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  • Rise and Kill First

  • The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations
  • By: Ronen Bergman
  • Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
  • Length: 25 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (117 ratings)

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Rise and Kill First

By: Ronen Bergman
Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
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Publisher's Summary

* AN ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR * THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *

Shortlisted for the Airey Neave Memorial Book Prize

Winner of 2018 National Jewish Book Award

The first definitive history of the Mossad, Shin Bet, and the IDF's targeted killing programs.

The Talmud says: "If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first." This instinct to take every measure, even the most aggressive, to defend the Jewish people is hardwired into Israel's DNA. From the very beginning of its statehood in 1948, protecting the nation from harm has been the responsibility of its intelligence community and armed services, and there is one weapon in their vast arsenal that they have relied upon to thwart the most serious threats: Targeted assassinations have been used countless times, on enemies large and small, sometimes in response to attacks against the Israeli people and sometimes preemptively.

In this eye-opening book, journalist and military analyst Ronen Bergman - praised by David Remnick as "arguably [Israel's] best investigative reporter" - offers a riveting inside account of the targeted killing programs: their successes, their failures, and the moral and political price exacted on the men and women who approved and carried out the missions.

Built from interviews with Israeli Prime Ministers as well as high-level figures in Mossad, and the country's military and intelligence services - Rise and Kill First includes never-before-reported, behind-the-curtain accounts of key operations, and based on hundreds of on-the-record interviews and thousands of previously unseen files. Bergman traces, from statehood to the present, the gripping events and thorny ethical questions underlying Israel's targeted killing campaign, which has shaped the Israeli nation, the Middle East, and the entire world.

Rise and Kill First is the definitive book to read on Israel's military history.

©2018 Ronen Bergman (P)2018 Hodder & Stoughton

Critic Reviews

"A gripping investigation of Israel's assassination policy." (Sunday Times)

"Compelling." (John le Carré)

"Remarkable." (Observer)

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  • Overall
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hugely entertaining....captivating.

As a supporter of Israel, learning through this tome, the everlasting struggle to maintain a country whilst surrounded by the enemy, and succeeding.
Fills me with respect.

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    3 out of 5 stars

Too much details

While the book is engaging about the conflict in the start , it becomes disappointingly hasty about more contemporary events . I wish the author had spent more time about the solutions...

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Brilliant book and brilliantly read

One of the best contemporary histories of not just modern Israel, but the Middle East post Balfour Declaration.

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More interesting than any spy fiction

It is inspiring, sad and incredible at the same time that such an organisation of intelligence and deadliness has been developed. The book explains the background to some of the most tumultuous terrorist acts and clinical assassinations. I read much of this before going to sleep... at first it made for a fitful nights rest, after a while the constant acts of terror and targeted killing becomes a matter of fact. It's ultimately a chilling insight to our Darwinian nature and what happens as a result of bring significant technology, organisation and determination. I sorry this still exists in the world but feel wiser for reading about it in this exceptionally well written book.

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Excellent

Outstanding read. Highly recommended. Provides a detailed history in mostly chronological order. The book was engaging throughout.

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Couldnt stop listening

Awesome detail of history and events through time of success and failures. easy to listen to as each mission is a new story. highly recommended.

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Brilliant!

Easily one of the best books l've ever read! stunning from start to finish. You won't be disappointed.

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An interesting book on Israel's survival

I was interested to hear the success stories of targeted assassinations as well as the failures of Israel's secret services.
After many assassinations were carried out I could see how futile it is to kill an adversary in this manner.
The Palestinian counter attacks are always coming back to hit Israel's population.
It eventually became a vicious circle and it no longer matter who started first the hostilities.
I blame the politicians on both sides that have not tried genuinely enough to find a negotiated solution.
This situation is not sustainable for both Israel and the Palestinians.
I was glad to note that Ronen Bergman concluded his book with substantially the same notes.

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  • Len
  • 04-02-2021

Absolutely outstanding

I was somewhat reluctant to purchase this audiobook but had watched Munich again at the time (the Spielberg movie) and thought i would try it. It is fantastic, i loved every minute of it and highly recommend it.

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Best comprehensive history of Mossad .

Best comprehensive history of Mossad . Sourcing for this book is second to none. Mossad's strategy thought process on Iran.

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