Table of Contents
Book Review
Fans of spy thrillers will find Mossad by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal gripping, vividly told, and nearly impossible to put down, with real-life missions unfolding like high-stakes espionage novels.
Covering six decades of Mossad’s most significant operations, the narrative blends meticulous research with a fast-paced, cinematic style that draws in even those unfamiliar with the world of intelligence. While undeniably captivating, the account tends to glorify the agency, offering little critical reflection on its failures or ethical controversies.
The missions described include the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, the elimination of Black September operatives, the destruction of a Syrian nuclear facility, and the assassination of key Iranian nuclear scientists. One particularly thrilling section recounts how Israel set up bogus European companies to supply Iran’s nuclear program with faulty conductors that would explode during tests—both sabotaging progress and revealing the locations of secret facilities.
Based on extensive research and exclusive interviews with Israeli leaders and Mossad operatives, the authors deliver detailed mission accounts that offer a rare glimpse into the agency’s inner workings. For readers who crave fast-paced, action-packed storytelling, this is a book that will not disappoint.
Book Review
Fans of spy thrillers will find Mossad by Michael Bar-Zohar and Nissim Mishal gripping, vividly told, and nearly impossible to put down, with real-life missions unfolding like high-stakes espionage novels.
Covering six decades of Mossad’s most significant operations, the narrative blends meticulous research with a fast-paced, cinematic style that draws in even those unfamiliar with the world of intelligence. While undeniably captivating, the account tends to glorify the agency, offering little critical reflection on its failures or ethical controversies.
The missions described include the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, the elimination of Black September operatives, the destruction of a Syrian nuclear facility, and the assassination of key Iranian nuclear scientists. One particularly thrilling section recounts how Israel set up bogus European companies to supply Iran’s nuclear program with faulty conductors that would explode during tests—both sabotaging progress and revealing the locations of secret facilities.
Based on extensive research and exclusive interviews with Israeli leaders and Mossad operatives, the authors deliver detailed mission accounts that offer a rare glimpse into the agency’s inner workings. For readers who crave fast-paced, action-packed storytelling, this is a book that will not disappoint.
- This book provides accessible look at Mossad’s most famous operations, such as the capture of Adolf Eichmann, the assassination of key enemies, and counterterrorism efforts. It reads like a thriller, making it appealing even for readers who aren’t deeply familiar with intelligence work. However, it tends to glorify Mossad, offering little critical analysis of its failures or ethical dilemmas.
- Readers who enjoy spy thrillers and want an introduction to Mossad’s major missions.
- The Mossad, highlighting its most significant operations over six decades. The book delves into missions such as the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichmann, the elimination of Black September operatives, the destruction of a Syrian nuclear facility, and the assassination of key Iranian nuclear scientists.
- For example, Israel acquired bogus companies in Europe to become suppliers to Iran for conductors’ nuclear plants. When they planted these conductors, they would explode, causing the nuclear tests to fail and the locations of Iran’s nuclear plants where revealed.
- The authors present these covert operations with a storytelling approach that reads like a thriller, making complex historical events accessible and captivating.
- Based on extensive research and exclusive interviews with Israeli leaders and Mossad operatives, this book delivers detailed mission accounts, granting readers a rare glimpse into the agency’s inner workings.
- Readers who are interested in fast paced and action-packed stories they will love it.
What I don’t like about the book?
While the book highlights Mossad’s achievements, it often portrays the agency in a glorified light, offering little critique or exploration of the moral and ethical implications of its operations. Which makes it kind of one-sided story.
About Author
Michael Bar-Zohar is an Israeli historian, novelist, and former politician. Born in Bulgaria in 1938, he moved to Israel in 1948 and studied economics and international relations at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, earning a Ph.D. from the University of Paris. Bar-Zohar has served in the Israeli Ministry of Defence, lectured at the University of Haifa, and sat in the Knesset. He is the author of acclaimed books on Israeli history and intelligence, including biographies of David Ben-Gurion and Shimon Peres.
Nissim Mishal is a leading Israeli journalist and television personality. With a master’s in political science, he has worked as a political reporter, Washington correspondent, and director-general of Israeli state television. Mishal has written several best-selling books on Israel’s history, translated into multiple languages.
Together, Bar-Zohar and Mishal combine deep historical knowledge and media expertise to deliver gripping insights into the Mossad’s most daring missions.
Conclusion
For those fascinated by espionage and covert operations, Mossad: The Greatest Missions of the Israeli Secret Service delivers a gripping account of the agency’s most notable missions. While it provides thrilling narratives and broad coverage, readers looking for a deeper, more critical analysis of Mossad’s history may find it lacking in depth.