Striking Back

Striking Back examines Israel's response to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre, where Palestinian terrorists killed 11 Israeli athletes and coaches. The book chronicles the secret operations carried out by Mossad agents in the years following the attack. Drawing on interviews and previously classified documents, Klein reconstructs the planning and execution of Israel's campaign to track down those responsible for Munich. The narrative follows multiple covert missions across Europe and the Middle East as Israeli operatives worked to locate their targets. The book presents a complex portrait of international espionage, intelligence gathering, and the moral calculations involved in state-sponsored retaliation. Klein details the operational methods of both the Israeli agents and their adversaries during this period of heightened tension. Through its examination of revenge and justice, Striking Back raises questions about the costs and consequences of counter-terrorism in the modern era. The events described continue to influence discussions about national security and the response to terrorist acts.

Readers find the book provides detailed accounts of Israel's response to the 1972 Munich Olympics attack, with extensive research and interviews with Mossad operatives. The writing style reads like a spy thriller while maintaining historical accuracy. Readers appreciated: - Behind-the-scenes information about intelligence operations - Clear explanations of complex political situations - Balanced portrayal of both Israeli and Palestinian perspectives - Inclusion of previously unreported details Common criticisms: - Dense political context that can be hard to follow - Jumps between multiple timeline threads - Some readers found it dry compared to other books on the subject Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (150+ ratings) Multiple readers noted the book differs significantly from Steven Spielberg's film "Munich," which they felt helped provide a more complete understanding of events. Several reviewers mentioned struggling with the large number of names and locations but praised the comprehensive endnotes and references.

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🎯 The book details how Israeli intelligence agency Mossad tracked down and eliminated 11 Palestinian terrorists responsible for the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre over a period of 20 years. 🔍 Author Aaron J. Klein worked as Time magazine's military and intelligence affairs correspondent in Jerusalem, giving him unique access to former Mossad operatives and classified documents. ⚡ Unlike Steven Spielberg's film "Munich," which was partially based on this book, Klein's account reveals that many of the targeted assassinations were much messier and less successful than previously portrayed. 🗝️ The code name for the Mossad's revenge operation was "Operation Wrath of God" (or "Operation Bayonet"), and it remained one of Israel's most closely guarded secrets for decades. 📚 Klein's research uncovered that several innocent people were mistakenly killed during the operation, including a Moroccan waiter in Lillehammer, Norway, who was misidentified as terrorist Ali Hassan Salameh.