The Arab-Israeli Wars: War and Peace in the Middle East

by Chaim Herzog

Book cover for The Arab-Israeli Wars: War and Peace in the Middle East

Now in its third edition, this classic study has been updated for the first time in more than twenty years.

Chaim Herzog, former President of Israel, was involved in every conflict involving Israel and its Arab neighbors from before the 1948 War of Independence. The Arab-Israeli Wars is Herzog’s acclaimed history of Israel’s fight since 1947 to preserve her existence against repeated attacks. Revised after his death by friend and colleague General Shomo Gazit, this new edition also covers the events of the past twenty years, including the pullout from Lebanon, both intifadas, the first Gulf War, the Oslo Process, and beyond. Riveting, informative, and comprehensive, this authoritative account tells the story of Israel’s struggle to survive but gives a clear picture of the people and politics that continue to shape the destiny of this crucial region.

This book is part of:

  • On May 25 2017 David (USA) read this book
  • On Nov 02 2016 Tom Copeland (USCG) read this book and commented:

    Having been both a soldier and the prime minister of Israel gives Chaim Herzog a unique perspective from which to write this book. One interesting thing was his position that by executing air strikes deep into Egypt, Israel drove them into the arms of the Soviets. So it was a tactical success but a strategic failure. This reminded me the CIA station chief's opinion in "Charlie Wilson's War", that is, that the US should not try to help the Afghans defeat the Soviets but instead just give them enough to tie up the Soviets in place. The personal anecdotes are really something; he'll say in a matter-of-fact manner "at this point an attack was launched to disable the SAM battery; the author of this book participated in that assault".