The Last Days

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Involvement at Every Level

Attention grabbing to the last page

Another fabulous Rosenberg book!

the last days book

another winner for Rosenberg

The Last Days
Joel C. Rosenberg
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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The Last Jihad

The Ezekiel Option: A Novel

The Copper Scroll

Epicenter: Why Current Rumblings in the Middle East Will Change Your Future

Babylon Rising: The Edge of Darkness (Babylon Rising)

ASIN: 0765309289
Release Date: 2003-10-21

Book Description

ow the eyes of the world are on Jerusalem as Jon Bennett-a Wall Street strategist turned senior White House advisor-his beautiful CIA partner Erin McCoy, and the U.S. Secretary of State arrive in the Middle East to meet with Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. On the table: a dramatic and potentially historic Arab-Israeli peace plan, of which Bennett is the chief architect. At the heart of the proposed treaty is the discovery of black gold deep beneath the Mediterranean-a massive tract of oil and natural gas that could offerunprecedented riches for every Muslim, Christian, and Jew in Israel and Palestine. With the international media closely tracking the story, the American message is as daring as it is direct: both sides must put behind themcenturies of bitter, violent hostilities to sign a peace treaty. Both sides must truly cooperate on drilling, pumping, refining, and shipping the newly found petroleum. Both sides must work together to develop a dynamic, integrated economy to take advantage of this stunning opportunity. Then and only then will the United States help underwrite the billions of dollars of venture capital needed to turn the dream into reality. But in the shadows lie men whose hearts are filled with evil-men who do not relish a post-Saddam era, men for whom the prospect of a Palestinian peace accord with Israel goes against everything for which their fathers have fought and died. Such men-and the countries that finance them-are ready to do anything necessary to slaughter those who stand in their way, and the clock is ticking. Can Bennett, McCoy, and the American President make peace before the Middle East once again erupts in to war? Joel C. Rosenberg is a writer and communications strategist.He has worked for some of the world's most influential and provocative leaders; including Steve Forbes, Rush Limbaugh and former Isreali Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu.A front-page Sunday New York Times profile called him 'a force in the capital.' A political columnist for World magazine, his work has been published in the Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, Jerusalem Post and Policy Review. He and his wife, Lynn, have three sons and live just outside of Washington, D.C.

Customer Reviews:

Involvement at Every Level.......2007-08-23

This book is amazingly on-track with current affairs and technology. It is action-packed in a Clancey-esque style. Laced throughout the storyline is a blooming romance for those who like the softer side. The development of a spiritual comprehension and conversion in a man who lived only for money is subtle and invites readers to think about such matters. The only detractor I found was the author's detailing of modern weaponry, military forces and strategies. When the action is going at a fast pace, I don't like to be slowed down to understand the technicalities that make this book so authentic.

Attention grabbing to the last page.......2007-07-25

The author seems to have finger on the pulse of world events. An excellent read. So many things in the book have happened that it's premise is hard to ignore

Another fabulous Rosenberg book!.......2007-05-12

I love all the Joel Rosenberg books! Great reading, interesting, thought-provoking, and suspenseful. Makes you wonder...

the last days book.......2007-05-07

wonderful book. It is like you are there with the characters. Face paced. hard to put down.

another winner for Rosenberg.......2007-04-17

Wow!!! couldn't put this one down, better than the Last Jihad. This guy is able to weave non-fiction and ficton and devise wonderful plots leading to awesome endings.

I will read everything he publishes. Great writer.

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He Never Missed an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity
extremely biased
Very good book about a very bad man
Dull & polemical
lies

Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography
Barry Rubin , and Judith Colp Rubin
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Arafat: From Defender to Dictator
Arafat's War: The Man and His Battle for Israeli Conquest
The Mystery of Arafat
Arafat: The Biography
Yasser Arafat (A & E Biography)

ASIN: 0195181271

Book Description

Yasir Arafat stands as one of the most resilient, recognizable and controversial political figures of modern times. The object of unrelenting suspicion, steady admiration and endless speculation, Arafat has occupied the center stage of Middle East politics for almost four decades. Yasir Arafat is the most comprehensive political biography of this remarkable man. Forged in a tumultuous era of competing traditionalism, radicalism, Arab nationalism, and Islamist forces, the Palestinian movement was almost entirely Arafat's creation, and he became its leader at an early age. Arafat took it through a dizzying series of crises and defeats, often of his own making, yet also ensured that it survived, grew, and gained influence. Disavowing terrorism repeatedly, he also practiced it constantly. Arafat's elusive behavior ensured that radical regimes saw in him a comrade in arms, while moderates backed him as a potential partner in peace. After years of devotion to armed struggle, Arafat made a dramatic agreement with Israel that let him return to his claimed homeland and transformed him into a legitimized ruler. Yet at the moment of decision at the Camp David summit and afterward, when he could have achieved peace and a Palestinian state, he sacrificed the prize he had supposedly sought for the struggle he could not live without. Richly populated with the main events and dominant leaders of the Middle East, this detailed and analytical account by Barry Rubin and Judith Colp Rubin follows Arafat as he moves to Kuwait, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia, and finally to Palestinian-ruled soil. It shows him as he rewrites his origins, experiments with guerrilla war, develops a doctrine of terrorism, fights endless diplomatic battles, and builds a movement, constantly juggling states, factions, and world leaders. Whole generations and a half-dozen U.S. presidents have come and gone over the long course of Arafat's career. But Arafat has outlasted them all, spanning entire eras, with three constants always present: he has always survived, he has constantly seemed imperiled, and he has never achieved his goals. While there has been no substitute for Arafat, the authors conclude, Arafat has been no substitute for a leader who could make peace.

Customer Reviews:

He Never Missed an Opportunity to Miss an Opportunity.......2006-11-07

I suppose I can be forgiven for being just a bit skeptical of a book about a radical Arab written by a couple American Jews. Could it ever have any claim to objectivity? Maybe in an American bookstore, I would have been inclined to pass it up. But I live in Beijing, China, where such books don't grow on trees. A Chinese friend put the book in my hands. I have been a bit puzzled and curious about the way Arafat is viewed as a revolutionary hero in China, yet China strives to maintain good relations with Israel, a nation whose very existence Arafat never accepted. So I read the book.

Actually, I was pleasantly surprised. I'm not saying that the book is totally objective in every respect. But it is a very well-written discussion of the relationship problems Arafat had, both with Israel, and with the leaders of the Arab nations, who were supposed to be his supporters. Bottom line: Arafat didn't get along with anyone.

In one sense, Arafat made this book for the writers, because he was so consistent in his complete inability to come to some kind of workable agreement with Israel. His whole life and work epitomized Abba Eban's statement about the Palestinians, who "never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity." Personally, I don't think the statement is entirely fair when applied to the Palestinians, but it certainly is an appropriate statement about Arafat, who never gave up fighting the nation with whom he, more than any Arab before him, had the opportunity to make peace. If the peacemakers are blessed, Arafat is among the most cursed of all men. So how did such an ornery cuss gain such prominence? Part of his success is certainly due to his knack for self-promotion, and the brazenness of his contempt for Israel. But I must also admit that I fear much of his prominence came from the lack of regard for the plight of the Palestinians by Israel. Sarah didn't want Ishmael in her house, so the bondwoman had to leave. Israel seems to have the same feeling about the Palestinians. They shouldn't be part of the family. Israelis often protest when I talk about this, because (and they are right about this) Palestinians living in Israel have the same rights as Jews. The problem, though, is that many of the Palestinians do not live in Israel proper, and thus are not entitled to those rights. And the Israelis certainly have not invited them all in. That, really, is the point. I don't want to get carried away on that point, but it has to be mentioned in order to keep this in perspective. What I mean is that we should not blame Arafat for all the problems between the Palestinians and the Jews. He did not create the situation he so hopelessly mismanaged. Arafat's problem is that he just could not bring himself to accept any arrangement that allowed Israel to exist.

This is a good book. It is very negative, but I don't think unfairly so. I am assuming that this book is not your only source of information on the whole Israeli--Palestinian problem. I do feel that the Israelis have not cared enough about the plight of the Palestinians. This book does not stand alone. There needs to be much more exploration into the problem as a whole. But as far as Arafat himself is concerned, the authors did an excellent job of showing how much he stood in the way of progress on this issue, and the extent to which he was responsible for promoting violence even to the end of his life. As historians, their job is not finished. But as prosecutors, they won their case hands down.

extremely biased.......2005-08-15

This was an extremely biased account of Arafat and should not be ready by anyone seeking an unbiased biography. Throughout the book, the authors repeatedly condemn Arafat's refusal to agree to a peace deal, even though every deal offered him fell short of Israel's compliance with international law and withdrawal from Palestinian territories it occupied in 1967. While Arafat had many legitimate failures and weaknesses, blaming him for Israel's occupation is laughable and that seems to be the sole objective of this book.

On p. 162, the authors explain that, "...many Palestinians did not believe Israel would ever accept reasonable terms and that the peace process was a trick to ensure their permanent subjugation. While such beliefs were reinforced by specific Israeli actions...they far exceeded the evidence. To think that [Israeli government] wanted to keep control over the West Bank and Gaza Strip permanently was a serious misconception, which continued to have enormous negative consequences for Palestinian interests." I found it incredible for this claim to be made without addressing Israeli settlements and Israel's systematic support of them. Illegal settlement construction has been funded by the Israeli government and Israeli officials indicated they have no intention of ever relinquishing all settlements on occupied territory. I therefore disagree with the authors' claim that Palestinians' beliefs far exceeded the evidence and that it was a misconception to perceive permanent settlement construction as Israel's permanent control of the West Bank and Gaza.

On p. 248, the authors state, "By signing some variation on the offers made by Barak and Clinton, Arafat could have ended the occupation, removed all settlements from Palestinian-ruled territory, freed prisoners in Israeli hands, and controlled the al-Aqsa mosque. By refusing to do so he was ensuring that all these problems continued into the indefinite future." The truth is that Arafat was never presented an offer that would have removed all settlements from Palestinian land. Notice the use of the words "Palestinian-ruled territory." Israel proposed to annex the larger settlements on occupied land, placing them into "Israeli-ruled territory" and Arafat rightfully said no. There is no mention of the fact that the occupation consists of war crimes, that the settlements violate international law, and that Israel's colonization-like behavior ensures that these problems will continue into the indefinite future. The authors' bias consistently manipulates facts to make them appear consistent with their views of Arafat and the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

The last two chapters of the book are dedicated to spinning an argument of why the continued occupation is solely the fault of Arafat and not Israel. According to the authors, Arafat could have ended the occupation, therefore it is his fault that the occupation continues. A ridiculous claim considering the occupation would immediately cease if Israel simply makes a commitment of adhering to international law and leaves the occupied territories. It is also an unfair level of blame cast upon Arafat, considering that all of the "generous" peace deals offered by Israel consisted of keeping some of Palestinian territory, keeping settlements on Palestinian land, and refusing the right of return to Palestinian refugees- all violations of international law. Arafat was indeed a difficult man for Israel to make a deal with, but blaming him for the occupation caused by Israel's military aggression and biblical claims to Palestinian land is ridiculous.

Very good book about a very bad man.......2004-11-11

This is a very good book about a very bad man.

Even if you are not pro-Israel, what people don't realize is that Yasir Arafat was killing American's way back in the 1960's and 1970's.

He was responsible for the killing if US Ambassador Cleo Noel Jr. in 1973.

Arafat is evil, pure evil. This book will show you why.

Dull & polemical .......2004-10-28

"Biographies" like these are made by collecting newspaper clippings about someone you have never met and paraphrasing them. The usual subjects are pop stars and Hollywood actors. No interviews, no original material of any sort, and certainly no enlightenment. A hard-line journalistic pamphlet.

Update May 6, 2006: I am amused to see that a hit-squad has been systematically giving negative points to all reviews on this page which appear to be pro-Arafat. This to miss the point -- being pro-Arafat or anti-Arafat does not make this any the less a dull and polemical pseudo-biography which tells us nothing other than what (as another reviewer has said) we already know, that right-wing Israeli journalists loathed him.

But to the main issue -- there is a far more interesting and revelatory biography of Arafat available now in paperback, "Arafat: From Defender to Dictator" by Said K. Aburish. This scathing book written by a Palestinian insider will tell you a great deal more about Arafat's early life, and why his leadership of the Palestinian cause went so badly wrong in the decade before his death. Check the Aburish book out, probably the definitive statement of the agonized, frustrated way Palestinian intellectuals view Arafat.

lies.......2004-09-24

THis book was one of the worst bios I have ever read, it was increadably biased, it almost sounded like it was written by fox news. Very little reaserch went into this book, the authors gave their opionion at every turn

Average customer rating:

He knew how to fight, but.....
Portrait of an evil man
Arafat! The father of the palestinian revolution!!
Arafat is a murderer, nothing less.
not as good as...

Arafat: The Biography
Tony Walker , and Andrew Gowers
Manufacturer: Virgin Books Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Arafat: From Defender to Dictator
Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography
The Mystery of Arafat

ASIN: 1852279249

Book Description

Over thirty years ago Yasser Arafat swept onto the world stage as leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization, a machine in one hand and an olive branch in the other. In that time he became many things to many people: terrorist, Nobel Peace Prize-winner, and to the Bush Whitehouse, a Pariah once more. Now, following his death in Paris, we review hundreds of frank and revealing interviews with senior Israeli and Palestinian officials, including Arafat himself, to separate the man from the myth and look towards the future for this troubled land.

Customer Reviews:

He knew how to fight, but............2006-10-13

The author did not describe the drama encroaching Lebanon when the heavy exchange of artillery struck horror into the hearts of the unprepared Lebanese people in the areas of Tyre, Sidon and Beirut now congested by hundreds of thousands of refugees uprooted from the South.
PLO presence and activities (whether justified or not) in South Lebanon prompted sever retaliations from Israel to the detriment of all (Christians and Moslems) Lebanese.

At times Arafat's reactions to present events unfairly summoned up the images of historical past occurrences.
For example: In 1982 and in the middle of the raging war between PLO and Israel, Beirut was described `the next Stalingrad' - to emulate the Soviet's army victory over the Germans in 1942 -.

Like a wounded leader amid very tough and challenging circumstances, Arafat transpired prowess born of ignorance.
Arafat was the honest image of a man whose sickness of heart was mixed in reports from the foreign correspondents to show us the picture of a foxy leader mingled in fear, steadfastness and foresightedness.

Arafat's interference in Lebanon's petty politics prompted many Lebanese to emigrate. Outside the foreign consulate buildings people queued for a visa to `security and freedom', some tried to storm the premises, some guaranteed a place in the long line of waiting since mid-night, only to submit their applications to be able to leave.
The pandemonium outside and on the stairs was worse than ever especially during rainy and cold nights.

Perhaps one point of common consolation is, like the Palestinians, also the Lebanese had feeling of humiliation and unjust.
Standing at the doorsteps of foreign embassies to quit one's country was an appalling sight.
It was inhuman.
It was dishonouring.
It was offensive
It was misdemeanour.

Arafat knew how to fight a war, but the irony is that he couldn't learn how to win one.

Portrait of an evil man.......2006-07-16

Arafat was an evil man.

In his life, what did he achieve?

He killed a lot of Americans and Israelis. His Palestinian people are in lousy shape. While Israel has built up a democracy and world class economy, and have created tens of thousands of jobs for Americans, all the Palestinians can do is create more suicide bombers.

Thus us the legacy of Arafat. A failure and a loser.

Arafat! The father of the palestinian revolution!!.......2006-01-10

Arafat! The leader who knew how to move all the power of the palestinian revolution from Tunisia into the heart of palestine!!
Arafat! The only arabic leader who was elected democratically in 1969, 1985 and 1994!!
Arafat! was smart enough in to survive for more than 35 years in the jungle of all the pro-american and anti-palestinian regimes(namely: Israel, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria)!!
Arafat! THE NOBLE PRIZE WINNER !!
The ex-prime israeli minister Goldameir said: "They (the palestinians) do not exist, We (the jewish) are the only palestinians..." !! Arafat told Goldameir: "WE EXIST HERE, THERE, AND EVERYWHERE...." !!
Arafat! The military leader who won against the IDF in the battle of Karama, Beirut and finally in the humiliating defeat and withdrawal of the israeli army from the Gaza!!
Arafat! "OH MOUNTAIN!! THE WIND WILL NEVER SHAKE YOU!!"

Arafat is a murderer, nothing less........2004-04-27

This book paints far to nice a picture of Arafat.

That any American can be pro-Arafat is mind-boggling. Arafat hates the West just a bit less then he hates Israel.

He has murdered thousands. He is a despicable person and is in no way a legitimate political leader.

not as good as..........2003-09-15

This book needs some clerification. I reccomend Harts "Arafat" and Aburishs 'Arafat' above this. This book tries to paint a picture of Arafat as a great legitimate political leader. But this book does not show the whoel picture. It makes Arafat out to be more then a terrorist and does nto weigh the effort that he was a viscious murdered of children(which he was for most of his life). THis book does take into account his many twists and turns but it probably gives Arafat too much credit and is not as interesting as other works on the man.

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Yasser Arafat (A & E Biography)
George Headlam
Manufacturer: Lerner Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography
Arafat: From Defender to Dictator

ASIN: 0822599023

Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization

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A middle-schooler's review

Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization
Diana L. Reische
Manufacturer: Franklin Watts
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding

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A middle-schooler's review .......2006-12-15

"The man has no life outside the PLO. The PLO is his life." Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization dives into the life of Yasir Arafat, a man who has fought for his whole life trying to gain a homeland for Palestinians. It tells of his struggles for Palestine with Fatah and the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization). He could be regarded as a hero-or as a terrorist. His fight went on till the end of this book, in which he had gained and lost a lot for Palestine, and the fight with Israel still goes on. This book was very thick in politics and could get extremely tedious, so I do not recommend it to anyone who is not very interested in Middle Eastern politics.

One reason why I didn't like this book was that it didn't really tell details about any point in time in Arafat and the PLO's fight against Israel, it simply gave the facts and moved on. For example, it could have talked a lot about Arafat's siding with Saddam Hussein against Kuwait; but it wasn't even explained why Kuwait was invaded. Also, I believe that it would have been more interesting if t had given more detail about the time period with the Intifada. The book could have told more about Arafat's training in terrorism as well, but it only talked about his drive.

Another thing that prevented this book from being enjoyable was how it skipped around from time to time very frequently. It explained the entire book briefly in the introduction, which made it confusing to read the rest of the book because it seemed to go back in time. Also, in the description of the 1970's, an important detail about a 1973 happening would be told, and the book would next talk about the 1980's, then back to the 1970's, going against geologic time. Lastly, it mentioned important people's names very early in the book and didn't talk more about them till a lot later, when the name was so much as forgotten.

Yet one more reason that this book made me cringe was that it described Yasir Arafat as a terrorist one second and a hero the next; by the end of the book, I didn't know what to think of him. In the introduction, Arafat was described as a man who devoted himself, everything he had, to Palestine. Later, a listing of terrorist attacks that were either partly or completely his fault became the object of description. As a child, he was said to be chubby and quiet, then in his later years as a child, suddenly, he was training children on the street to be soldiers.

Overall, Arafat and the Palestine Liberation Organization was a boring and badly written book with scattered thoughts, years, and descriptions throughout. Unless you have a passion for badly written Middle Eastern politics, I would not recommend this book to you.
-K. Carson

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First he misjudged and then he joined the enemy

My Friend, the Enemy
Uri Avnery
Manufacturer: Lawrence Hill & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0882082132

Customer Reviews:

First he misjudged and then he joined the enemy .......2007-06-12

The enemy that Avnery befriended was Yassar Arafat. But Avnery not only befriended Arafat he joined him, and came to adopt Palestinian positions against Israel. Even at times when Israel was subject to the worst waves of Palestinian terror Avnery was there explaining how the Palestinians really wanted peace.
Avnery who for many years was a leading figure in Israeli journalism joined the other side. He has done much to deligitimize Israel, and for this certainly deserves the title of Israel's Benedict Arnold.

Behind the Myth: Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Revolution

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Behind the Myth: Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Revolution
Andrew Gowers , and Tony Walker
Manufacturer: Interlink Pub Group Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Arafat: From Defender to Dictator

ASIN: 0940793865

Address by Mr. Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, 29th Session, United Nations General Assembly, November 13, 1974

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Address by Mr. Yasser Arafat, chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization, 29th Session, United Nations General Assembly, November 13, 1974
Yasir Arafat
Manufacturer: Palestine Liberation Organization
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

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Yasir Arafat
Elizabeth Ferber
Manufacturer: Millbrook Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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Good book about an evil man
Good book about a bad man
Interesting but light on facts...
The Mystery of Arafat

The Mystery of Arafat
Danny Rubinstein
Manufacturer: Steerforth Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Similar Items:

Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography
Arafat: From Defender to Dictator
Arafat's War: The Man and His Battle for Israeli Conquest
Arafat: The Biography

ASIN: 1883642108

Book Description

In this Middle East book of the year, Rubinstein really does solve the Arafat mystery, --Middle East Quarterly

Customer Reviews:

Good book about an evil man.......2006-07-16

Arafat was an evil man. In his life, what did he achieve? He killed a lot of Americans and Israelis.

What more is there to say?

Good book about a bad man.......2005-07-11

This is a good book. But the real mystery of Arafat is why people liked him? He was a murdered. He murdered jew and gentile alike. He murdered arabs, americans and orientals.

He was evil.

Interesting but light on facts..........2003-02-10

If your interested in knowing a little bit about this man, I'd recommend one of the many biographies. Rubenstein's book doesn't unveil any secrets or shed any light on the unknown. We all know he's completely dedicated to his cause and manipulative..what successful politician isn't? The book is filled with second and third hand accounts and sometimes even unconfirmed rumor.

The Mystery of Arafat.......2001-07-25

The chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization has long puzzled observers, including his biographers (note the titles of two books about him published in 1990: "Behind the Myth: Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Revolution" and "Arafat: In the Eyes of the Beholder"). How has someone so deeply flawed as an individual and a leader managed to achieve so much and acquired so much authority? Rubinstein, a columnist at the Israeli newspaper Ha'aretz, makes answering this "mystery of Arafat" the goal of his book. "How is it that someone who looks so strange and is so lacking in seriousness can at the same time be considered a statesman and revolutionary of the first order?" In his slight but rich study, Rubinstein takes up basic questions about Arafat: Where was he born? What is his real name? Why does he look so grubby? Why does he travel so maniacally? Why did he get married on the sly?

With brilliant insight, the author shows that every aspect of Arafat's public persona-from his stubbly face to his doing business late at night-fits a single pattern. In all these ways, he has "accurately and persistently . . . reflected the distress and the needs of the Palestinian public." Rubinstein convincingly shows how everything Arafat does (even not shaving) seeks "to provide the Palestinian revolution, of which he is the center, with legitimacy." Arafat's success, in other words, derives from his being able to create a myth in which his own personality fuses with the Palestinian cause. In 1995's Middle East book of the year, idiomatically translated, Rubinstein really does solve the Arafat mystery.

Middle East Quarterly, September 1995

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