The Sword and the Olive: A Critical History of the Israeli Defense Force

New York: Public Affairs, 1998. 1st Printing. Trade Paperback. Very Good. 6x1x9. First paperback printing. Edge wear. Binding tight and square, pages clean, bright, and unmarked. 1998 Trade Paperback. xviii, 422 pp. Combining razor-sharp analysis with dramatic narrative, vivid portraits of soldiers and commanders with illuminating discussions of battle tactics and covert actions, The Sword and the Olive traces the history of the IDF from its beginnings in Palestine to today. The book also goes beyond chronology to wrestle with the political and ethical struggles that have shaped the IDF and the country it serves--struggles that are manifesting themselves in the recent tragic escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Often revisionist in attitude, surprising in many of its conclusions, this book casts new light on the struggle for peace in the Middle East.