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Treacherous Alliance: The Secret Dealings of Israel, Iran, and the United States Hardcover – October 1, 2007

by Trita Parsi (Author)
4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars 116 ratings
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In this era of superheated rhetoric and vitriolic exchanges between the leaders of Iran and Israel, the threat of nuclear violence looms. But the real roots of the enmity between the two nations mystify Washington policymakers, and no promising pathways to peace have emerged. This book traces the shifting relations among Israel, Iran, and the United States from 1948 to the present, uncovering for the first time the details of secret alliances, treacherous acts, and unsavory political maneuverings that have undermined Middle Eastern stability and disrupted U.S. foreign policy initiatives in the region.

 

Trita Parsi, a U.S. foreign policy expert with more than a decade of experience, is the only writer who has had access to senior American, Iranian, and Israeli decision makers. He dissects the complicated triangular relations of their countries, arguing that America’s hope for stability in Iraq and for peace in Israel is futile without a correct understanding of the Israeli-Iranian rivalry.

 

Parsi’s behind-the-scenes revelations about Middle East events will surprise even the most knowledgeable readers: Iran’s prime minister asks Israel to assassinate Khomeini, Israel reaches out to Saddam Hussein after the Gulf War, the United States foils Iran’s plan to withdraw support from Hamas and Hezbollah, and more. This book not only revises our understanding of the Middle East’s recent past, it also spells out a course for the future. In today’s belligerent world, few topics, if any, could be more important.

 

 

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  1. Print length
    384 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Yale University Press
  4. Publication date
    October 1, 2007
  5. Dimensions
    6.13 x 1.06 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0300120575
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0300120578
  8. See all details
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4.3 out of 5 stars
116 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book well-written and easy to read. It provides insightful commentary on the Israeli-Iranian conflict and offers a new perspective. The language is clear and easy to understand, and the text size is suitable for note-taking.

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14 customers mention "Readability"14 positive0 negative

Customers find the book well-written and essential reading for everyone. They say it's an eye-opener and in good condition when received.

"...I found it to be a decent read and very informative." Read more

"This was a very good book. It is a necessary read for anyone who wants a fresh and I believe more accurate assessment of Iran...." Read more

"...This book is a real eye opener. Decent Iranians deserve a change...." Read more

"...while it covers much ground that is already well known, is a great read regardless, because f the number of senior leaders on the US and Iranian..." Read more

12 customers mention "Insight"12 positive0 negative

Customers find the book provides an insightful look into the actual dealings between Israel, Iran, and the United States. They say the author did an amazing job of researching and tying together the information. The book is well-documented, providing a new perspective on the current situation. It's an interesting read for political science and international affairs students, providing a historical backdrop to understand how the current situation has come to be.

"...It provides a historical backdrop to understand how the current situation has come to pass...." Read more

"I agree with most other reviewers that "Treacherous Alliance" is highly insightful and provides a welcome balance to many contemporary western views..." Read more

"An excellent insight into the actual dealings between Israel, Iran and the USA away from the boring Iranian rhetoric of "death to america and death..." Read more

"...This is a great book with many interesting insights, especially for those interested in developing a strategic communications policy regarding Iran...." Read more

6 customers mention "Language"6 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's writing style. They find it well-written, factual, and enjoyable to read. The text is easy to take notes in and has a good size for reading.

"...Trita Parsi is a fairly good writer though occasionally repetitive. I found it to be a decent read and very informative." Read more

"...The book is extraordinary well written and throws a sharp search light on every turn and bend in the political landscapes between Iran, Israel and..." Read more

"Trita Parsi has written an excellent book, with a superb usage of the English language...." Read more

"...the perfect amount of space to take notes in, and the text is a great size to read." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • X
    5.0 out of 5 stars Well researched, a real eye opener
    Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2009
    Verified Purchase
    A well balanced and fairly even-handed review of the triangle of Iranian-Israeli-US relationships. I say it is even-handed because Trita Parsi is critical of all parties involved. I am sure that neither the ayatollahs of Iran, ex-Bush administration nor the Israeli lobby will appreciate the book due to its straight talk. This is a very timely book given the current push by the international community against the Iranians for their nuclear program. It provides a historical backdrop to understand how the current situation has come to pass. Trita Parsi is a fairly good writer though occasionally repetitive. I found it to be a decent read and very informative.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • ConsDemo
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very Insightful
    Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    I agree with most other reviewers that "Treacherous Alliance" is highly insightful and provides a welcome balance to many contemporary western views of Iran. While it is well known that Israel and the Shah's Iran cooperated from time to time and the US engagement with Iran during the "Iran-contra" affair relied, at least in part, on Israeli mediation, the attempts at rapprochement between Iran and the US since the hostage crisis have not been well explored elsewhere, mostly because neither side chose to broadcast them.

    Indeed, one wonders how the region might be different in the US had taken Iran up on its attempts in the 1990s and again in 2003 to forge better relations. It is true that some of the blame for the failure to accept Iranian entreaties can be laid at the feet of the pro-Israel lobby in the US which was able convince members of Congress to stifle any discussions before they got started. This power was recently demonstrated again when President Obama suggests Israeli-Palestinian negotiations use the 1967 borders of Israel as a basis for peace talks and a majority of Congress appeared to side with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's position of intransigence.

    Insightful as Parsi's analysis is, I think the vision of rapprochement that he lays out at the end of the book (which was published in 2007) was probably unrealistic. If the current Iranian government was primarily concerned with having its regional importance recognized and respected, it probably could have achieved an understanding with the new Obama Administration in 2009. While it is true that Iran's Islamist governments after 1979 have shown occasional streaks of pragmatism, the current government under President Ahmadinejad has shown little. Even if rhetoric suggesting Iran seeks Israel's discussion is often taken out of context or exaggerated, Israel is right to fear nuclear armed Iran. One hopes Parsi's assertion that the Iranian leadership is ultimately rational is accurate but when one hears the leader of a potentially nuclear nation talking about wiping another nation off the map, it should give the second nation pause. As for US-Iranian relations, a possible American détente with Iran should not be held hostage by Israel's fears, but is it really possible at the present time?
    6 people found this helpful
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  • Sepo
    5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2007
    Verified Purchase
    This was a very good book. It is a necessary read for anyone who wants a fresh and I believe more accurate assessment of Iran. Anyone formulating Iran policy must read it, if only to hear another reasonable perspective. Despite the rhetoric reported so biasedly in most Western media, and despite the Iranian regime's current unfortunate ideology, whenever the regime's advertised ideology has clashed with it's geopolitical strategy, the latter has ALWAYS prevailed. The "mad mullahs" are not mad enough to risk losing anything. In fact, they are terrified of it. They are now trying to balance ambitions of regional hegemony with forging further entrance into the international community, whilst retaining domestic theocratic control. Iran has evolved since 1979 to a point where the once rigid ideology may now be more flexible. The questions are how much would Iran be willing to flex, and if so, will the World powers accept it as its current Islamic Republic. Unlike one critique earlier, I don't think the author supports the 'Mullahocracy' so much as he seeks to reveal a more objective truth that may prevent unnecessary conflict.
    12 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • TGC
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good analysis, a bit biased
    Reviewed in Italy on November 8, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    I suggest reading also from Israeli authors. The author is in the “Iranian lobby” in the US and it shows a bit in the writing.
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  • Yousof Hourani
    3.0 out of 5 stars An insightful perspective
    Reviewed in Australia on August 27, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    An interesting overview of the range of motives underpinning Israeli, American and Iranian interests.
    Feels like it concludes about a decade too early.
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  • Al
    5.0 out of 5 stars shows the duplicity in the worls
    Reviewed in Canada on June 2, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    give you a glimpse of hidden back door dealings . I knew the rhetorical war between Iran and Israel is fake
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  • dodomeur
    5.0 out of 5 stars R.A.S
    Reviewed in France on September 1, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Rien à signaler vraiment. Logistique correct reste maintenant plus qu'à le lire. Et pour le reste, je ne sais vraiment pas quoi dire
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  • Edmund Kemper
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 22, 2012
    Verified Purchase
    I read the book "All the Shah's men" and enjoyed Trita Parsi's approach much more even though I must admit that the
    subject/focus wasn't totally the same. The book is told in chronological order and compared to
    All the Shah's men it focuses on Iran and its political ambitions, relationship between the governments of Middle East
    instead of little minor details, which don't interest me that much. The books opens a whole new window for the reader and
    gives you insight of the public or behind the scene dealings between Iran, US and Israel. From now on I look even more
    closely at the news regarding Iran, Israel and neighbouring states, Iran's nuclear ambitions and how other states are
    reacting to their actions or rhetoric.

    The book was very well written, structured and researched - definitely worth reading, if you are even remotely into politics
    or interested in Iran.
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