The Scout [Paperback]

Steven E. Plaut (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9652292893 | ISBN-13: 978-9652292896 | Publication Date: April 2002

The Bedouin scouts are the largely-unsung heroes of the Jewish state. The Scout is based on the true story of the legendary Salim Saadi, tracing his extraordinary life, and his daring exploits serving in the Israeli army, as well as providing a broader view of Bedouin history, and Bedouin-Jewish relations in Israel. Author Steven Plaut draws on Islamic and Jewish religious themes, Bedouin folklore and historical events, masterfully combining these distinct fragments to create a rich and absorbing story.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"...in The Scout Plaut shines forth as a biographer and folklorist" -- Edward Alexander, Jerusalem Post, Jewish Star Times, Sep. 4, 2002

"...terrifically readable jaunt that lights up the most unexpected corners of Middle East history and culture..." -- Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe and syndicated columnist

"Plaut's fast-paced account reads like a novel but is even better - an informative and insightful page-turner..." -- Daniel Pipes, Publisher, Middle East Quarterly

"Plaut, hitherto known as Israel's Jonathan Swift for his political satire, here shines forth as biographer, folklorist, and historical novelist." -- Edward Alexander, Prof. of English at University of Washington

"This memoir captures the humour and humanity underpinning the mosaic of cultures and experiences that is Israel." -- Efraim Karsh, Head of Mediterranean Studies Program, King's College, London

A beautifully written book -- Marek Breiger, Northern CA Jewish Bulletin, February 8, 2003

A fascinating and highly informative book. -- Carl Alpert, The Jewish World, August 15, 2002

In short, punctuated stabs, [Plaut] weaves a tale at once historical and autobiographical, vividly exotic and poignantly existential. -- Michael Skakun, The Jewish Press, August 20, 2002

The reader will learn things about Israel that he will not learn from any other source. -- Judy Carr, The National Jewish Post & Opinion, May 29.2002

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Gefen Books (April 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9652292893
• ISBN-13: 978-9652292896
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,065,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Scout" by Steven Plaut-Gefen Books; ISBN: 9652292893., September 21, 2002

By 

David Chindler (Rio de Janeiro., R.J. Brazil) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Scout (Paperback)

As an exclusive Amazon's customer for over four years, I must say:
"The Scout" is definitely a five star winner!
Recovering from a very difficult ordeal in a hospital bed, Steven Plaut 'meets' another fellow-patient: A Bedouin. This representative of a remarkable breed of people-and his unmatched tracking abilities-,are the essence of this Plaut's latest hit. Blending fact and fiction in a very clever way, this highly talented historical novelist creates a real page-turner. Tough to put down.
David Chindler
Rio de Janeiro R.J. Brazil

4.0 out of 5 stars Should be made into a film - fascinating book, October 16, 2011

By 

RL - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Scout (Paperback)

I kept putting off buying this while it was in print. I finally got an old battered copy now and I very much enjoyed it and must recommend it to anyone who has also been putting off reading this.
A lot of the book is a historical rampage from anciant Jewish Berber Princess warriors to Bedouin trackers who solve murders just by looking at a footprint in the sand, there's also Arabs who win the highest military award in the Israeli army as well as anecdotes about the Rabbi of Gaza etc.

The book is written in short bites which makes it good to dip in and out of.

The only disadvantage is that the short essays and anecdotes sometimes disrupt the flow of the book. For that reason I have given this 4 stars instead of 5.

Overall, this little book gives a much wider, far more interesting, perspective on Israel than the media can ever give and is very entertaining.

3.0 out of 5 stars Israeli Bedouin, August 14, 2010

By 

S. Cranow "The Granovitch" (ENCINO, CA, US) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Scout (Paperback)

Steven Plautt is 49 years old living in Israel as a professor and a computer person. His world changes when he is diagnosed with Cancer and has to have a kidney removed. While he is is the hospital h he meets the person next to him named Salim Saadiya. Salim Saaadiya is known as the "Scout". Hailing from the Bedouin Tribe of Saadiya from Saudi Arabia, a tribe that was known for looking after Muhammed, Salim was exposed to warfare at an early age. The Saadiya tribe served as scouts for Muhammed's army. They had enclaves in Syria, Israel/Palestine and even inn North Africa.

Salim you could say had a tough life. At age 9 his mother had passed away and his father married another woman. This woman was not to good with the kids and Salim had many confrontations with her. Now Salim's father had a job as a scout or tracker with a German Templar community in the Jordan Valley. He was scout tracker. If someone stole cattle from them he would track the missing cattle. Salim's Uncle helped with the cattle breeding. The father got Salim a job at the colony. Salim's first job was to milk cows. After he stayed there for four years he ended up being a foreman in charge of worker who were older than he was. Many of the workers did not like this. Salim was also sent to errands in Tel Aviv.

The first Arab Jewish war changed things for Salim. His village was taken over by Fauzi Kaukjis forces. Since Salim was working with the Jews he was considered a wanted man. Upon entering his village he captured and imprisoned. They had plans to take him to Syria and execute him. But luckily an ally on the inside helped him escape. Later he was able to return to normal life after the war was over. His first job as a scout involved killing a hyena that was eating the cattle of a Moshav. He killed it. Later on the Israelis would just about force him to work for their police department. His tracking ability became legendary.

The Bedouin have a history of working with the Jews of Israel/Palestine. The Al Heib tribe always had good relations with the Jews of Rosh Pina. They were later inducted inot the Palmach and formed a unit called the PalHeib.They fought valiantly against the Syrians when they fought against the Zionists. Amos Yarkoni, a bedouin helped set up the tracker of Israel.

Around the Middle East the Bedouin are infamous for their tracking ability. They can find a coin buried in a desert three days ago. From a footprint they can tell if you are male, female, injured or well. They can even track on concrete.

Over all good book. One weakness if the author kept getting off track with anecdotes that had nothing to do with the story or Israel's relationship with the Bedouin. Perhaps a more comprehensive book about the bedouin should be written.