Inside the Secret World of Israel Targeted Assassinations
Israel targeted assassinations are the core of Rise and Kill First: The Secret History of Israel’s Targeted Assassinations by Ronen Bergman, published in 2018. This book is a sharp, well-documented account of Israel’s use of preemptive killings to defend the state, spanning operations from early underground groups to modern Mossad, Shin Bet, and IDF missions. It details high-profile cases, including the killings of Hamas bombmaker Yahya Ayyash, PLO’s Abu Jihad, and even allegations tied to Yasser Arafat’s death. Bergman’s rare access to classified files and key figures—like Shimon Peres, Ariel Sharon, and top Mossad operatives—makes this work unmatched in depth. He examines not just missions but the hard choices behind them, revealing both strategic gains and moral costs, such as civilian deaths and international fallout, like the failed Dubai operation caught on CCTV. The book is widely praised for its strong reporting and clear storytelling. It forces readers to confront the real price of security in a democracy. Bergman’s work stands out for showing how Israel’s tactics have influenced other nations, raising global questions about the ethics and impact of state-sanctioned killing. If you study espionage, Middle Eastern conflict, or hard political choices, this is a must-read.
About the Author
Ronen Bergman is an Israeli journalist who writes about war, spies, and power. He works for Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel’s top newspaper, and is a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine. He studied law and history and earned a Ph.D. in war studies. Bergman talks to people others can’t. Spies, generals, and leaders trust him. He has spent years digging into secret files and hidden truths. His writing is clear, sharp, and full of hard facts. He does not flinch from the dark.
Israel Targeted Assassinations Book Review
Israel targeted assassinations are the central theme of Rise and Kill First by Ronen Bergman. The book gives a clear record of how Israel used secret killings as part of its defense. Bergman, an Israeli journalist, spent years speaking with intelligence agents and studying old records. The result is a fast-paced story that feels like fiction, but it is not.
The Mossad, Shin Bet, and Israeli Defense Forces are the main groups involved in these operations. Bergman explains how these agencies made life-or-death choices to stop threats before they could strike. The book tells of missions to kill figures from Hamas, Hezbollah, and even Iran’s nuclear team. These acts shaped Israel’s war on terror.
Bergman does not avoid the hard questions. He asks if these killings made Israel safer. He also shows how they hurt Israel’s image and sometimes caused new enemies to rise. One story shows how a botched Mossad hit in Dubai was caught on camera and led to global shame. These parts help the reader see the price of each strike.
Some of the best parts of the book are the personal accounts. Bergman speaks with retired agents and leaders like Ehud Barak and Meir Dagan. These voices show how far Israel went to protect its people. The book is full of facts, but it also has heart. You feel the weight of every choice.
Bergman also shows how other nations, like the United States, watched and copied Israel’s methods. This makes the book important beyond the Middle East. It shows how Israel targeted assassinations became a model for global counterterrorism. That idea alone makes this book worth reading.
The writing is sharp. Sentences are short. Words are plain. The pace is fast. Bergman knows how to build tension. He gives each mission just enough detail. You never get lost in side plots. Everything moves forward.
Rise and Kill First is a clear, gripping story. It teaches how Israel’s secret war changed modern conflict. It also asks if this way of fighting can ever bring peace. Bergman does not give easy answers. That is what makes the book strong. It shows the facts and lets you decide.
If you want to know how intelligence warfare works, read this book. If you want to understand Mossad operations and Israeli intelligence history, this is the place to start. It’s one of the best books ever written on Israel targeted assassinations.
Rise and Kill First is more than a history book—it is a sharp look at how a nation defends itself in secret. Through clear writing and deep research, Ronen Bergman shows the hidden cost of each kill and the heavy burden on those who give the order. If you want to understand how Israel targeted assassinations shaped the fight against terror, this book is essential. Read it to learn, to question, and to see what war looks like in the shadows. Grab your copy today and see the truth behind the headlines.
Israel Targeted Assassinations Book Details
“If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first.” That’s what the Talmud says. Israel took that to heart. Since 1948, when the state was born in war, it has fought to survive. And when the danger was too great, it struck first. The weapon of choice? Targeted assassinations.
In Rise and Kill First, Ronen Bergman tells the full story of Israel’s secret war. He writes with facts, not fiction. He spoke with soldiers, spies, and prime ministers. They told him about the killings—why they did it, how they did it, and what it cost them. Bergman had access no outsider gets. He read secret files. He met the men who gave the orders—and the ones who pulled the trigger.
The book is full of missions that changed history. Some stopped suicide bombings. Others led to backlash and pain. Bergman shows it all. Success, failure, and the toll it took on the killers and the state.
This book is sharp, cold, and true. It’s about war in the shadows. It’s about what nations do when they think they must. Rise and Kill First is not just history—it’s a warning, and a lesson.
My Goodreads Review:
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I am not surprised about this “secret history” of targeted assassinations. Ever since I was young, news reports about mysterious killings of prominent PLO, Hamas, and Hezbollah personnel were always linked to Israel. But the detail provided in this book is eye-opening and has become the model of targeted killings after 9/11.
View all my reviews
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