Listen free for 30 days
Listen with offer
-
Rise and Kill First
- The Secret History of Israel's Targeted Assassinations
- Narrated by: Rob Shapiro
- Length: 25 hrs and 58 mins
Failed to add items
Add to basket failed.
Add to wishlist failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
99p for the first 3 months
Rise and Kill First
Buy Now for £16.99
No valid payment method on file.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
Listeners also enjoyed...
Summary
* AN ECONOMIST BOOK OF THE YEAR * THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER *
Shortlisted for the Airey Neave Memorial Book Prize
Winner of 2018 National Jewish Book Award
The first definitive history of the Mossad, Shin Bet, and the IDF's targeted killing programs.
The Talmud says: "If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first." This instinct to take every measure, even the most aggressive, to defend the Jewish people is hardwired into Israel's DNA. From the very beginning of its statehood in 1948, protecting the nation from harm has been the responsibility of its intelligence community and armed services, and there is one weapon in their vast arsenal that they have relied upon to thwart the most serious threats: Targeted assassinations have been used countless times, on enemies large and small, sometimes in response to attacks against the Israeli people and sometimes preemptively.
In this eye-opening book, journalist and military analyst Ronen Bergman - praised by David Remnick as "arguably [Israel's] best investigative reporter" - offers a riveting inside account of the targeted killing programs: their successes, their failures, and the moral and political price exacted on the men and women who approved and carried out the missions.
Built from interviews with Israeli Prime Ministers as well as high-level figures in Mossad, and the country's military and intelligence services - Rise and Kill First includes never-before-reported, behind-the-curtain accounts of key operations, and based on hundreds of on-the-record interviews and thousands of previously unseen files. Bergman traces, from statehood to the present, the gripping events and thorny ethical questions underlying Israel's targeted killing campaign, which has shaped the Israeli nation, the Middle East, and the entire world.
Rise and Kill First is the definitive book to read on Israel's military history.
Critic reviews
"A gripping investigation of Israel's assassination policy." (Sunday Times)
"Compelling." (John le Carré)
"Remarkable." (Observer)
More from the same
What listeners say about Rise and Kill First
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Amazon Customer
- 28-02-20
One of the best books I have ever listened to!
Simply outstanding, gripping at times. Gives a great overview of the whole conflict. Strongly recommend
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- DeltaAlphaXray
- 01-03-21
Non-fiction at its best
I had this on my read list for ages but only got round to downloading it and listening to it this year. it's absolutely fantastic, thoroughly researched, well read and truly gripping I was sad when it ended.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 11-12-23
Unbiased
Love to learn about the security of the state of Israel, quite inspiring. l wish my country was focused with security as Israel is.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Warren
- 12-11-18
Gripping and fascinating
A detailed and accurate insight into the Israeli security system from the beginning to now
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- B A CRANCH
- 13-04-20
Brilliant.
I have always found fact more interesting and exciting than fiction and espionage and its associated activities is my favourite genre. Some books claim to be definitive accounts and there is no doubt that some books I've read on the CIA, KGB, Stasi etc have been excellent. A recent purchase on Audible of GCHQ is superb. This book, however, has three main pillars to it's narrative; the history/politics of the Israeli security forces, the people and the operations it carried out. Mossad, Shin Bet (Shabak) and Aman are the three principal organisations and this book explains the relationships between them.
I'm old enough to remember the 1967 Arab-Israeli conflict and over the last fifty or so years there seems never to have been a time when there was peace in the Middle East. Many of the vast number of operations carried out by the Israeli agencies are described in thrilling detail here and notwithstanding the calamities of some of them, they are superbly informative in terms of motive, preparation and execution (often literally). The PLO, Hamas, Hezbollah have presented Israel with an existential threat for decades and this has been met by unbelievable courage and ingenuity in the face of murderous fanaticism.
Also of interest is the number of Mossad, Shabak etc personnel who subsequently move into Israeli politics having "done their share" of deadly operations. A sharp contrast with Western politicians and their background of Oxbridge debating societies or trade unionism!
I can't recommend this narration too highly.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
1 person found this helpful
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Dave
- 15-07-20
Excellent depth and detail
A fantastic narrative, I can't imagine a better researched book on this subject. Excellent detail and with a good pace throughout.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance4 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- mtkelvin
- 08-11-23
Best read
The author has done great deal of research . Unbiased too . The overall conclusion from reading this book is that #Israel is in the struggle for its existence.
Israel too is desperate for a 2 state solution to work .
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Phillip
- 21-03-19
Investigative Journalism at its best
One of the best Investigative Journalism books I have ever listened to. Ronen Bergman book is flawless and so well written, I could not put it down :) Narrated by Rob Shapiro who did an outstanding job !!
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
3 people found this helpful
-
Overall4 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story4 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 16-01-21
A complex catalogue of killings
I bought this to understand the conflict. It is a book aimed at those who have knowledge politically and historically of Israel and Palestine. There was extraordinary emphasis on Israel avoiding killing innocents around a target. A country where survival is a daily concern. Since its formation after a holocaust. Never really finding peace.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!
-
Overall5 out of 5 stars
-
Performance5 out of 5 stars
-
Story5 out of 5 stars
- Fred
- 02-11-22
Two tribes go to war
A fascinating insight, beautifully told and superbly narrated as always by Rob Shapiro.
A book who's lesson has not yet been learnt across the world.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!