Yitzhak Rabin

A political, critical, and analytical biography of Yitzhak Rabin, this book makes use of recently-opened archival material and provides explanations for the important episodes in Rabin's life. Leslie Derfler examines Rabin's longtime leadership of the Israeli military and state and Rabin's efforts to secure a peace with Egypt and the Palestinians.

He reveals that, while Rabin's opposition to a two-state solution remained firm, Rabin had a longstanding belief in Palestinians' right to shape their own destiny and an underlying awareness of the need for a political rather than military solution to the problem of Israeli security. Review: Dr. Derfler's study of Rabin represents a significant contribution to our understanding of this important Israeli leader.

Derfler's treatment of Rabin's role in the events leading up to 1967, as well as his interpretation of how Rabin laid the foundations of the Sadat-Begin accord, will be surprising to many students of Israeli history. Recommended reading. - Henry Abramson, Dean of Academic Affairs and Student Services, Touro College South, USA