Table of Contents

List of Maps xi
Preface to the Revised Edition xiii
Preface xvii
Prologue 3

1 Footprints in the Sand 5
2 The Man in the Peasant Robe 10
3 Dovecote 17
4 Badr 28
5 Illusions 36
6 Summer Lull 44
7 A Royal Visit 52
8 Sword from the Scabbard 60
9 Countdown 73
10 Yom Kippur Morning 95
11 The Egyptian Crossing 115
12 The Humbling of the Tank 122
13 Mobilization 144
14 Syrian Breakthrough 161
15 Darkest at Dawn 193
16 The Fall of the Southern Golan 205
17 The Beanstalk 212
18 The Battle for Nafakh 219
19 Cut Off 232
20 Hand on the Tiller 243
21 Failed Counterattack 264
22 Bomb Damascus 285
23 Touching Bottom 302
24 Golan Counterattack 318
25 Iraqi Intervention 347
26 Powers That Be 361
27 Change in Command 370
28 Decision to Cross 381
29 Stouthearted Men 391
30 The Chinese Farm 415
31 The Bridges 434
32 Crossing into Africa 452
33 Breakout 471
34 Kissinger to the Fore 501
35 Cease-fire 514
36 Suez City 530
37 Nuclear Alert 540
38 Aftermath 563

Notes 581
A Selected Bibliography 593
Index 603

About the Author

ABRAHAM RABINOVITCH, a United States Army veteran, worked as a reporter for Newsday before joining The Jerusalem Post. His writing has appeared inThe New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Christian Science Monitor, theInternational Herald Tribune, and The New Republic, among other periodicals. He is the author of five previous books, including The Battle for Jerusalem and The Boats of Cherbourg. Born in New York City, he lives in Jerusalem.

Reviews

"Never before has the Israeli experience in the Yom Kippur War been so sensitively and intricately documented . . .  A seamless, riveting narrative [that is] both compelling and intelligent."
—The Washington Post Book World

"The best general history of the Yom Kippur War. The writing is clear, compelling, and precise and offers a good understanding of both the military operations and the political developments. At both levels it was a fascinating war. . . .Outstanding."
—Ha'aretz

"Rabinovich's extra efforts to get inside the minds of Arab generals are especially welcome. . . . sheds light on a conflict that altered the psychology and diplomacy of the Middle East down to the present day."
—The New York Times Book Review 

"Superbly written. . . . The Yom Kippur War is easily the best and most complete general history of the conflict."
—Parameters 

"Truly striking. Rabinovich's book is brilliant, sweeping and insightful."
—Naval History

"As no one before, Abraham Rabinovich recounts the whole story of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, that most elusive round of the Arab-Israeli conflict."
—Middle East Quarterly

"Superb. I have found few works of military history so difficult to put down."
—Jerusalem Report

"Rabinovich displays his keen comprehension of military tactics and strategies with detailed, fast-paced accounts. His eye for political and diplomatic maneuverings is equally sharp."
—History Book Club

"Impossible to put down."
—Gershom Gorenberg, author of Days of Awe

"Its revelations are astonishing. Its prose is gripping. Its conclusions, richly documented and austerely objective, are intensely relevant to the Middle Eastern crisis of our own day."
—Professor Howard M. Sachar, author of A History of Israel

"Abraham Rabinovich has written an exceptionally exciting book."
—Professor Edward N. Luttwak 

"Never before has the Israeli experience in the Yom Kippur War been so sensitively and intricately documented . . . A seamless, riveting narrative [that is] both compelling and intelligent."
-The Washington Post Book World

"The best general history of the Yom Kippur War. The writing is clear, compelling, and precise and offers a good understanding of both the military operations and the political developments. At both levels it was a fascinating war. . . .Outstanding."
-Ha'aretz

"Rabinovich's extra efforts to get inside the minds of Arab generals are especially welcome. . . . sheds light on a conflict that altered the psychology and diplomacy of the Middle East down to the present day."
-The New York Times Book Review

"Superbly written. . . . The Yom Kippur War is easily the best and most complete general history of the conflict."
-Parameters

"Truly striking. Rabinovich's book is brilliant, sweeping and insightful."
-Naval History

"As no one before, Abraham Rabinovich recounts the whole story of the 1973 Yom Kippur War, that most elusive round of the Arab-Israeli conflict."
-Middle East Quarterly

"Superb. I have found few works of military history so difficult to put down."
-Jerusalem Report

"Rabinovich displays his keen comprehension of military tactics and strategies with detailed, fast-paced accounts. His eye for political and diplomatic maneuverings is equally sharp."
-History Book Club

"Impossible to put down."
-Gershom Gorenberg, author of Days of Awe

"Its revelations are astonishing. Its prose is gripping. Its conclusions, richly documented and austerely objective, are intensely relevant to the Middle Eastern crisis of our own day."
-Professor Howard M. Sachar, author of A History of Israel

"Abraham Rabinovich has written an exceptionally exciting book."
-Professor Edward N. Luttwak