Thursday, February 25, 2016

Truth is more dramatic and thrilling than Fiction (James Bond movies): The inside story of Mossad - Book Review

Book review:
Book:  Mossad the greatest missions of the Israeli secret service
Authors: Michael Bar-Zohar, Nissim Mishal
Publication: ECCO Publication,2012.

I confess the moment I finished reading up this book, I am no longer a fan of James bond like movies. If I was not cognizant of the fact that, this book is collection of daring & most dangerous missions (at the heart is unbelievable plot-lines of the missions) by the Mossad- Israel Secret service, the book could have easily been considered as one of the superb spy novels.

Consider this, on shores of Gaza suddenly boat appeared which was carrying Palestinians and they were followed by Israeli soldiers in torpedo boat. Eventually, Palestinians managed to escape from the shore with some help from local Gazan youngsters. Rescued Palestinians who claimed to be members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, coming from Tyre refugee camp in Labanon. Leader of rescued Palestinians requested to the local Gazan if they can arrange meeting with Popular front commanders of “Beth Lahia”(Terrorist organization) in Gaza, as they have weapons & other vital information to share. Very next day, Rescued Palestinians were called in isolated house, where they met with Popular front commanders of “Beth Lahia”. The moment they sat facing one another, Leader of rescued Palestinians raised his hand and looked at watch. It was signal. All rescued Palestinians pulled out handguns and opened fire, all commanders of “Beth Lahia” in that room were killed. The entire rescued Palestinians team escaped, only thing was they were not Palestinians (members of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine). The Leader was Captain Meir Dagan, Commander of the IDF’s(Israeli Defense Forces) secret Rimmon Commando unit and others were his team. Adding more spice, now imagine this seemingly “movie thriller” plot was not played out in today’s ultra-modern spy world but in the year of 1971. That’s true.
Many other missions like above is the soul of this book. My favorite parts are Ch.1(King of Shadows),Ch. 6 (Bring Eichmann Dead or alive), Ch. 10 (“I want MiG-21!”),Ch.11 (Those who will never forget), Ch.12 (The quest for the red prince) and so on, actually all of the chapters.
One of the most famous missions, the hunt for the terrorists who were responsible for attack on Israel athletes during Munich Olympic in 1972, on German soil is covered in this book. Similarly one of the most secretes and covert operations of bringing “Adolf Eichmann” the cruelest face of Nazi and the leader who orchestrated the holocaust, is simply breathtaking as it unfolds. Eichmann was considered to be responsible for extermination of 6 million Jews.
The chapters in the book are very much detail-oriented yet crafted like script to keep you on your toes all the time. Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal have taken a great care by providing sources of information for every chapter, to make it as nearer to the reality as possible. But in my personal opinion reader is advised to take content of the book with grain of salt, as veracity of every content in no way can be validated. Certainly as it happens, there could also be hidden propaganda of putting Israel into “right frame” in world’s eye, so reader should be wary of that too.

In my personal opinion…. (Sorry if it sounds like too patriotic, but then that’s what it is !):
Informative & daring stories of Mossad and Israel, has certainly one thing to teach our country India (and Indians, especially those pseudo secularists) that country itself is responsible for its fate. India should stop begging and crying for help from other nations when dealing with enemies-terrorists. (as every nation has its own political agenda and such help is not free of cost). Every Indian should read this book at least just to understand to what extent the county and its people goes to stand, fight and defend its sovereign and its people no matter wherever they are in the world.





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