Beginning with an example of an Israeli state-directed assassination against Iranian nuclear scientists, Tyler, a former military analyst and chief correspondent with The New York Times, offers insights into the military culture that has shaped Israeli policy, and covers the major conflicts and peace efforts. "Once in the military system, Israelis never fully exit," writes journalist Patrick Tyler. "They carry the military identity for life, not just through service in the reserves until age forty-nine ... but through lifelong expectations of loyalty and secrecy." The military is the country to a great extent, and peace will only come, Tyler argues, when Israel's military elite adopt it as the national strategy. Bound by self-reliance and a stern resolve never to forget the Holocaust, Israel's military elite has prevailed in war but has also at times overpowered Israel's democracy. Tyler takes us inside the military culture of Moshe Dayan, Yitzhak Rabin, Ariel Sharon, and Benjamin Netanyahu, introducing us to generals who make decisions that trump those of elected leaders and who disdain diplomacy as appeasement or surrender. So ingrained is the martial outlook and identity, Tyler argues, that Israelis are missing opportunities to make peace even when it is possible to do so.--From publisher description.

Murder in Tehran -- Ben-Gurion : the origins of militarism -- The destruction of Israel's second prime minister -- Suez Crisis : Ben-Gurion goes to war -- Israel as "detonator" -- The rise of the generals -- Six-Day War : the military revolts -- War as policy : Nasser and the PLO -- The high price of militarism : Yom Kippur -- Rabin : from general to prime minister -- Begin : a peace to enable war -- The Sabra Caesar : Sharon in Lebanon -- Protecting the ruling elite -- Intifada : the intimate enemy awakes -- Peace strategy : the new Yitzhak -- Oslo : wary generals waging peace -- Bibi against the military elite -- Barak : the arrogance of power -- Sharon : the last campaign against Arafat -- At wit's end : killing the paraplegic preacher -- Olmert : putting Lebanon back twenty years -- War (on Syria) war (on Gaza) war (on Iran?).