Ben-Gurion's Political Struggles, 1963-1967: A Lion in Winter

by Shalom,Zaky

• ISBN13: 9780714656526
• ISBN10: 0714656526
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-05-26
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

An essential insight into this central figure in the modern history of Israel and Zionism. This important new study explores the years that built up to the Six Day War and details the crucial issues and events the world is still grappling with today. This book traces Daniel Ben-Gurion's waning years in Israeli politics. After his resignation from the office of prime minister in 1963, the 'Old Man' soon lost faith in his self-chose successor, Levi Eshkol, and ceaselessly tried to undermine the latter's premiership, eventually forming a breakaway party. The events leading up to the Six-Day War in June 1967 caught Ben-Gurion by surprise. During the weeks-long 'waiting period' prior to the outbreak of hostilities, he paid little attention to daily security issues. But when war did erupt, he displayed one of his key leadership skills the ability to formulate an accurate, independent situation assessment. It will be of interest to scholars working in Israeli politics and history, this is a lucid, thoroughly researched account of the sunset years of the driving force behind the Israeli nation-state.

Author Biography

Zaki Shalom is a senior researcher at the Ben-Gurion Research Institute for the study of Israel and Zionism, Ben-Gurion University and a former Israeli military intelligence officer.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	xi
Introduction	1	(11)
1 Ben-Gurion–Eshkol: initial frictions	12	(11)
2 The Lavon Affair	23	(13)
3 The Dimona and Ben-Barka affairs	36	(21)
4 The split with Mapai: the founding of Rafi	57	(8)
5 The road to the Six-Day War	65	(14)
6 Criticism of the defense policy	79	(13)
7 Ben-Gurion confronts the war	92	(14)
8 Ben-Gurion's involvement in the war	106	(13)
Summary	119	(2)
Notes	121	(8)
Bibliography	129	(6)
Index	135