The Project

by Ze'ev Chafets

It's 10 years after the Gulf War and Speaker of the House Dewey Goldberg has been sworn in as President of the United States following the accidental deaths of his predecessors. But he soon discovers that Israeli Prime Minister Elihu Barzel may be backing a fundamentalist opponent. Concerned, he dispatches his journalist-friend Charlie Walker to investigate. What Walker discovers is a plan code-named "The Project"--a plan so compelling that it not only jeopardizes the president's chances for reelection, but also the delicate balance of world power.

Genres: Politics, Mystery

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published April 1, 1997

Reviews

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This political thriller is a book about Jewish identity. On one side we have U.S. President Dewey Goldberg who is uncomfortable as to how his religion will affect his polling numbers. On the other side we have Israeli Prime Minister, Elihu Barzel, who may not be what he appears to be.

As I write this in the first half of 2023, the first six months of the new Netanyahu government, it feels that The Project, written more than a quarter Century ago, could have been written today. There are still problems with right-wing coalition partners and Islamic extremism.

This well-written book is a real page turner. The two funniest parts are when 1) at a White House kosher dinner, a rabbi’s son slaps a fedora on the President’s head during the recitation of the Grace After Meals, and 2) Barzel convinces televangelist Reverend Silas that he has been selected to be one of three Guardian’s of the Ark of the Covenant.

The title is rather lame. At least Project Armageddon would be more descriptive. But it takes the reader until page 218 to even find out what The Project is.

[Ezekiel Benzion · Rating 5 out of 5]

A page turner! And although it was written more than a decade ago, it resonates with the drama of the current tension in the Middle East. A tragic accident catapults the Leader of the House, Dewey Goldberg, into the presidency. The first Jewish president finds he is in conflict with Elihu Barzel, the Prime Minister of Israel. Why? As Barzel explains, there is only one person who stands up for the Jews of the world and it is not the President of the United States who worries about appearing too partisan, too Jewish, too much a pushover for the Israelis.

So The Project is the only way Israel can protect itself from Iran's new nuclear threat. But as it is disclosed, it is clear that such a plan might mean the end of the world....

[M · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick and entertaining read.