I am reading a book that covers the prelude to the 6 Day War, the war itself and it's aftermath by David Kimche. I've already read a couple - dry reading by scholarly types. Fascinating. I always wanted to know how such a tiny and very young country could possibly take on all those hostile countries and win. In 6 days no less. Unbelievable.

This David Kimche, who passed away this year in March at 82 years old is a very interesting fellow to say the least because he was an Israeli spy - a real big honcho in MOSSAD. Since when do intelligence agencies (especially Israel) allow their agents to write books? I wonder, is that prudent?

1928 -

Israeli intelligence officer, diplomat, and writer.

"Dave" Kimche was born in London in 1928, and emigrated to Israel in 1948 and fought in the Arab - Israel War of 1948. He attended the Hebrew University in Jerusalem (where he earned a Ph.D.) and the Sorbonne in Paris. He was employed as a journalist by the Jerusalem Post before joining Israel's foreign intelligence service, the Mossad, in 1953, and worked under journalistic "cover" in Paris, specializing in clandestine links with countries such as Morocco and Iran, and from 1976, with Lebanon's Christians. He rose in the ranks of the Mossad to be deputy head (for external relations) under Yitzhak Hofi.

In 1980 Kimche left the Mossad because of disagreements with Hofi over Lebanon policy. He was appointed director-general of the Foreign Ministry under Prime Minister Menachem Begin, and was the chief Israeli delegate at Khalda, outside Beirut, in the December 1982 talks with Lebanon and the United States discussing Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon following the 1982 invasion. In 1985 he played a key early role in the Iran-Contra Affair, in which Israel worked secretly with the United States to supply antitank missiles to Iran as part of an effort to free U.S. hostages held by Iranian-inspired Islamic militants in Lebanon.

Following retirement from government service in 1987 Kimche was a guest lecturer at Tel Aviv and Bar-Ilan universities and president of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations. Kimche authored several books, among them The Secret Roads, Both Sides of the Hill (with his brother Jon), The Afro-Asian Movement, and The Last Option.

Bibliography

Black, Ian, and Morris, Benny. Israel's Secret Wars: A History of Israel's Intelligence Services. New York: Grove Press, 1991.

Kimche, David. The Last Option: After Nasser, Arafat, and SaddamHussein - The Quest for Peace in the Middle East. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons; Maxwell Macmillan International, 1991.

Here is the Wikipedia link and at the bottom is only a couple of references but I went to Google and read the obits in the Jerusalem Post, NY Times and some other material on him. I don't know yet how to do hyperlinks here yet so here goes: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Kimche He's written more books than the above bibliography actually but that's a decent capsule bio.

I've always been obsessed with Antisemitism. Can't understand it and have yet to find the ROOT cause of it and not for lack of trying either. I've read countless books on it, belong to dozens and dozens of sites, forums, magazines, feeds, newsletters etc.. And I'm still trying to find out "why". I don't think I ever will find out why it started with such virulence and has lasted thousands of years and is still going strong. So I keep reading hoping that someday something will click and I'll say to myself: "Ah, so that's why. Now I get it."

After this book (easy reading thank goodness) I'll be back to the very dry scholarly stuff. Michael Oren, Benny Morris and their ilk. Also the 2 recommendations I received from my "Arab-Israeli Wars" posts. I look forward to those very much.

Back to my tea, rocking chair and book.

Booklady,
Thanks for your post. FYI, Christopher Hitchens has an essay in the Atlantic this month on anti-semitism. Also, there is an interesting article in Atlantic this month on the possibility of Isreal invading Iran and a counter article on Salon.com.
I'm looking forward to your input on this site. Will you be reading The Tin Drum?

Hi lindad_amato,

Nice getting replies to your posts. Don't you just love knowing that people actually read them and find them engaging? A bonus when they respond. {{Big toothy grin}}

Re "The Tin Drum", as wonderful as that book is, I'm undecided as it addresses the Nazi monsters and atrocities of war, etc. but not what I'm looking for - the ROOT cause of antisemitism going back to when the very first Hebraic walked out of the desert and the unbelievable phenomenon of why it still remains several thousand years later: "Exactly why do people hate Jews?" I'm not ruling TTD out as it is an important and brilliant book and I should like to enjoy reading it one day; although I'd love to know what the "child porno" controversy is all about.

Sidenote: I always have a bit of difficulty reading foreign books translated into English - as I currently am now - from Hebrew to English. The newer books today are excellent but the older ones are painful and plodding. Reading the Russians for example was extreme agony. I know I would've found reading Anna Karenina a joyful experience had it not been for the horrid translation. But I digress.

Christopher Hitchens is a colorful and controversial character and I have to admit that I've actually read very little of his work. I just don't have the time to check into all the sites I have bookmarked and like so much such as The Atlantic, Slate and all the excellent online magazines. If only. But I've already seen the headlines about Israel's plans to attack Iran on the Haaretz.Com website a couple of days ago. I do want to know more about that so I'll read the 2 you posted about.

The last book forum I was in, for reasons I'll never understand, loathed CH. Now the reason I'm perplexed is that my assessment of CH is that he's a progressive liberal, correct me if I'm wrong please. And 99.9% of the members of that book forum were socialists, communists and Marxists (I'm a Moderate) I learned shortly after I joined and just before I left, heh. So their rancorous hatred of CH puzzled me greatly, LOL. Go figure.

Look forward very much to your input as well. Any particular reason other than Nazism that you think I might get something out of TTD?

BookLady,
My suggestion that you join in the reading and discussion of The Tin Drum was purely self-serving. I'd like to read your comments. I don't know if I'll enjoy it or get anything out of it and I agree with you on the translations. Anna Karenina was painful.
Thanks for letting me know about the Haretz site. I'm going to take a look at it.
Have you read anything by Dara Horn? She writes fiction about the "Jewish Experience", for lack of a better term. Her prose is beautiful and the stories compelling.

Oh, so you were giving me a "heads up" on an upcoming book discussion? Now I understand why you selected "that" particular book to query me on. I was scratching my head about your question re The Tin Drum. If they (BT.Org) ever do take my advice and have a book discussion on "A FINE BALANCE", I will be the first one there - will bells on in a "New York Minute" no less. Or any of the books selected by the Oprah Book Club. Those are some awesome reads. Now that she's throwing the towel in I am wondering whether she will stop selecting books. Hope not.

Haaretz is a great, IMHO, and very, very old (by Israeli standards) newspaper and always controversial. Some love it and some loathe it.

Never heard of Dara Horn and am checking her out as I type this. I've got a a ton of Jewish fiction books on hand and when I get to the Fiction books the first one I plan to read is SOTAH by Naomi Ragen (http://www.AMAZON.COM/Sotah-Naomi-Ragen ... 996&sr=8-1) and then the rest of her dozen books, probably. I've been hearing about her for years and years. BTW, people who like and read her books also read Dara Horn. It appears that we have Similar Tastes.

I have a certain level on how prosy a book I enjoy. The talent or gift of writing truly beautiful prose is rare and to be admired greatly. And I've read my share (and still do) believe me. When a great book shows up on the scene, prosy or not, one has got to read it, no? But I do not and never did select books because of beautiful prose I must admit. I like to cut through the fat and get right to the meat. The less wordy and the more 'dialogue and action' in a book, the happier I am. I guess that makes me one of the "great unwashed", LOL.

How do I add you as a FRIEND? I would be honored. If you feel the same, could you help me do it please?

booklady wrote:I'm not ruling TTD out as it is an important and brilliant book and I should like to enjoy reading it one day; although I'd love to know what the "child porno" controversy is all about.

The controversey about child pornography in Drum is primarily directed at the movie. Oskar spends his life in the body of a three year old, he is portrayed in the movie by a young little boy. Yes, Oskar does have a sexual encounter with a 16 year old girl, and on screen, this is pretty shocking, and there is your controversey.

I do hope you join us booklady for the discussion!

Loving the purple signature!

"Yes, Oskar does have a sexual encounter with a 16 year old girl, and on screen, this is pretty shocking, and there is your controversey."

Really now. Wow. I can just imagine. I hope (GACK) that it is not what I would call g-r-a-p-h-i-c. So, the book itself was never embroiled in this controversy then? Just the movie because of this scene? See, I thought the book itself was banned in some areas because it was deemed Child Porn and I could not fathom why.

In the book, the encounter is probably g-r-a-p-h-i-c.

Suzanne, if I have not read the book and don't plan to in the near future, it's OK to join the discussion anyway?

Many thanks on my purple selection. I was pondering on Red and Teal. Figured red (my favorite color) might be too bold for a newbie plus Chris already has it, LOL. Then I figured that teal - such a gorgeous color - would get lost in here because the whole site is teal. I also love Purple and use it a lot.

Since you are a Moderator, how do I go about Friending, you, Chris and "lindad_amato" please?

booklady wrote:Since you are a Moderator, how do I go about Friending, you, Chris and "lindad_amato" please?

I've never used this feature, but to add a friend, lindad for instance, you will need to go into lindad's profile. You can find profiles for each member at the very bottom of each post. Once inside the profile, you will see "add as friend, or add as foe". Click onto your choice. I am very flattered that you would like to add me as your friend.

booklady wrote:Suzanne, if I have not read the book and don't plan to in the near future, it's OK to join the discussion anyway?

Well, I suppose that would depend on what you could add to the discussion. You certainly are welcome to read the posts members make about the book, these posts may encourage you to join in. The point of a discussion is for readers to express their feelings about the book, and interesting discoveries they will make while reading. You may feel a bit dissapointed if you are looking for explanations on topic, characters, setting, etc.

booklady wrote:I hope (GACK) that it is not what I would call g-r-a-p-h-i-c.

Actually, it was not what I would call graphic. There certainly were more disturbing sceens from the movie, and certainly more disturbing passages from the book. I will admit to crying on more than one occasion.