Living History: A Memoir - Hardcover

Herzog, Chaim

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 067943478X ISBN 13: 9780679434788

Publisher: Pantheon, 1996

Synopsis

Freedom fighter, army general, Israeli ambassador to the United Nations during the turbulent '70s, president of Israel from 1983 to 1993--Chaim Herzog's life has paralleled the life of Israel itself. Now he gives readers a candid and acutely observant account of that life in all its historic and personal richness. Uniquely qualified to put a human face on history, Herzog provides insights into the people with whom he has played a part in the creation of that history. b&w photos.

About this title

Review:

Chaim Herzog, former UN ambassador for Israel and President of the Jewish state from 1983 to 1993, who was born and raised in Ireland, where his father was Chief Rabbi, was present at the birth of the state of Israel. He served in the British Army during the Second World War, and helped liberate the Nazi concentration camps, a profoundly moving experience for a Jewish officer. Afterwards he fought in Israel's war of independence. In the UN Herzog made eloquent speeches in defense of Israel at a time when his country was increasingly isolated. His presidency saw the beginning of the Intifada, the missions to rescue Ethiopia's Falasha Jews, and the opening up of the Soviet Union. In this extensive memoir Herzog offers his memories and reflections, including comments on the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin.

From Kirkus Reviews:

A straightforward if somewhat idealistic account of the history of modern Israel, especially as it intersects with the personal history of one of its foremost statesmen. Herzog, former president of Israel and author of several books about Israel and military affairs (Heroes of Israel: Profiles of Jewish Courage, 1989, etc.), recounts highlights of his public life while offering insights and personal musings on the history of the state of Israel. Born into a respected rabbinical family in Ireland and educated at the Universities of London and Cambridge, Herzog migrated to Israel in 1935, when his father was elected chief rabbi of Palestine. We follow his career of public service from army general to director of military intelligence, from first military governor of the West Bank to Israel's ambassador to the UN. Throughout his career he was guided by the principle that Israel's mission was not just to survive, but to serve as a much needed model of morality. After the Six-Day War, Herzog recalls, Jerusalem mayor Teddy Kollek stormed into his office, insisting that milk be immediately distributed to the Arab children in East Jerusalem. Herzog insists that the Arabs repeatedly missed opportunities for peace because of their inflexibility and pride. However, he does see a new Middle East emerging. Despite the recent election of Likud's Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister, Herzog believes that peace is on the horizon. Arafat, he writes, has gone ``from hostility to partnership in a working relationship, one of the more astonishing relationship shifts in history.'' If Arafat proves able to contain terrorism, ``the Palestinian problem can be solved by the end of the century.'' Herzog's passionate asides on such matters as the insidious racism of the late rabbi Meir Kahane, and the harsh sentence given to Jonathan Pollard, convicted of spying for Israel in America, make this ``living history'' a lively one. (16 pages b&w photos, not seen) (Author tour) -- Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

About this edition

• Publisher: Pantheon
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 067943478X
• ISBN 13: 9780679434788
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 448