Lionhearts: Heroes of Israel

Israel was born in battle. As the Jewish nation celebrated it 50th anniversary it paid tribute to the men and women who created it--dreamers, visionaries, political leaders, and pioneers. but most of all, the State of Israel owes its existence and its survival to its fighters, who risked or even sacrificed their lives for the rebirth of the nation. This book, from the testimony of Israel's most renowned political, military, and cultural leaders, is a celebration of its most courageous men and women. In every generation and on every battlefield that mark the history of modern Israel, heroes have risen with the courage to take the lead--exemplary figures who redeemed a nation yet asked nothing for themselves, not gratitude or compensation, honor or glory. This book is dedicated to these extraordinary personalities as well as everyday people, who fell in combat or on Israel's secret fronts and to those still alive today. It is also dedicated tot he spirit of these lionhearts, to those qualities of self-sacrifice for a common humanity without which no people can exist. Four Israeli presidents, three prime ministers, and ten cabinet ministers, as well as Knesset members, generals, writers, scholars, and artists joined together to write the saga of the Lions of Israel celebrated in these pages. Protagonists include Sarah Aharonson, a daring female spy in Turkish-controlled Palestine during World War I; Meir Har-Zion, the paratrooper who in the years after independence trained and led into battle the boldest Israeli soldiers; Eli Cohen, the audacious secret agent executed by Syria; Colonel Yoni Netanyahu, the brother of the current prime minister who was killed while leading the legendary hostage rescue at Entebbe; and dozens more, sons and daughters of Israel who did not hesitate to risk their lives for the sake of a free nation. The stories here read like King David's Mighty Men in the Old Testament, LIONHEARTS now as then!