Joseph Evron

"Gidi" is a comprehensive biography of Amihai Paglin, known as Gideon or Gidi. Gidi was a brilliant strategist, someone who was dedicated to establishing the state of Israel. He was involved with both the Haganah and the IZL. This fascinating book offers readers a chance to really grasp the complexity and genius behind the military tactics of a man like Gidi. Determined to rid his country of British rule and to establish a Jewish country instead, Gidi planned and carried out many amazing military feats. Menahem Begin, in his funeral oration for Gidi says the following, "It could be said of him, he was one of the founders of the State of Israel. Were it not for Gidi, there is no knowing if we could have conducted our war as we conducted it, and if we had not conducted it as we had conducted it -there might never have been a State of Israel."

I thoroughly enjoyed the many times the author, Joseph Evron, inserted the statements and thoughts of Gidi as he revealed different phases of his life. One can tell Evron thoroughly researched Gidi's life and talked with many people who knew him. The most interesting chapter is the one where the author relates the bombing of the King David hotel, the planning of that event and how it was carried out. While you are reading this book you will feel like you are a participant in the activities of the IZL. The book is filled with such interesting anecdotes that it becomes a gripping read and a real page-turner. If you enjoy history and a good biography, don't miss this one. You will learn about the battle for Jaffa, the Jerusalem Railway Station bombing, and the freeing of Israeli and Arab prisoners from the Acre prison.
What is most striking is the boundless courage of those men and women who participated in the battles that enabled the formation of the state of Israel as a Jewish country. The cleverness, the commitment to certain ideals and ethics and the perservance of these fighters was remarkable. By the last chapter, the reader not only admires Gidi but also those who fought beside him. Be sure to read this book so you will better understand why the establishment of the state of Israel and its continued existence is so important.… (lisätietoja)

While I normally enjoy a good hero story as much as the next man, this book glorifies Amihai Paglin's role in what could be deemed terrorist activities. Setting my biases aside, I was able to enjoy the book as a more intimate history of the IZL. Most of the literature I have come across has led me to believe these men were terrorist thugs. While this book did not assuage my concerns, it did present these men in a more human light. I feel that I understand the struggle these men went through more after reading this book, than after all of the textbooks I have pored over. The intimate details the author provides, mostly through interviews, made me more aware of why they took the actions they took. The members of the IZL also tried diligently to avoid civilian casualties, unlike the terrorists they are sometimes compared to.
A good book for anyone interested in Israel, it's foundation or the fall of British rule in the region.… (lisätietoja)