The Pledge

by Leonard Slater

The story of an incredible and dramatic race against time to provide a state not yet born with an Air Force and weapons to defend itself an epic that contained heroism, farce and endless contradictions. Its headquarters was a New York hotel known for its tall chorus girls.

Genres: History, Israel

348 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1970

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and little-told tale of how Israel managed to prepare itself for the inevitable war to destroy it in the cradle. While Israel is now a vibrant, thriving and advanced country its existence hung by a thread. Powerful parts of even the U.S. government were trying to seal its doom. Only an unlikely group of renegade countries, including Communist Czechoslovakia, Panama, Italy, France and Mexico kept it alive.

The chapters are short, punchy and to the point. Much of the writing is even funny.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

The absolute best non-fiction book I have ever read!

[Harry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A gripping history of how pre-State Israel secured funds, material and armaments during the years 1945 - 1949. It starts with a remarkably prescient David Ben Gurion holding meetings with Jewish movers and shakers in New York to secure their support for the yet unborn state in the liklihood of war with their Arab neighbors. Luckily right after World War II, the United States was liquidating its wartme armaments and selling much of it for scrap. Unfortunately though, the U.S. State Department had imposed an embargo of shipping all munitions outside its borders. This is a story of how a group of idealistic Americans, Jews and non-Jews, worked to secure these armaments and get around the embargo, It places special emphasis on the securing of airplanes and pilots for the fledgling Israel Air Force. In fact this air support turned the tide of the War of Independence.
Although technically correct, it is disconcerting to read the pre-state Israelis referred to as Palestinians. That term certainly has a different conotation today.

[Evan H · Rating 5 out of 5]

The victory in the war of independence was a miracle - Israel being invaded on all sides by five armies, outmanned and outgunned, taking by surprise after Arab nations fatefully rejected a Palestinian state alongside the historic Jewish homeland. That didn’t work out well did it?? This book and tells the incredible story of how a miracle actually unfolds - the thousands of brave and onerous men and women who found the weapons the Jewish people needed to avoid a genocide at the hands of the Arabs. Incredible.

[Seth J. Vogelman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read and entertaining

[Andy Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrative belies an extraordinary amount of research and attention to detail. Reads like a thriller novel.

[Les · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about the American Underground that was formed to get airplanes, weapons, machinery, ammunition, to Palestine before May 1948. Israel knew that as soon as the British pulled out of Palestine, war would break out. David Ben Gurion, knew that he needed the above if there was going to be an Israel. He sent representatives to the United States to get these weapons to fight the Arabs. We had an embargo against selling ares to Palestine and this is the story of how Jews and non Jews broke the laws of the United States to get these weapons to Israel. It is a fantastic read. It has a lot of great characters in it. They are all real people who risked their lives and freedom, because, if they were caught, would go to jail in the U.S.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read, this book tells the story of those involved in the American underground that supplied the emerging State of Israel with military equipment prior to and immediately after the Partition. I read this volume with special interest as I had heard whispered stories as a child of friends and relatives who were involved in these activities. The book is well written, I never lost interest. However you feel about the Israel/Palestinian problem, this book gives light to the passions of those involved in the founding of the state of Israel. It tells it like it was.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favourite books. The incredible true story of a group of Palestinian Jews who try to raise money in the US to buy arms for the about to be fledging state of Israel. People didn't just give money for the cause, they donated goods, their time and expertise and some also lost their lives in the struggle. A remarkable account of the underground shenanigans which in no small way helped Israel survive the hostile invasion by its surrounding Arab neighbours after the British withdrew in 1948. Cannot recommend highly enough.

[Vader · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star - Perfect
4 star - i would recommend
3 star - good
2 star - struggled to complete
1 star - could not finish