A State at Any Cost

The definitive biography of Israels founder by one of Israels most celebrated historians.
As the founder of Israel, David Ben-Gurion long ago secured his reputation as a leading figure of the twentieth century. Determined from an early age to create a Jewish state, he took control of the Zionist movement, declared Israels independence, and navigated his country through wars, controversies and remarkable achievements.

In this definitive biography, Tom Segev uses previously unreleased archival material to give an original, nuanced account that transcends the myths and legends that have built up around the man. He reveals Ben-Gurions secret negotiations with the British on the eve of Israels independence, his willingness to countenance the forced transfer of Arab neighbors, his relative indifference to Jerusalem, and his occasional eccentric moments – from UFO sightings to plans for Israel to acquire territory in South America.

The result is a full and startling portrait of a man who sought a state at any cost – at times through risk-taking, violence, and unpredictability, and at other times through compromise, moderation and reason. Segevs Ben-Gurion is neither a saint nor a villain but a twentieth-century leader whose iron will and complex temperament left a contentious legacy, and one of the worlds most intractable national conflicts.
Praise for A State at Any Cost:
A must for anybody interested in both the glorious and the dark pages of the history of Zionism and Israel, as reflected throughout the life and times of the Jewish States most important founding fatherSAUL FRIEDLÄNDER

The story of a hard-headed, pragmatic and ruthless politician, told without sentimentality or nostalgia. It also serves as a key to understanding todays Israel, which is still very much Ben-Gurions creationTHE TIMES

Fascinating... A masterly portrait of a titanic yet unfulfilled man... This is a gripping study of power, and the loneliness of powerTHE ECONOMIST