FROM AMAZON: The first full account, based on access to key players who have never before spoken, of the Munich Massacre and the Israeli response–a lethal, top secret, thirty-year-long antiterrorism campaign to track down the killers.
1972. The Munich Olympics. Palestinian members of the Black September group murder eleven Israeli athletes. Nine hundred million people watch the crisis unfold on television, witnessing a tragedy that inaugurates the modern age of terror and remains a scar on the collective conscience of the world.
Back in Israel, Prime Minister Golda Meir vows to track down those responsible and, in Menachem Begin’s words, “run these criminals and murderers off the face of the earth.” A secret Mossad unit, code named Caesarea, is mobilized, a list of targets drawn up. Thus begins the Israeli response–a mission that unfolds not over months but over decades. The Mossad has never spoken about this operation. No one has known the real story. Until now.
Award-winning journalist Aaron Klein’s incisive and riveting account tells for the first time the full story of Munich and the Israeli counterterrorism operation it spawned. With unprecedented access to Mossad agents and an unparalleled knowledge of Israeli intelligence, Klein peels back the layers of myth and misinformation that have permeated previous books, films, and magazine articles about the “shadow war” against Black September and other terrorist groups.
Spycraft, secret diplomacy, and fierce detective work abound in a story with more drama than any fictional thriller. Burning questions are at last answered, including who was killed and who was not, how it was done, which targets were hit and which were missed. Truths are revealed: the degree to which the Mossad targeted nonaffiliated Black September terrorists for assassination, the length and full scope of the operation (far greater than previously suspected), retributive acts against Israel, and much more.
Finally, Klein shows that the Israeli response to Munich was not simply about revenge, as is popularly believed. By illuminating the tactical and strategic purposes of the Israeli operation, Striking Back allows us to draw profoundly relevant lessons from one of the most important counterterrorism campaigns in history.
Striking Back
“Striking Back: The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and Israel’s Deadly Response” is a book written by Aaron J. Klein that explores the events surrounding the terrorist attack on the Israeli Olympic team at the 1972 Munich Olympics, as well as the Israeli government’s response to the attack.
The book provides a detailed account of the events leading up to the attack, the attack itself, and the aftermath. It describes how Palestinian terrorists from the group Black September stormed the Olympic Village, taking 11 Israeli athletes hostage, and how the situation quickly escalated into a standoff with German authorities.
Klein also delves into the Israeli government’s response to the attack, which involved a covert operation to track down and assassinate the terrorists responsible, as well as other figures associated with Black September. The book provides insights into the complex political and strategic considerations that shaped Israel’s response, as well as the ethical and moral questions raised by the use of targeted killings.
Overall, “Striking Back” offers a compelling and informative account of one of the most dramatic and consequential events of the 20th century, shedding light on the complex political and security challenges facing Israel and other nations in the face of terrorism.
Movies and Videos Related to Striking Back
21 Hours At Munich – Chilling account of events that shocked the world at the 20th Olympic Olympic games in Munich, West Germany, when a gang of eight Arab terrorists killed two Israeli team members and took nine others hostage. They demanded the release of over 200 Arabs held in Israeli prisons, but Israel refuses to negotiate with terrorism, leading to the eventual deaths of all of the hostages at a desperate shootout at the airport. The film is a heart-wrenching depiction of courage and heroism in the face of overwhelming odds.
Munich – After the Black September capture and massacre of Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympics, five men are chosen to eliminate the people responsible for that fateful day.
One Day in September – Filmmaker Kevin MacDonald documents terrorism against Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Narrated by Michael Douglas.
Sword Of Gideon – Chronicles a Mossad team hand picked to hunt down the terrorists involved in the 1972 Munich Olympic massacre of Israeli athletes.
My Goodreads Review:
Striking Back: The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and Israel’s Deadly Response by Aaron J. KleinMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
This book is a compelling and well-researched account of the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre and Israel’s response. The author provides a detailed and vivid portrayal of the events leading up to the attack, the attack itself, and Israel’s subsequent retaliation. The book offers a balanced perspective on the complex and controversial nature of Israel’s response, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
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