From These Men; Seven Founders of the State of Israel
New York, N.Y. Wyndham Books, 1979. First Printing [Stated]. Hardcover. 254, [2] pages. Signed and dated by Peres on the second free end paper. Includes Preface. Includes chapters on David Ben-Gurion; Levi Eshkol; Berl Katznelson; Nathan Alterman; Ernst David Bergmann; Moshe Haviv; Yonatan Netanyahu. Of all the personalities Shimon Peres has met during his many years in Israeli politics, there are a few men who have added excitement to his own life and to the country they have helped to create. Mr. Peres has chosen to recall seven of these men: David Ben-Gurion, whom he considers the greatest Jew of his generation; Levi Eshkol, who succeeded Ben-Gurion as premier; Berl Katznelson, the spiritual guide of the early Zionist movement; the poet Nathan Alterman; Ernst David Bergmann, an important scientist and former chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission in the Prime Minister's office; Moshe Haviv, who helped found the Rafi Party; and Yonatan Netanyahu, the heroic commando soldier who was killed leading the Entebbe raid. This book is a moving tribute both to them, and to the remarkable nation that has produced such outstanding individuals. Shimon Peres (born Szymon Perski; 2 August 1923 – 28 September 2016) was an Israeli politician who served as the ninth President of Israel (2007–2014), the Prime Minister of Israel (twice), and the Interim Prime Minister, in the 1970s to the 1990s. He was a member of twelve cabinets and represented five political parties in a political career spanning 70 years. Peres was elected to the Knesset in November 1959 and except for a three-month-long hiatus in early 2006, was in office continuously until 2007. Derived from a Kirkus review: In anticipation of his upcoming challenge to Israeli Prime Minister Begin, Shimon Peres, leader of the opposition Labor party, has drafted his profiles in courage, featuring personalities who have helped to shape modern Israel. Some are more well-known than others. Peres considers David Ben-Gurion, the first prime minister of Israel, to be the greatest Jew of his generation. Levi Eshkol--whose gift for compromise, Peres notes, contributed much to the labor movement--was prime minister in 1967. Berl Katznelson, the ideologue of the Labor party, and poet Nathan Alterman guided the nation's spirit, in Peres' view, while scientist Ernest David Bergman drafted the master plan to make Israel self-sufficient in energy, water, and food--specifically foreseeing the manifold blessings that atomic energy would yield. Lawyer Moshe Haviv, who aided Ben-Gurion and Peres in founding their dissenting Raft Party, represents justice, while the hero par excellence is Entebbe commander Yonatan Netanyahu--"first in line and first to fall." Through their portraits we have glimpses of Peres as his career intersects with their lives. Thus we learn that Peres in 1956 was involved in consultations with the British and French before Suez; that Peres tried to mediate between Ben-Gurion and Eshkol over the Lavon Affair and the founding of Rafi; that Peres' views of democratic socialism were influenced by Katznelson. And he, like Ben-Gurion and Eshkol, would negotiate with the Arabs. He also understood defense matters as he was Minister of Defense during the Entebbe Raid. These impressions of people he has known and worked with serve equally well to make his presence and contributions known. Condition: Very good / Very good.
Keywords: Israel, David Ben-Gurion, Levi Eshkol, Berl Katznelson, Nathan Alterman, Ernst David Bergmann, Moshe Haviv, Yonatan Netanyahu, Middle East, Politicians, Jews, Zionism
ISBN: 0671610163
[Book #81143]
Price: $375.00