from Hebrew to English, you won't come away dissapointed

A fascinating account of the role of the underground army of Eretz Israel, known as the Irgun Zvai Leumi, by its commander-in-chief, and late Israeli statesman and Prime Minister, Menachem Begin.

A story known by relatively few, a first hand account of one side of the resistance movement that resulted in the birth of modern Israel. The Irgun was considered by many Jews and non-Jews alike to be a terrorist organization. After reading this book, one will find out why Israel would probably not have been created without the controversial efforts of the Irgun. One will similarly discover the difference between a freedom fighter and a terrorist (even though Begin actually refers to himself as a "terrorist" in the book; possibly a result of no proper equivalent translation from the original Hebrew. Hint: a freedom fighter does not attack civilian targets.

After a brief introduction of Begin's earlier life as a prisoner of the Bolsheviks before the Nazi invasion of Poland, Begin recounts the history of the Irgun as its leader from 1943, until the creation of the State of Israel in 1948. The "resistance movement" consisted of David Ben-Gurion's Jewish Agency for Palestine, the semi-legal Jewish army known as the Haganah, and the underground movement of the Irgun (and a smaller break away underground army known as the Stern Group. Although the former and latter were at times allies, and at other times bitter enemies, the message of the book is how each group needed the other components to accomplish the goal of a free Israel.

With the fervor of a brilliant statesman, and the eloquence of a lawyer (which he was), Begin writes a gripping account of the history of the Irgun and its methods. The Irgun worked primarily by audacious "confiscation" of British arms and attack of military and British police installations with its primary weapon, dynamite.

Included are separate chapters of the most famous exploits of the Irgun, including the Altalena affair, Operation Chick, the blowing up of the south wing of the King David Hotel (which served as the seat of the civil and military British occupation authority), the battle for Jaffa, the counter-floggings and counter-hangings of British officers in retaliation for the same of Irgun Freedom fighters,

An especially fascinating chapter entitled "Meetings in the Dark" recounts Commander Begin's meetings with various dignitaries (such as Dr. Ralph Bunche) which were litterly held in a darkened room, so Begin could not be identified (he had a high price on his head by the British).

One cannot help, after reading this book, to appreciate the role of Begin (and his organization, the Irgun) played in ejecting the British from Eretz Israel, to form the modern State of Israel, and the stupidity of the infighting between the various components of the resistance movement (whose methods complemented each other).

Although the primary subject of the book is the history of the Irgun, the reader will no doubt become interested in the biography of the author, who later served in the Knesset, in the cabinet (as minister without portfolio), until he finally rose to power as Prime Minister of Israel in the late 1970's, and death in relatively obscurity shortly after his wife's death in the late 1980's.

My copy of "The Revolt" is the 9th English Edition, published in Israel by Steimatsky. It is personally autographed by Begin's late wife Aliza, January 1979.

The Levantine Jews had to fight the British for their freedom. The war truly began when Great Britain came up with the White Paper of 1939. And Begin, who led the Irgun, one of the Jewish groups fighting against Great Britain, was instrumental in helping the Jews win that fight.

The book starts with Begin being sentenced to eight years in a labor camp, on April 1, 1941. Begin's response was an involuntary "April Fool!" And the joke may have been on his persecutors, as Begin soon wound up in the Levant, where he quickly took over the leadership of the Irgun.

Begin states his reaction to the problems the Jews faced at that time. If your house is on fire, you do not wait for the fire department to arrive to try to rescue your family. By the time they get there, it may be too late.

Many people call the Irgun a terrorist group. But Begin explains that while both fighters for freedom and fighters for oppression may use violence to try to overthrow a regime, there is an inherent difference between them. Physical force was neither the aim nor the creed of the Irgun, which properly believed in the supremacy of moral forces. It was the British enemies of the Irgun which mocked morality.

Begin tells of the British order, in 1929, that the Jews not blow notes on their Shofars at the Western Wall. And we see the consequences of this ill-advised law. After all, even the Roman conquerors had allowed Jews to blow their Shofars there.

And we learn that, except during actual planned missions, the Irgun did not carry weapons. If they were stopped and searched, they were often released on the spot.

Begin tells of the Irgun's exploits. And the Altalena affair, in which Begin managed to escape and convince his troops not to start a civil war.

I was intrigued by the description of the battle for Deir Yassin. I've always regarded some of the wilder stories about this battle with some suspicion. Here is why. The Jews, with Jerusalem besieged, decided on April 1, 1948 to counterattack. This was really the first offensive by a Jewish army in centuries. Two key targets were Castel and Deir Yassin, vantage points which overlooked the endangered Jerusalem road. A Jewish failure to win any battles would doom Jerusalem. Thus the attacks a week later were unusual. I would have expected huge protests from the Arabs no matter what the outcome.

Of course, the Jewish army was inexperienced. And Begin's Irgun was especially inexperienced at such an attack. It fell for a bogus Arab surrender. It fell for tricks such as Iraqi soldiers dressed as women (with concealed weapons). Nevertheless, the Jews won that battle. It may not have been as big a battle, in terms of casualties, as Gettysburg or Stalingrad. But it was a part of a battle for freedom and human rights that saved Western Jerusalem and I think that is worth celebrating.

The author explains that the Arab complaints about the battle backfired, with many Arab civilians, believing wild stories about Jewish atrocities (and perhaps believing them even more given the tendency of Arab soldiers to engage in them), fleeing the battle zone. Begin claims this effect was very significant in saving the city of Tiberias, and made the attack on Haifa easier.

It is a fascinating book, and I recommend it.

The story of the Irgun's revolt against British rule is told in this book by the organization's visionary leader Menachem Begin. Begin was a modest, courageous leader dedicated to achieving freedom for the Jewish people in the land of Israel. Time and again he made decisions which overcame his own narrow interest and served the people of Israel. One was in his decision not to fight back after the attack on the Atalena. Years later in events outside the scope of this book Begin in opposition backed the government fully in decisions of great weight and moment, such as the taking of the Old City in 1967 or the operation in Entebbe in 1976 . Here he tells of a troubled time in Jewish history when a desperate people struggled to realize a two thousand year old dream of restoring Jewish sovereignty in the land of Israel. This is a highly readable work by a leader who the people of Israel loved perhaps more than any other in modern times.

Much can be said about Menachem Begin. As leader of the group Irgun/Etzel Menachem Begin formed the leadership of the violent resistance against British occupation in the Mandate of Palestine. He was one of the few who resisted the Labour Party's Hegemony over the Knesset then led the early Likud to victory in the 70s, to then make peace with Sadat's Egypt.

Begin chronicles his rise to the head of Irgun from his beginnings as a humble early Zionist imprisoned in a Russian gulag. He talks about one of his friends in the Gulag, a Jew who was the biggest supporter of Communism, then eventhough betrayed by the regime he supported still rallied to the Communist cause. Begin writes a very heart rending chapter how his friend's view changed from one of trying to shed his Judaism for a Communist identity, to one identifying with Zionism.

While solidly being anti-Communist, Begin was often accused of being a facist. His autobiography/history of Irgun totally disproves this lie created by many leftists. In addition most pro-Arab individuals claim that the State of Israel itself is an "imperialist invention," again just by reading The Revolt, one can easily deduce that Irgun's stated goal was one of anti-Imperialism (directed against the British). Another claim made by detractors is that Irgun was a terror group. After reading numerous histories of the group and supplementing it with this book the truth comes to light that Irgun never wanted the death of innocents, only those fighting against it, such as militant Arabs and British soldiers. Begin even shows regret to the innocents that were killed in attacks. I think one of the best sections involved the lies about the "massacre" at Deir Yassin. Begin proves that not only were the Arab inhabitants well armed but that they dressed as non-combatants and used non-combatants as human shields. He also talks about how the Arab media exploited a small battle like this and blew it up into a massacre. This book is a true myth buster.

Individuals interested in the early history and internal relations of the Jewish state, its relations with the Arabs, and the Irgun and Lehi operations against the British will find this book to be an incredibly thorough account. Begin talks openly about when the Haganna opened fire on the Irgun arms and refugee carrying ship Altalena. In addition to how he staved off a civil war with David Ben Gurion over who would lead the new Israeli state and its armed forces.

Begin was a great leader, statesman, and one who truley wanted a better future for his people.

Revolt is the story of the Israeli struggle against the British from 1944 to 1948 to end the Mandate and establish a Jewish state. Jews, who had endured centuries of discrimination in Europe culminating with the Holocaust, saw their chance. They would not be denied.

It was perhaps the strangest war in history: death camp survivors pitted in a life-and-death struggle against the British, who were liberating Nazi concentration camps in Europe while simultaneously keeping the gates to "Palestine" closed. Begin justifies his murderous actions by citing the struggles of the Jewish people through the centuries punctuated by Auschwitz and Treblinka. Certainly, any government who stood between Jews and their, "Promised Land," was evil and had to be dispensed with accordingly. Begin details the Irgun's most famous actions: the raid at Acre Prison, and the destruction of British Headquarters at the King David Hotel, to name a couple. He consistently describes his Irgun, "freedom fighters," in the most glowing terms. The book details how battles were fought and won both in Palestine and in the Court of Public Opinion in Britain. Ultimately, the British left. The, "freedom fighter's" had won, or have they?

In the over 50 years that have elapsed since the struggle, Israel has "won" four major wars with her Arab neighbors. However, recognition of Israel has never been granted. The goal of real peace has proved more elusive than guerilla and later conventional military victory. Was there another way to establish a Jewish state? Begin says emphatically, "No!" Interestingly enough many Zionist leaders, including David Ben-Gurion, disagreed with him. Arab terrorists such as Yasser Arafat have copied Begin's tactics and are now spreading mayhem throughout Israel. Question? If the goal of establishing a homeland for displaced, disenfranchised people was valid for Begin and the Irgun, can the same not be said for the Palestinians? The key question remains to this day: What does Israel do with over a million hostile, Palestinian refugees?

President Ronald Reagan said, "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter." What is the distinction? An American military instructor answered this question rhetorically: "Victory or defeat! If a revolutionary succeeds in overthrowing the established government, he is a, patriot, a, visionary, a, hero. If he fails, he is a, criminal, an anarchist, and/or a terrorist." Given this definition, Begin is a patriot, Arafat, a terrorist. Note both have blood on their hands!

Revolt is a text on how to conduct a guerilla campaign. The question it does not answer is how to deal with the after effects of a guerilla campaign. How does one build bridges to defeated and humiliated foes? When that question is answered perhaps there can be real peace in the Mid-East.

Written by a leader of an underground terrorist faction who later became a statesman on the world stage. This book brings you into the mind of one of the shapers of the Middle East. You cannot claim to comprehend all angles of the Middle East without having read this book.

Their was a time when terrorists were Jewish. Their was a time when a small band of Jews took on the British empire. Mr. Begin led this group. He also led one of the few Israeli parties to oppose Labour/Rafi for thirty years in the opposition until the Likud victory in the 70s. Begin is a ma larger then life and this is his story about the 'Revolt' against the British empire. His decision not to fight fellow Jews and not to fight Ben Gurion are legendary. ANd the Irguns use of terror against Arabs, evoking the biblical eye-for-an-eye, is also legendary. This is a monumental work evoking a different age, a worthwhile read.

Menachem Begin, was undoubtedly one of the greatest soldiers and leaders of the 20th century.
In this book he writes with great passion, depth, humour, love, humility, total honesty and total lack of bitterness.
It is the true story of the dreams of a nation to throw off 2 000 years of persecution, death and homelessness, and to re-establish a Jewish State in the eternal home of the Jewish people-Eretz Yisrael (the land of Israel).
He writes of the struggles faced by the Jewish people, and particularly the brave young men and women of the Irgun Zvai Leumi, the Jewish Partisans of freedom, who gave all (often their lives) for the rebirth of a free and proud Jewish nation in their ancestral homeland.

While this is a true story, it is thrilling to read, and Begin proves that he is also an accomplished and entertaining writer.
He shockingly highlights the cruel role of the British in suppressing the Jews in their own homeland, including sending a million Jewish men, women and children back to Hitler's ovens, and the, cruelty displayed by the British occupation forces to captured Jewish prisoners.

We also learn how the British armed the Arabs and did everything possible, collaboration with the Arab forces, to try and ensure the total destruction of the Jewish people in the Land of Israel (i.e. a second holocaust)

This information makes it particularly sickening to see much of the British establishment, including the British media (epitomized by the hate speech of the likes of Robert Fisk, and the BBC), politicians like George Galloway and Tom Dalyell, academics like Tom Paulin and others, leading the international campaign to vilify and harm, while glorifying the terrorists that cruelly murder Jewish men , women and children.
They are showing the same callousness in regard to Jewish men, women and children being murdered today, as they did during the British Mandate.

I have noticed that it is quite popular in pro-Arab and anti-Israel circles to point to the brave fighters of Irgun Zvai Leumi and Lehi (Fighters for the Freedom of Israel) and accuse them of having been terrorists , using the dangerous argument that `If the goal of establishing a homeland for displaced, disenfranchised people was valid for Begin and the Irgun, can the same not be said for the Palestinians?'

This is in fact grossly dishonest.

The Irgun and Lehi never, at any time, targeted civilians, and Begin describes in `The Revolt' how the Irgun took great pains to avoid civilian casualties, often at great risk to their own soldiers.

The Irgun specially planned the bombing of the King David Hotel (headquarters of the British occupation army) so that no civilians would be hurt, and warned the British in advance of this operation, urging all civilians and women to be evacuated. They even chose a time for the bomb when they thought that no civilians would be in the building.

The response of the British police official responding to the warnings was `We don't take orders from the Jews'.

The Irgun also never deliberately harmed Arab women and children and always took great pains not to do so, contrary to the anti-semitic myths.

Compare this to the deliberate aims of the PLO, Fatah-Tanzim, the al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, the PFLP, the DFLP, Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hizbollah, and all other Arab terrorist organizations, to strike specifically at Israeli women and children , specifically choosing targets where the greatest death and injury can be done to them.

Arab homicide bombers by their own testimony search out the busses and bus routes where the most women and children traveled on, in order to target them.

Arab terrorists have entered Jewish homes and shot Jewish children in their beds.
The Irgun did none of this. So to use the struggle of the Irgun to justify Palestinian mass murder is reprehensible

Most importantly Menachem Begin highlights the indestructible spirit of the Jewish and Israeli people:

"If we learn and remember, we shall overcome our enemies, They will never succeed in enslaving us again. Never. Even if they overwhelm us we shall throw off their yoke...They will not break us.'

Those engaged in the current campaign to destroy Israel , should remember those words.
.