Lion of Jordan: The Life of King Hussein in War and Peace

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About Lion Of Jordan: The Life Of King Hussein In War And

Product Description During his long reign (1953–1999), King Hussein of Jordan was one of the most dominant figures in Middle Eastern politics and a consistent proponent of peace with Israel. This is the first major account of his life, written with access to his official documents and with the cooperation (but not approval) of his family and staff, and also extensive interviews with international policy makers. For more than forty years, Hussein walked a tightrope between the Palestinians and Arab radicals on the one hand and Israel on the other. Avi Shlaim reveals that, for the sake of dynastic and national survival, Hussein initiated a secret dialogue with Israel in 1963 that encompassed more than one thousand hours with Golda Meir, Shimon Peres, Yitzhak Shamir, Yitzhak Rabin, and countless others. Shlaim reconstructs this dialogue across battle lines from previously untapped Israeli records and the firsthand accounts of key participants, and makes clear that it was Israeli intransigence that was largely responsible for the failure to achieve a peaceful settlement between 1967 and 1994. At Hussein’s memorial service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Prince of Wales hailed him as “a man amongst men, a king amongst kings.” Lion of Jordan illuminates the triumphs and disappointments, the qualities and character of this extraordinary soldier and statesman, and significantly rewrites the history of the Middle East over the past fifty years. From Publishers Weekly Ruler of a weak country surrounded by stronger powers in the cutthroat environs of the Middle East, financially dependent on foreign sponsors, precariously riding herd on the nationalist ambitions of Jordan's Palestinian majority, Hussein eked out a long reign (1953–1999) through very unleonine policies of caution and restraint. Historian Shlaim ( War and Peace in the Middle East) finds much to admire in his subject's character and statecraft. Hussein was an autocrat, the author allows, but a benign one, whose resolute crackdown on Palestinian extremists in the 1970 civil war was necessary to save Jordan from chaos. Much of the book is taken up with a detailed chronicle of the Middle East peace process, centering on Hussein's decadeslong negotiations, both secret and open, with Israel; in Shlaim's telling, Israel comes off badly, and Hussein emerges as the embodiment of Arab moderation, his sincere initiatives stymied by the alleged intransigence and perfidy of Israeli leaders who preferred land to peace. Shlaim's stinging critique of Israel might stir controversy, but his comprehensive, nuanced account of Hussein's life illuminates the tragic complexities of Middle East politics. Photos. (Sept. 9) Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist The late King Hussein of Jordan was the favorite Arab ruler of both Israeli and other Western leaders, often referred to affectionately as the PLK (plucky little king). Professor Shlaim has written a massive, engrossing, and provocative biography of Hussein that is likely to engender controversy, because it is not a balanced work. Shlaim is a strong admirer of Hussein, and he is highly critical of most Israeli politicians, particularly in their dealings with Hussein. Still, this isn’t a hagiography; Shlaim views Hussein as a man constantly forced to reconcile his primary goal, the preservation of the Hashemite dynasty, with the aims of Arab—particularly Palestinian—nationalists. This tension led to his disastrous decision to intervene in the Six Day War and the loss of the West Bank to Israel. The core of the book examines Hussein’s frequent meetings with Israelis after that war, as he sought peace at great personal risk. Hussein is described as flexible and willing to compromise, while Israelis are seen as rigid and consistently devoted to territorial expansion. This is a revealing, important work, but Shaim’s analyses of these negotiations will be hotly debated.