The Resistible Rise of Benjamin Netanyahu

By: Neill Lochery

Narrated by: Chris Gardner

Benjamin Netanyahu is one of the longest serving Prime Ministers of Israel. For much of the world, Netanyahu is a right-wing nationalist zealot; for many Israelis he is a centrist who is too soft on Arabs and backs down too easily in a fight.

Love him or loathe him, Netanyahu has been at the very centre of Arab-Israeli politics since 1990, when he became the telegenic Israeli spokesman for CNN's coverage of the Persian Gulf War, arguably ushering in the Americanization of the Israeli media.

Netanyahu is famous for his TV skills, but there is so much more to reveal - good and bad - about the man and his place in Israeli, Middle Eastern and world political history. At present there is no major profile of Netanyahu in the English language, so the publication of this audiobook is a landmark of considerable importance, especially as in March 2015 he was reelected for a further term in office.

Using the juncture of the Oslo Accords to take the listener back to Netanyahu's formative years, Neill Lochery, a renowned scholar of Middle Eastern politics and history, chronicles not only the Prime Minister's life but also the issues his career has encompassed, from the rise of militant Islam to the politics of oil; from the transformation of Israeli politics by the 24-7 cable news cycle to the US' changing role in the Middle East.

©2016 Neill Lochery (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Bias Leaves a Bad Taste

All history is biased and this book obviously finds Netanyahu in the crosshairs. Though not a “biography,” minimal background information is presented. References to his Father’s politics are thrown in here and there but mostly this is a story celebrating Obama and complaining about American style politics. It sends a “World View” of popular policies and belittles Netanyahu’s every action and deed.
The Author is writing for Liberals and Progressives and has hit his target audience.

Netanyahu

Very interesting. Learned a lot. Obama was never a friend to Israel. He lied to the American people and the Israelis. Now we have President Trump, a true and loyal friend to Israel and Prime Minister Netanyahu.

Ok for beginners with outsiders perspective

This author approaches Netanyahu as an outsider to Israel and the language, observing from the vantage point of a western liberal. Not to say he’s incorrect and it is a good, albeit sophomoric, primer on Netanyahu’s career from that perspective, but penetrates no deeper. No interviews with insiders, no detailed breakdown of key moments from the perspective of his inner circle, no attempt to track his path from birth to present.

This book is helpful for those looking to understand the arc of Netanyahu’s career but without the time to read every major international speech, Guardian,
New York Times or Jerusalem Post article. After, you will need more.

He does rely heavily to the end on reproductions of large chunks of speeches. I found this ok but it substitutes for substance.