Defensive Shield: An Israeli Special Forces Commander on the front line of counterterrorism

by Gal Hirsch

Israel Defense Force Brigadier General Gal Hirsch has taken part in all of Israel’s military confrontations since 1982, leaving a unique signature on a wide scope of strategic thinking owing to his deep understanding of operational art and military planning. In 2009, Hirsch’s autobiographical book in Hebrew, War Story, Love Story, was published and instantly appeared on the Israeli bestseller list where it stayed for many months. The description of his own personal journey offers deep, open-minded, and critical insights into the most significant milestones in Israel’s defense in the past 30 years, in which he played a key role. This new, revised, and reconceived English edition of the book offers international readers a comprehensive, one-of-a-kind, contextual description of Israeli national defense developments, serving as a valuable tool for understanding contemporary security challenges in the Middle East. The book has been praised as a lesson in leadership, bravery, and endurance. It is a remarkable testimony to the bond between the Jewish people and its Bible and land.

490 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 16, 2016

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not know of Gal Hirsch before I started reading this book. On a trip to Israel, I picked the book up and enjoyed my time with it. Gal's recall and narration of particular operations he was a part of were both thrilling and simultaneously alarming. The book can be a slow read at times and took me quite a while to get through. There are times where 10 pages will go by and I will have no idea what Gal was talking about. One problem is Gal's very vague description of what certain separate organizations do. 90% of the way through the book Gal explains all the acronyms of the different forces. It was too little too late Gal, that information would have been useful at the beginning of the book along with some sprinkles of reminders throughout. I don't know what CENTCOM is although I can guess what the name stands for. I also did not know of the scandals that would be described 75% of the way through and Gal's family has my sympathy for what they had to go through. I recommend the book to others who might be interested.

[Christopher Colon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good insight of the IDF. I was sadly surprised to see that the IDF suffers from the BS from higher up nonesence in both the military and political arena. High praise for the IDF!

Very good insight of the IDF. I was sadly surprised to see that the IDF suffers from the BS from higher up nonesence in both the military and political arena. High praise for the IDF!

[Scott Stephens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great leader, poor writer.