A biography of the man who has come to define modern Israel more than any other. In this sober and nuanced account, Anshel Pfeffer traces Benjamin Netanyahu’s rise to power, his hold on Israeli politics, and his outsized influence on the global stage. Drawing on his unique perspective as a bilingual journalist attuned to both Israeli and diaspora Jewish life, Pfeffer reveals a leader shaped by paradox and contradiction.
A passage from the prologue:
Netanyahu fervently believes that Israel shares in the exceptional destiny of the United States—that together they are the world’s indispensable nations. […] And while to many these notions may seem risible, there is no lack of influential people in America who are prepared to accept and reinforce his view. Netanyahu’s Israel enjoys an American-style standard of living while keeping its immediate neighbors under military occupation, shutting out the Middle East behind high walls and communicating with its soulmate six thousand miles away. It is a hybrid society of ancient phobias and high-tech hope, a combination of tribalism and globalism—just like Netanyahu himself. It is impossible to understand Israel without first understanding the man who leads it.
Why do we love it?
We were riveted by this book. Jewish Book Week favourite Anshel Pfeffer doesn’t just profile a political figure – he holds up a mirror to modern Israel. What stayed with us was how Netanyahu’s contradictions reflect those of the nation itself. It’s a gripping, essential read for those who want to understand power and identity in today’s turbulent times.