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Lonely Soldier: The Memoir of an American in the Israeli Army
He is an American citizen–and an Israeli soldier. Now, in a stunning memoir, Adam Harmon recounts his service with one of the most effective and admired fighting forces in the world.
Raised with a strong Jewish identity in New England, Harmon visited Israel as a teenager in 1984. He immediately knew he wanted to live there. Six years later, the Palestinian Intifida was under way and Iraq had invaded Kuwait. Just out of college, Harmon was back in Israel, joining the military. Without family in the country, he was designated a chayal boded, or lonely soldier.
One of the few nonnatives to become an Israeli paratrooper–and already an “old man” in a country where service is compulsory after high school– Harmon describes the tough training and strict standards that define the Israeli combatant. From the very first push-up to ambushes in Lebanon and operations in the West Bank, readers march alongside Harmon and discover the value of having retsach bi’anigh (murder in your eye) and learn why “time is holy.”
The Israeli military culture surprised Harmon. It was very different from the one he expected to find. As within the U.S. military, Israeli soldiers avoid punishment only by being perfectionists, but the Israeli military has an unusually high regard for individualism. Commanders rely more on achieving consensus than on issuing orders; and every soldier is free to disobey an order he finds immoral.
Over the next thirteen years, Harmon was in the ranks of a military that was adapting to ever-changing threats. In 1990 killing was always used as a last resort, but by 2002 targeted assassinations were employed to “decapitate” terrorist gangs. Harmon’s own wish for a separate Palestinian state never wavered, but his dismay at the increasing violence by Palestinians, desperate to achieve independence, mirrors the growing belief in Israel that a true rapprochement is not on the horizon.
Lonely Soldier, completed as Israel was beginning to disengage from Gaza, is a unique and thrilling glimpse into a revered yet misunderstood institution that is integral to Middle East peace.
Raised with a strong Jewish identity in New England, Harmon visited Israel as a teenager in 1984. He immediately knew he wanted to live there. Six years later, the Palestinian Intifida was under way and Iraq had invaded Kuwait. Just out of college, Harmon was back in Israel, joining the military. Without family in the country, he was designated a chayal boded, or lonely soldier.
One of the few nonnatives to become an Israeli paratrooper–and already an “old man” in a country where service is compulsory after high school– Harmon describes the tough training and strict standards that define the Israeli combatant. From the very first push-up to ambushes in Lebanon and operations in the West Bank, readers march alongside Harmon and discover the value of having retsach bi’anigh (murder in your eye) and learn why “time is holy.”
The Israeli military culture surprised Harmon. It was very different from the one he expected to find. As within the U.S. military, Israeli soldiers avoid punishment only by being perfectionists, but the Israeli military has an unusually high regard for individualism. Commanders rely more on achieving consensus than on issuing orders; and every soldier is free to disobey an order he finds immoral.
Over the next thirteen years, Harmon was in the ranks of a military that was adapting to ever-changing threats. In 1990 killing was always used as a last resort, but by 2002 targeted assassinations were employed to “decapitate” terrorist gangs. Harmon’s own wish for a separate Palestinian state never wavered, but his dismay at the increasing violence by Palestinians, desperate to achieve independence, mirrors the growing belief in Israel that a true rapprochement is not on the horizon.
Lonely Soldier, completed as Israel was beginning to disengage from Gaza, is a unique and thrilling glimpse into a revered yet misunderstood institution that is integral to Middle East peace.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published June 27, 2006
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 4, 2020
Great, fast-paced book with bits of humour sprinkled throughout that provides an interesting perspective into life while serving in the IDF. While the over-usage of certain cliches and the occasional implicit (yet anticipated) bias can make it at times a frustrating read, it overall flows well and is easy to read, thoroughly entertaining, and quite informative. Personally, after having recently read King Abdullah II’s memoir I found being presented with another viewpoint on the Israeli-Arab conflict especially intriguing.
July 31, 2018
A fast-paced memoir of an American-born Jew serving in the Israeli Defense Forces. Adam Harmon gives the reader deep insight into the inner-workings of the Israeli military and life as an immigrant within the nation of Israel. A must read for those interested in recent Israeli history or memoirs of soldiers who serve in the IDF.
January 6, 2010
An interesting look into the life of an Israeli soldier. The soldier shares his heart and soul as well as his adventures in the Israeli army.
February 7, 2012
Story of an American in the Israeli Army - mostly about the training and the stark differences with US military. Quick read.
June 13, 2012
Adam is a great guy and it was really heartwarming to read how he stuck to his guns and pushed himself to be a great Israeli soldier.
December 20, 2019
Very much enjoyed reading this book. At times humorous, the book offers an interesting perspective of an American's view of the Israeli military and the relationship with Palestinians.
August 5, 2014
This is an interesting story about an American who joined the Israeli Defense Force in the 1990's. So it is a bit dated, but it provides a useful perspective, even in these times.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews