The Moral and Political Dilemmas of Vengeance by George Jonas: A Critical Discussion of the Book and Its Themes
George Jonas Vengeance Epub Bud: A Real-Life Espionage Thriller
If you are looking for a gripping and suspenseful book that will take you into the world of covert operations, political intrigue, and moral dilemmas, then you might want to check out Vengeance by George Jonas. This book is based on the true story of how a team of Israeli agents hunted down and killed the terrorists who massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. It is a fascinating and controversial account that raises many questions about the nature of justice, violence, and truth in a complex world.
george jonas vengeance epub bud
In this article, we will give you an overview of the book and its author, the historical context of the Munich Olympics massacre and the Israeli counter-terrorist operation, and the main themes and questions raised by the book. We will also provide you with some frequently asked questions about the book and its author at the end. So, let's get started!
The Book: Vengeance by George Jonas
The Plot: A Chilling Account of How the Israeli Agents Hunted Down and Killed the Terrorists Responsible for the Massacre
Vengeance is a non-fiction book that was first published in 1984 by George Jonas, a Canadian journalist and writer. The book is based on the interviews that Jonas conducted with a former Mossad agent who claimed to be part of a secret mission to assassinate the members of Black September, a Palestinian terrorist group that carried out the attack on the Israeli Olympic team in Munich in 1972.
The book follows the story of "Avner", a pseudonym for the agent who revealed his identity to Jonas, and his four colleagues who were recruited and trained by Mossad, the Israeli intelligence agency, to carry out the operation. The book describes in detail their missions in various countries, such as France, Italy, Cyprus, Lebanon, Greece, Spain, and Norway, where they tracked down and killed their targets one by one. The book also depicts their personal struggles and doubts as they faced the dangers and moral challenges of their task.
The book is divided into four parts: Part One covers the background of the Munich massacre and the recruitment of Avner; Part Two covers the first six assassinations in Europe; Part Three covers the last four assassinations in Lebanon and Norway; Part Four covers the aftermath of the operation and Avner's decision to quit Mossad.
The Sources: A Controversial Claim of Authenticity and Accuracy
One of the most controversial aspects of Vengeance is its claim to be based on authentic and accurate sources. The main source of information for Jonas was Avner himself, who contacted Jonas in 1981 and agreed to tell him his story in exchange for money and anonymity. Avner claimed to have been one of the five agents who participated in the operation and to have kept a diary of his experiences. He also provided Jonas with documents, photographs, maps, sketches, newspaper clippings, and other evidence to support his account.
However, Avner's account has been disputed by many sources, including Mossad officials, former agents, journalists, historians, and experts on terrorism and intelligence. Some of them have denied or doubted Avner's existence or involvement in the operation; some have accused him of lying or exaggerating; some have pointed out inconsistencies or errors in his story; some have challenged his motives or credibility; some have suggested alternative or additional sources that contradict or complement his account.
The Reception: A Bestselling Book That Sparked Debate and Controversy
Vengeance was a bestselling book that received a lot of attention and praise from critics and readers. It was praised for its gripping and suspenseful narrative, its vivid and realistic portrayal of the agents and their missions, its insightful and balanced exploration of the moral and political issues involved, and its journalistic and literary style. It was also translated into several languages and adapted into a movie in 2005, directed by Steven Spielberg and starring Eric Bana as Avner.
However, the book also sparked a lot of debate and controversy over its accuracy, authenticity, and ethics. It was criticized for its reliance on a single and questionable source, its lack of verification or corroboration of the facts, its omission or distortion of some details or events, its bias or agenda in favor of or against certain parties or perspectives, and its sensationalism or exploitation of a sensitive and tragic topic. It was also banned or censored in some countries, such as Israel, where it was considered to be harmful to national security or public opinion.
The Author: George Jonas
The Biography: A Renowned Journalist and Writer with a Diverse Background and Career
George Jonas was a Canadian journalist and writer who was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1935. He fled from his homeland in 1956 after the Hungarian Revolution and settled in Canada. He studied arts and law at the University of Toronto and worked as a producer, writer, and editor for various media outlets, such as CBC, The Globe and Mail, The National Post, Maclean's, and The Toronto Sun. He also wrote several books on various topics, such as poetry, fiction, history, politics, philosophy, and law.
Jonas was a renowned and respected writer who won many awards and honors for his work. He won the Canadian Authors Association Award for Poetry in 1974 for his collection The Absolute Smile; he won the Edgar Allan Poe Award for Best Fact Crime in 1985 for Vengeance; he won the Nelly Award for Best Documentary Script in 1986 for The Peacekeepers; he won the Stephen Leacock Medal for Humour in 1998 for his novel Beethoven's Mask; he was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2006 for his contributions to Canadian literature and culture.
The Motivation: A Quest for Truth and Justice in a Complex World
George Jonas was motivated to write Vengeance by his interest in the subject matter and his quest for truth and justice in a complex world. He was fascinated by the story of Avner and his colleagues, who were ordinary people who became extraordinary agents in a secret mission that involved life-and-death decisions and actions. He wanted to find out what drove them to do what they did, how they felt about it, and what consequences they faced.
Jonas was also motivated by his desire to shed light on a dark and controversial chapter of history that had been shrouded in mystery and secrecy. He wanted to expose the facts and the myths behind the Munich massacre and the Israeli counter-terrorist operation. He wanted to explore the moral and political dilemmas and questions that arose from these events. He wanted to challenge the readers to think critically and independently about these issues.
The Legacy: A Prolific and Influential Writer Who Left a Mark on Canadian Literature and Culture
George Jonas left a legacy as a prolific and influential writer who contributed to various genres and topics of Canadian literature and culture. He wrote more than 15 books on subjects ranging from poetry to fiction to history to politics to philosophy to law. He also wrote hundreds of articles, columns, essays, reviews, scripts, and speeches on various issues of public interest and concern. He influenced many readers and writers with his style, insights, humor, courage, and honesty.
Jonas died in Toronto in 2016 at the age of 80. He was remembered as a "brilliant mind", a "master storyteller", a "fearless commentator", a "passionate defender of freedom", a "generous mentor", a "loyal friend", a "loving husband", a "devoted father", and a "great Canadian".
The Context: The 1972 Munich Olympics Massacre and the Israeli Counter-Terrorist Operation
The Massacre: A Horrific Attack That Shocked the World and Shattered the Olympic Spirit
The 1972 Munich Olympics massacre was a horrific attack that shocked the world and shattered the Olympic spirit. It occurred on September 5, 1972, when eight members of Black September, a Palestinian terrorist group, infiltrated the Olympic Village in Munich, Germany, and took hostage 11 Israeli athletes and coaches who were participating in the games. They demanded the release of 234 Palestinian prisoners held by Israel and two German radicals held by Germany.
The hostage crisis lasted for more than 20 hours, during which the terrorists killed two of the hostages and threatened to kill more if their demands were not met. The German authorities tried to negotiate with the terrorists and to rescue the hostages, but their efforts failed miserably. The crisis ended in a bloody shootout at the nearby Furstenfeldbruck airport, where the terrorists and their hostages were supposed to board a plane to Cairo. The terrorists killed nine of the remaining hostages and one German police officer, and five of them were killed by the German police. Three of the terrorists survived and were captured by the Germans.
The massacre was a tragic and traumatic event that cast a dark shadow over the Olympics, which were supposed to be a celebration of peace, unity, and sportsmanship. It also sparked outrage and grief among Israelis and Jews around the world, who saw it as another example of anti-Semitism and terrorism. It also heightened the tension and conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, who saw it as a legitimate act of resistance and martyrdom.
The Operation: A Secret Mission That Sought Revenge and Deterrence
The operation was a secret mission that sought revenge and deterrence in response to the massacre. It was launched by Israel shortly after the massacre, under the code name "Operation Wrath of God". Its objective was to track down and kill the members of Black September and other Palestinian militants who were involved in or supported the attack. Its method was to use covert agents who operated under false identities and used various weapons and tactics to assassinate their targets.
The operation lasted for more than 20 years, during which more than 20 people were killed in various countries, such as France, Italy, Cyprus, Lebanon, Greece, Spain, Norway, and others. Some of the most notable assassinations were: Wael Zwaiter, a Palestinian poet and translator who was shot in Rome in 1972; Mahmoud Hamshari, a Palestinian representative who was killed by a bomb in his phone in Paris in 1972; Hussein Al Bashir, a Palestinian leader who was killed by a bomb in his hotel room in Nicosia in 1973; Ali Hassan Salameh, the chief of operations for Black September who was killed by a car bomb in Beirut in 1979; Abu Daoud, one of the masterminds of the Munich attack who was shot in Warsaw in 1981 but survived; Atef Bseiso, a Palestinian intelligence officer who was shot in Paris in 1992.
The operation was a controversial mission that had mixed results and repercussions. On one hand, it was seen as a successful and justified act of self-defense and deterrence that avenged the victims of the massacre and prevented further attacks by Palestinian terrorists. On the other hand, it was seen as an illegal and immoral act of state-sponsored terrorism that violated international law and human rights and provoked more violence and retaliation by Palestinian militants.
The Aftermath: A Long-Term Impact That Affected Many Lives and Aspects of Society
The aftermath of the massacre and the operation was a long-term impact that affected many lives and aspects of society. On an individual level, it affected the survivors and families of the victims of both sides, who suffered from physical injuries, psychological trauma, emotional pain, financial loss, social stigma, or legal troubles. It also affected the agents who participated in or supported the operation, who faced dangers, moral dilemmas, personal conflicts, or professional consequences.
On a collective level, it affected the relations between Israel and Palestine, as well as other countries and regions involved in the conflict, such as Germany, Europe, the Arab world, and the United States. It also affected the politics and policies of these countries and regions, such as their security measures, their diplomatic efforts, their peace initiatives, or their military actions.
On a cultural level, it affected the public opinion and awareness of the issues and actors involved in the conflict, such as the history and causes of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the motives and methods of terrorism and counter-terrorism, the rights and responsibilities of states and individuals, and the values and principles of justice and peace. It also affected the artistic and creative expression of these issues and actors, such as the books, movies, documentaries, songs, paintings, or monuments that were inspired by or related to the massacre or the operation.
The Themes: The Moral Dilemmas and Questions Raised by Vengeance
The Ethics: The Rightness or Wrongness of Revenge Killing
One of the main themes of Vengeance is the ethics of revenge killing as a form of justice or self-defense. The book raises many moral dilemmas and questions about the rightness or wrongness of killing someone who has killed or harmed someone else. Some of these questions are:
Is revenge killing legal or illegal under international law and human rights?
Is revenge killing moral or immoral according to different ethical theories and religious teachings?
Is revenge killing effective or ineffective in achieving its goals of justice or deterrence?
Is revenge killing justified or unjustified by its motives or consequences?
Is revenge killing necessary or unnecessary given its alternatives or options?
Is revenge killing consistent or inconsistent with one's values or beliefs?
The book does not provide clear or definitive answers to these questions. Instead, it presents different perspectives and arguments from different characters and sources that support or oppose revenge killing. It also shows how these perspectives and arguments change or evolve over time and in different situations. It also shows how these perspectives and arguments affect the actions and emotions of the agents who carry out revenge killing.
The Identity: The Sense of Self and Belonging in a Conflict-Ridden World
Another theme of Vengeance is the identity of the agents who participate in revenge killing as individuals and as members of a group or a nation. The book explores how revenge killing affects their sense of self and belonging in a conflict-ridden world. Some of the aspects of identity that are affected by revenge killing are:
Their values: What do they value most in life? What do they stand for? What do they fight for?
Their beliefs: What do they believe in? What do they trust? What do they doubt?
Their emotions: How do they feel about themselves? How do they feel about others? How do they cope with their feelings?
Their relationships: How do they relate to their family? How do they relate to their friends? How do they relate to their enemies?
Their loyalties: Who do they owe allegiance to? Who do they support? Who do they betray?
Their responsibilities: What are their duties? What are their obligations? What are their choices?
The book shows how revenge killing challenges and changes the identity of the agents in various ways. It shows how it creates conflicts and contradictions within themselves and between themselves and others. It shows how it tests their faith and loyalty to their cause and country. It shows how it exposes their vulnerabilities and strengths as human beings.
The Reality: The Truth or Fiction of a Real-Life Espionage Story
A third theme of Vengeance is the reality of the book and its sources as a real-life espionage story. The book questions the truth or fiction of its own account and its main informant's account. Some of the aspects of reality that are questioned by the book are:
The credibility: How believable is Avner's story? How trustworthy is he as a source?
The reliability: How accurate is Avner's story? How consistent is he as a source?
The verifiability: How provable is Avner's story? How confirmable is he as a source?
The bias: How objective is Avner's story? How impartial is he as a source?
The perspective: How comprehensive is Avner's story? How representative is he as a source?
The purpose: How informative is Avner's story? How persuasive is he as a source?
The book does not claim to be the definitive or authoritative version of the events. Instead, it acknowledges its limitations and uncertainties as a journalistic and literary work. It also invites the readers to question and investigate the reality of the book and its sources for themselves. It also encourages the readers to seek out other sources and versions of the events that may offer different or additional information or insights.
The Conclusion: A Summary and Evaluation of the Book and Its Relevance
In conclusion, Vengeance is a captivating and controversial book that tells the true story of how a team of Israeli agents hunted down and killed the terrorists who massacred 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Munich Olympics. It is based on the interviews that George Jonas conducted with a former Mossad agent who claimed to be part of the operation. It is a fascinating and complex account that raises many moral and political dilemmas and questions about the nature of justice, violence, and truth in a conflict-ridden world.
The book has many strengths and weaknesses as a non-fiction work. On one hand, it is a gripping and suspenseful narrative that draws the reader into the world of covert operations, political intrigue, and moral challenges. It is also a vivid and realistic portrayal of the agents and their missions, their personal struggles and doubts, and their eventual fate. It is also an insightful and balanced exploration of the moral and political issues involved, presenting different perspectives and arguments from different characters and sources. On the other hand, it is a questionable and disputed account that relies on a single and dubious source, lacks verification or corroboration of the facts, omits or distorts some details or events, has a bias or agenda in favor of or against certain parties or perspectives, and sensationalizes or exploits a sensitive and tragic topic.
The book is also relevant and significant for contemporary readers and society. It sheds light on a dark and controversial chapter of history that has been shrouded in mystery and secrecy. It also exposes the facts and the myths behind the Munich massacre and the Israeli counter-terrorist operation. It also explores the ethical and political dilemmas and questions that arise from these events. It also challenges the readers to think critically and independently about these issues. It also inspires the readers to seek out more information and insights from other sources and versions of the events.
The FAQs: Some Frequently Asked Questions About the Book and Its Author
Here are some frequently asked questions about the book and its author:
Who is Avner? Avner is a pseudonym for the former Mossad agent who revealed his identity to George Jonas and told him his story. He claimed to have been one of th