Customer Reviews

Terror Out of Zion: The Fight for Israeli Independence

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

 

 

Bell writes a history of the role that the Irgun and Lehi played in the founding of the State of Israel. There is a tendency in the left of the Israeli political spectrum to minimize the role of the these organizations in the British decision to leave the Palestine Mandate and a tendency on the Arab side to portray these parties as brutal barbarians. Bell explores the motivations, operations, and personalities of these organizations and their contribution to the founding of the state of Israel. Bell concludes that these were highly dedicated men and women who sought a homeland for their people and that without their involvement, the Birtish might not have left. Bell's other works on the IRA and similar movements show that he is well versed in this type of material. I recommend this book to anyone who is open minded enough to hear all sides of the Israeli- Arab issue.

I must disagree with the individual's comment below about this "glorifying" the right wing "terrorists". This book Bell does take a very impartial review of what life/times were like in mandate Palestine. Even today in Israel, there is immense suppression of any Conservative or so-called "right wing" views and/or Information. The historical troubles seen by Arutz-Sheva is one example of many. Israel, and the perception within Israel from its Courts, Media and Educational sytem are dominated by Left, to ultra Left, Socialists. This was/is the case since the Mapai/Mapam parties of Ben Gurion's days. This is fact not fiction. I'd suggest reading this book amongst others like "From Time Immemorial" by Joan Peters (Leftwing), "Revolt" by Menachem Begin, "Summing Up"- Yitzak Shamir, "Years of Wrath, Days of Glory"or "They Must Go" (and others) by Meir Kahane if you want Right Wing history of Israel.

I feel this is a very good read that opens one's eyes to the "other" side of the coin. Books like "Ben Gurion's Scandals" by Naeim Giladi, "Perfidy" - Ben Hecht, "The Transfer Agreement" - Edwin Black or even works on the Atlena Affair or the Ring Worm Affair which outline/documented the immense racialism, bigotry and pure power hungry immoral tactics the Socialist (Labor Zionist) dictators of Israel used, during the days of pre-State Israel, to solidify and dominate total control of the Yishuv. Good luck and enjoy this book by Bell. ;-)

Terror out of Zion tells the tale of the Jews who took to the gun to force the British and the Arabs out of Palistine. While Wiezman was tinkering in Washington and Ben-Gurion was debating with England small bands of Jewish youth were striking fear into the hearts of the british soldiers in Palistine. Terror our of Zion focuses on the Stern gang and the Irgun and thier triumphs and tragedies. It focuses on thier leaders Avraham Stern and Manachem Begin. The book also focuses on the near civil war that took place between the Haganah and these terrorist groups. In many ways these groups were the forfathers of the now illegal Kach movement. These groups in some ways predicted the birth of Mr. Goldstien who slaughtered the Arabs at prayer in the 90s in retaliation for Arab attacks on innocent Jews. THese terror gorups also created two Israeli prime ministers, Begin and Shamir, both of whom have had a formative influence on modern Israel. This is a worthwhile read and the only study of its kind on these essential groups.

It is important to get behind the tactics and into the motives of a nationalist organization. The "terrorism" of the Irgun and Lehi factions in pre-Israel Palestine is well-summarized here, although he does downplay the savagery of the violence. Still, the people behind the violence have stories and motivations worth exploring. Ultimately, one must realize that the groups made a cult of violence, but that its members did so for reasons they regarded as self-sacrificing and patriotic. Established states are instruments of terrorism so it should be no surprise that those who aspired to create one would be capable of ruthless violence.

finally a book that tells how the state was really created and amazing pictures. excellent truly excellent.

There is no doubt that Terror Out of Zion is a compelling read and Bell makes an interesting case: his thesis is that the terrorist activities of the right-wing Irgun and Lehi were instrumental in getting the British to quit Palestine. Their role in the formation of Israel, he claims, has been consistently downplayed by Israeli historiography because of the overwhelming emphasis placed on left wing socialism in the War of Independence and the formation of the early state of Israel. Unfortunately, Bell uses almost nothing but memoirs and interviews of the key players in this drama to make this book. There are no, or little, primary documents, and very little secondary sources. Of course, memoir and interview are important sources for the historian, but when used alone, they can create a distorted view of history, one leaning toward the justifications of the memoirist and the interviewee. And this can be seen in the tone of the book, where Bell is far too close to his subjects. Terror Out of Zion, at times, reads like cheerleading for Israeli's right-wing and terrorism in general, which, Bell alludes time and again, actually achieves its goals under the right circumstances. Bell also has few citations, most chapters having no more than 20, leaving the problem of attribution of sources. Finally, there are also horrible generalizations about Arabs in this work, like on page 297: "It takes more to make an Arab a Prussian than an Iron Cross second class..." All this combines to makes Terror Out of Zion a very suspect book. It should be read with critical caution.