I read Dov Yermiya’s war diary in my 20s when I was still trying to get a basic understanding of the history of Israel and Palestine. It was an eye opener.
Yermiya was an Israeli veteran who fought in every war since 1948 when Israel was founded. There is no substitute for the account of a real person who was in the middle of a conflict if you are genuinely trying to understand it.
Whether or not you agree with Yermiya’s assessments or beliefs, he told the truth as he saw it from ground zero. He was not a politician, a talking head, or someone talking loud and sanctimoniously from a cozy refuge.
The book is sadly out of print, but there are used copies for sale online and it is carried by many libraries.