Perspectives on Israel Studies
My Struggle for Peace, 3 Vol. Set
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The Diary of Moshe Sharett, 1953–1956
Edited by Neil Caplan and Yaakov Sharett
Published by: Indiana University Press
1984 Pages, 6.00 x 9.00 in
My Struggle for Peace is a remarkable political document offering insights into the complex workings of the young Israeli political system, set against the backdrop of the disintegration of the country's fragile armistice with the Arab states. Replete with the diarist's candid comments on Israel's first generation leaders and world statesmen of the day, the diary also tells the dramatic human story of a political career cut short—the removal of an unusually sensitive, dedicated, and talented public servant. My Struggle for Peace is, above all, an intimate record of the decline of Moshe Sharett's moderate approach and the rise of more "activist-militant" trends in Israeli society, culminating in the Suez/Sinai war of 1956. The diary challenges the popular narrative that Israel's confrontation with its neighbors was unavoidable by offering daily evidence of Sharett's statesmanship, moderation, diplomacy, and concern for Israel's place in international affairs.
This long-awaited 3-volume English abridgement of Sharett's Yoman Ishi [Personal diary] (Ma'ariv, 1978) maintains the integrity, flavor, and impact of the 8-volume Hebrew original and includes additional documentary material that was not accessible at the time.
The volumes are also available to purchase individually.
3-volume set (1953-1956): https://iupress.org/97802530432521
Volume 1 (1953-1954): https://iupress.org/9780253037350
Volume 2 (1955): https://iupress.org/9780253037589
Moshe Sharett (1894-1965) was Israel's first Foreign Minister (1948-1956) and its second Prime Minister (1954-1955).
Neil Caplan is author of The Israel-Palestine Conflict: Contested Histories and of Futile Diplomacy, a 4-volume documentary history of Arab-Israeli negotiations. He is author (with Laura Zittrain Eisenberg) of Negotiating Arab-Israeli Peace: Patterns, Problems, Possibilities.
Yaakov Sharett is a retired diplomat, journalist, editor, and translator in Tel Aviv. He is Director of the Moshe Sharett Heritage Society and chief editor of a dozen volumes of his father's letters, papers and speeches, including the original diary published in 1978.
A fortunate meeting between Caplan and the younger Sharett created a winning combination of access, translating prowess and scholarly and editorial skill to bring the diary into focus for English readers. To do this, they have supplemented the original diary with notes that cite private letters, minutes from cabinet meetings and public speeches, which further fill in the historical picture that Sharett meant to record.
The result is a gripping lesson in historical events, key figures and background context that offers a renewed sense of early Israeli political life.
~Norm Ravvin, The Canadian Jewish News
[T]he most important thing Sharett contributed to the state is the personal diary he wrote during his tenure as prime minister. It is difficult to overstate the importance of those eight volumes to the study of the 1950s and to the understanding of Israeli history as a whole.
~Tom Segev]]>,
The editors did not merely edit and translate the text; they vastly improved on the Hebrew version by adding Sharett's speeches, reports, cabinet minutes, and other sources to the text . . . These additions make this work so important and welcome by all who aspire to understand the foreign and defense policies of Israel in its first decade.
~Meron Medzini]]>,
These diaries are a valuable resource for scholars interested in Israel and the wider Middle East. They are also an affecting monument to both the political career and the inner life of one of Israel's least appreciated leaders.
~Alexander Kaye]]>,
All in all, the translation and production of this diary is a massive piece of work and a significant scholarly achievement. These diaries are a valuable resource for scholars interested in Israel and the wider Middle East. They are also an affecting monument to both the political career and the inner life of one of Israel's least appreciated leaders. These diaries are a valuable resource for scholars interested in Israel and the wider Middle East. They are also an affecting monument to both the political career and the inner life of one of Israel's least appreciated leaders.
~Alexander Kaye, Middle East Journal
To access the supplementary documents (WebDocs) cited in the Diary, please visit: https://wdsharett.blogspot.com/
Discovering Moshe Sharett - Indiana University Press
Israel's forgotten prime minister finally arrives in America - Israel News - Haaretz.com