Soldier of Peace: The Life of Yitzhak Rabin

by Dan Kurzman

The bestselling, award-winning author of Fatal Voyage and Gensis 1946 presents a comprehensive biography of Yitzhaz Rabin that will publish to tie in with the 50th anniversary of the founding of the state of Israel. In the mots revealing portrait of the late Israeli leader writer to date, and the first to examine Rabin's longtime secret contacts with the PLO, Rabin family friend, confidante, and former Washington Post correspondent Dan Kurzman explores the life and work of the former Israeli prime minister. Tracing Rabin's life from his youth as a member of an elite commando unit to his rise as leader of Israel, and the account of his brutal assassination at the hands of a right-wing Jewish extremist, Kurzman details Rabin's evolution from shy child to desert warrior to peacemaker, and in the process tells the story of a nation's maturation into a modern state striving for peace. Kurzman draws both on his relationship with Rabin, whom he first knew as a reporter's source during the Six Day War, and from interviews he conducted with more tan 200 people, including top politicians and statesmen from Shimon Peres to Henry Kissinger. It is the most complete portrait yet published of one of the twentieth century's most courageous and visionary statesman.

Genres: Biography, Israel, Nonfiction, History

576 pages, Hardcover

First published April 30, 1998

About the author

Dan Halperin Kurzman was an American journalist and writer of military history books. He studied at the University of California in Berkeley, served in the United States Army from 1943 to 1946, and completed his studies at Berkeley with a Bachelor degree in political science. In the early 1950s, he worked in Europe and in Israel for American newspapers and news agencies and was then correspondent of the NBC News in Jerusalem.

Reviews

[Barry Sierer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kurzman’s book is actually an “intimate” biography rather than a political one. He was a close friend of the late Prime Minister and nearly the entire book is seen through the point of view Rabin’s own hopes, goals, and emotions.

This is also the book’s greatest flaw. Due to the author’s closeness with his subject; he frequent fails to adequately explain the points of view of those who oppose Rabin, or elaborate on the full context of their opposition with one notable exception.

The exception surrounds Rabin’s assassination. Kurzman’s examination of this incident is both complete and commendable. Kurzman not only explores the motivations of the extremists who plotted Rabin’s death but also the theological justifications for killing Rabin (on biblically based Jewish Law) as well as the failure of Shin Bet to protect Rabin. Rabin himself is also held to account because of his dismissive behavior towards the concerns of West Bank settlers and an ironclad belief that no Jew would actually try to kill him.

In short, this is a biography that focuses on trying to understand a difficult man with a noble goal, but falls short of adequately explaining the times that he lived in.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This biography of Yitzak Rabin is very interesting and readable.  Kurzman starts with a description of Rabin’s parents and how they met in Palestine.  Because of the dramatic times in which Rabin lived and was a part of, the book reads almost like a novel.  Kurzman met Rabin when Kurzman interviewed Rabin as a source.  They developed a relationship makes Kurzman very knowledgeable about Rabin.  I recommend this book.