- Paperback: 640 pages
- Publisher: Griffin; New Ed edition (23 Feb 2007)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0312361521
- ISBN-13: 978-0312361525
- Product Dimensions: 23.2 x 15.6 x 3.2 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 523,033 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Description
Product Description
In the secret world of spies and covert operations, no other intelligence service continues to be surrounded by myth and mystery as does Mossad. This text reveals that all too often the truth exceeds all the fantasies that Mossad has attracted. It documents Mossad's deepest secrets. It reveals: how Mossad has successfully maintained an agent in the Clinton White House; how TWA flight 8000 was exploited by Mossad; how Benjamin Netanyahu sanctions the assassination of enemies of the Jewish state by Mossad's trained hit-men; and how Robert Maxwell became Mossad's most important link in the arms for hostages scandal, Irangate.
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Book Description
In the secret world of spies and covert operations, no intelligene service continues to be as surrounded by myth and mystery as Israel's Mossad. Gideon's Spies reveals the extent of Mossad's involvement in an astonishing range of world events including Irangate, the attempted assisination of Pope John Paul II, the Monica Lewinsky scandal and the death of Robert Maxwell. Fully revised for the paperwork, new revelations include the mysterious events surrounding the 1992 El Al jet crash in Amsterdam, the tracking down of Kurdish rebel leader Abdullah Ocalan, and more details on Mossad's involvement in the crash which killed Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed. 'A fascinating look at a spy organization that has remained off limits to most journalists. Some of the incredible episodes Gordon Thomas writes about seem like they belong in fiction, and yet this is a first-rate non-fiction account.' GQ 'Using eye-witness accounts from directors, agents, and even assassins, Thomas goes where few writers have gone before - inside Mossad, Israel's ruthless, super-secretive intelligence agency.' Maxim 'A compelling read, with any number of disturbing revelations.' FHM
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Only part way through this but from what I have read I can tell you that I'm gripped-the death of Robert Maxwell, Princess Diana, the attempted assasination of pope John Paul II-it's all here. And the shadowy world that Mossad and it's agent's inhabit seems a cruel, dark mysterious place, and you wouldn't want to cross them or pit yourself against them, they are utterly ruthless in destroying their enemies. Spellbinding.
7 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I read this book because I was looking for a carefully researched, reasonably authoritative history of the Mossad. It soon became clear to me that this isn't necessarily it.
There's no doubt that Gordon Thomas has met (and perhaps been rather too impressed by) some of the major players involved. That alone makes me sceptical about how truthful his book is. If Mossad is as awesomely powerful and accurate as he seems to think they are, surely they would never let a book like this get into print.
The evidence for the prosecution largely resides in Thomas' relentlessly gee-whiz, ain't-it-cool style. He seems to be endlessly impressed by Mossad's brilliance, and can't even recognise a blatantly bungled operation as such even when it's totally obvious, as in the idiotic attempt to assassinate Khalid Meshal in 1997. Even this fiasco can partly be blamed on the stupidity and impatience of then-Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, but Thomas is so seduced by the myth of Israeli purity of arms and infinite competence that he can't even see blatant incompetence when it's staring him in the face.
Elsewhere, Thomas makes many simple errors. It should be obvious by now that I am no fan of the Mossad, but even so I think it's only fair to be honest about their achievements. Contrary to what Thomas says on p.80, Mahmoud Hamshari did not have his head 'blown off' by a bomb planted in his telephone; he was severely and, as it turned out, fatally wounded. Likewise, Pope John Paul I's name was not 'Albino Luciano' (Pope Lucky, anyone?) but Albino Luciani. Gerald Bull's design for a supergun was not '.45 calibre', which would have been a very narrow gun indeed, but called the GC-45 - and it was 155mm in calibre.
It can be argued that these are nitpicking complaints, but Thomas' book is unstructured, severely lacking in notes and generally far too impressed by Mossad and its world-view to be convincing to anyone who doesn't share that world-view.
The book carries endorsements by Meir Amit and Ari Ben-Menashe, respectively a former head of Mossad and one of its most brilliant agents. The world of secret services being what it is, that should be enough to make most wary readers doubt the veracity of everything Thomas has to say. He strikes me as being far too in love with these guys to be able to tell when they're feeding him a line.
There's no doubt that Gordon Thomas has met (and perhaps been rather too impressed by) some of the major players involved. That alone makes me sceptical about how truthful his book is. If Mossad is as awesomely powerful and accurate as he seems to think they are, surely they would never let a book like this get into print.
The evidence for the prosecution largely resides in Thomas' relentlessly gee-whiz, ain't-it-cool style. He seems to be endlessly impressed by Mossad's brilliance, and can't even recognise a blatantly bungled operation as such even when it's totally obvious, as in the idiotic attempt to assassinate Khalid Meshal in 1997. Even this fiasco can partly be blamed on the stupidity and impatience of then-Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu, but Thomas is so seduced by the myth of Israeli purity of arms and infinite competence that he can't even see blatant incompetence when it's staring him in the face.
Elsewhere, Thomas makes many simple errors. It should be obvious by now that I am no fan of the Mossad, but even so I think it's only fair to be honest about their achievements. Contrary to what Thomas says on p.80, Mahmoud Hamshari did not have his head 'blown off' by a bomb planted in his telephone; he was severely and, as it turned out, fatally wounded. Likewise, Pope John Paul I's name was not 'Albino Luciano' (Pope Lucky, anyone?) but Albino Luciani. Gerald Bull's design for a supergun was not '.45 calibre', which would have been a very narrow gun indeed, but called the GC-45 - and it was 155mm in calibre.
It can be argued that these are nitpicking complaints, but Thomas' book is unstructured, severely lacking in notes and generally far too impressed by Mossad and its world-view to be convincing to anyone who doesn't share that world-view.
The book carries endorsements by Meir Amit and Ari Ben-Menashe, respectively a former head of Mossad and one of its most brilliant agents. The world of secret services being what it is, that should be enough to make most wary readers doubt the veracity of everything Thomas has to say. He strikes me as being far too in love with these guys to be able to tell when they're feeding him a line.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Whilst a well researched book I do honstly believe that it has been embellished from start to finish in parts. What astounds me is that some of the items written about have not been raised by others into the public domain. Some of the details are simply too precise to believe. Like a lot of people who get it wrong where the USA are based on UK land. Fairford is RAF Fairford it is used by the USA for certain aircraft because of its length. Diago Garcia is a British Indian Ocean Territory that is firstly RAF Diago Garcia and is used mainly by the USA. Like others have posted, the author sadly tends at times to stray off the main theme then comes back.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Getting to Know Mossad
Peeping into the machinations of a secret entity is always facinating. Here is an author who has interviewed them all, names them and declares their deeds. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Reuben Gerling
Review
Book arrived in time no problems in that department, but as I went on into the book spelling mistakes are apparent. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Neil
An interesting read but rambling with inaccurate details
This has been on my wishlist for ages and I was looking forward to reading it. However I read the author's "Inside British Intelligence: 100 Years of MI5 and MI6" first so I was... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Mr gareth E Price
Great book !
I was absolutely fascinated by this book. It's easy to read (even though it is quite long) and at the same time written on a high level that is understandable for people who are... Read more
Published 12 months ago by LondonGirl
If you buy ONE book about Mossad etc make it THIS ONE!
I hope Gordon Thomas has "close protection officers" as a means of security because after reading THIS book with ALL the contacts he has and ALL the people he knows in HIGH as well... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Patrick H. Williams
Gideons Spies: The History of Mossad
A great book well researched and written, if your intrested in spies and how they carry out their work then this is the book for you.I was gripped from start to finish!!!
Published 20 months ago by Mark
Gideons Spies - A great book!
I'm loving this book at the moment - I'm 170 pages in. It's really readable, and it gives a fascinating insight into the world of international espionage as well as a series of new... Read more
Published 22 months ago by Jakod
Great book
I bought this book for my Grandfather (a present from my Mother to her Father, for Father's Day). He said that after 7 or so pages, he felt like he couldn't put it down! Read more
Published 23 months ago by Dr. David Webb, PhD
A brief rebuttal
Contrary to the previous reviewer's opinion, I feel that this book is worth 5 stars. Whilst I agree that on occasion Thomas does wander a little when detailing an event (often... Read more
Published 24 months ago by duckmouth
An interesting book
A fascinating book about the history of the Mossad. The information is interesting and detailed - however, the prose style is such that it is asy to get bogged down in detail - it... Read more
Published on 11 April 2010 by MoorWatcher
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