"The Path to Paradise is an astounding document, an original and authoritative account of the inner worlds of suicide bombers and their dispatchers. Dr. Anat Berko brings to her work a unique combination of academic expertise, and, as the daughter of Jewish refugees from Iraq, genuine cultural understanding of the world of her subjects. The depth of both her professional and personal knowledge of her subject make this book a must-read for anyone interested in the real and complex causes of the suicidal terror that is spreading like wildfire throughout the world, and of which we in the US felt the devastating effects on September 11th, 2001." -- George P. Fletcher, Columbia University, Author of Romantics at War: Glory and Guilt in the Age of Terrorism "The subjects of this book--would-be terrorists whose lives were spared, because their missions were aborted when they were discovered by Israeli security forces or by alert bystanders--describe their desires and goals to Anat Berko with extraordinary candor. Their motivations, from self-hatred to hatred of Jews, shed light on their lives and culture--though in this case the light they shed is more like darkness visible. Dr. Berko tells their stories with startling clarity, sensitivity, and insight." -- Avi Dichter, Minister of Public Security, State of Israel, Formerly head of the Israeli Security Agency, Currently Minister of Internal Security "This is a serious, thorough, penetrating analysis of the dark and mysterious world of suicide bombers and their dispatchers. By spending thousands of hours with would-be suicide bombers, and their spiritual leaders, the author succeeds in conveying a vivid (and appalling) picture of their real motives. This book is essential reading for anyone trying to understand the phenomenon of suicide bombings and the ever-increasing threat of Islamic fundamentalism." -- Khaled Abu Toameh, Veteran reporter and commentator on Palestinian affairs, Correspondent, The Jerusalem Post "What goes through the mind of a suicide bomber from the moment he--or she--is recruited until the detonator is activated? How are they recruited? What about their families? Dr. Anat Berko spent thousands of hours in the lion's den trying to answer these questions. What she found makes us understand the real threat that suicide bombers, their handlers, and the organizations they belong to pose to world peace." -- Gen. Amos Malka (Ret.), Former Chief of Israeli Military Intelligence
Anat Berko, who holds a Ph.D. in Criminology and served as Lieutenant Colonel in the Israeli Defense Forces, is a research fellow at the International Policy Institute for Counter Terrorism. She also conducts research for the National Security Council.
Berko has written an interesting book that departs from many of the
typical studies of suicide bombers. Her research involved frequent
and extensive conversations with Palestinians jailed by Israel for
attempted suicide terrorist attacks; the author recounts, in some
cases transcribes, these discussions. Equally interesting is the
author's emphasis on women's roles in suicide bombing and, more
broadly, the role that gender plays in shaping the logic and
motivation of terrorism against Israel. As always, the issue of
bias in the scholarship on the Arab-Israeli conflict is something
to consider here, as the author was previously a career officer in
the Israeli Defense Forces. However, that does not undermine the
value of her interviews, which flesh out and reflect similar
studies of terrorism that emphasize the role of humiliation and
gender. The book is a fascinating look at the individuals who carry
out suicide attacks, and helps us understand the people, arguments,
and emotions that give rise to this form of terrorism. Highly
recommended. General readers, upper-division undergraduates through
practitioners.
*Choice*
This book, written by former Israeli Lieutenant Colonel Anat Berko,
is an exploration of the world of suicide bombing. With
unparalleled access to some of Israel's most heavily guarded
prisons, Berko conducts interviews with suicide bombers who were
stopped before they could carry out their attacks, and also with
their handlers.
*Middle East Journal*
For those dealing with terrorism this book is a must read.
*International Institute of Security & Safety Management
Newsletter*
This book is probably one of the best I have seen on the subject
since the terrorists she interviewed either were arrested prior to
getting to their targets or changed their mind prior to blowing up
their targets or were the dispatchers who sent other suicide
bombers.
*Specialized Consulting Services*
Berko entered Israeli prisons and interviewed failed Palestinian
suicide bombers and arrested bomb dispatchers. Here, she reports on
those interviews, including one with the late Hamas leader Sheik
Yassin, in order to explore the motivations of these figures, as
well as how suicide bombing attacks against Israel are organized.
In much of the work, she stresses the religious aspects of the
phenomena and downplays the political and military realities of the
Israeli occupation. (If she is familiar with the work of political
scientist Robert Pape whose comprehensive study of suicide bombings
world-wide led him to conclude that there is little connection
between suicide terrorism and Islamic fundamentalism, or any one of
the world's religions. Rather, what nearly all suicide terrorist
attacks have in common is a specific secular and strategic goal: to
compel modern democracies to withdraw military forces from
territory that the terrorists consider to be their homeland she
does not reveal it.
*Reference & Research Book News*
Anat Berko's The Path to Paradise: The Inner World of Suicide
Bombers and Their Dispatchers is one of the most revealing,
compelling and insightful books written about Palestinian suicide
bombers and the men who dispatch them on their missions. What
distinguishes this book is the author's unique access to
Palestinian prisoners who failed to carry out their suicide
bombings or were arrested for organizing terrorist operations. This
has enabled her to open a window into the inner world of these men
and women….The book contains a wealth of information about
Palestinian society, such as the impact of polygamous families and
arranged marriages on the sons and daughters who decide to become
suicide martyrs. The Path to Paradise is essential reading for
understanding Palestinian suicide terrorism and the measures
required to resolve it.
*The Washington Times*
From her tightly written case notes of incarcerated bombers, Berko
provides a cultural look at the men and women who choose their
route to paradise by becoming a shaheed or a shaheeda (a Muslim
willing to die as a martyr for the sake of Allah).
*Security Letter*
[A] rare first-hand account of the motivations and feelings of
suicide terrorists, both men and women, and the whole frame of
reference for their acts.
*The Institute for the Study of Religion, Violence & Memory*
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