As an Israeli citizen and a member of the IDF we know from what point of view Klien is presenting Munich and subsequent events. Yet, he still presents many of Israel’s adversaries as human and as dedicated to their cause as the Mossad. Klien provides sufficient detail while keeping the reader engrossed. He also, questions each individual assassination, but leaves plenty of room for the reader to come to his own conclusions. Clearly, many of the assassinations carried out by Mossad were on relatively easy targets. People who were chosen, not because of the gravity of their crimes, or potential danger, so much as they were not well hidden. It is clear that some of the targets Mossad took out may have potentially saved lives while others may have only served as revenge. It is difficult to prove with certainty.
One thing that was clear, and surprising, was the fantastic ineptitude of the Germans. Everything was botched, from security that may have prevented the attack in the first place to the ambush of the Black September terrorists at the airfield that the West Germans should have been able to carry out successfully, since it was they, not the terrorists, were able to choose the time and place of the action. The level of cowardice of the Germans was also hard to believe. When given an excuse – a hijacked plane – to free the three terrorists they did capture, the West German government did not hesitate. In fact most Western European governments are guilty of utterly shameful behavior. Of the 204 Arab terrorists captured in Europe during the 70’s and 80’s only 3 remained in jail. All others were released. So I have little sympathy for Europeans and the fact that their countries were a battle ground between Mossad their Arab adversaries.
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