I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.  All opinions are my own. 

In author Meir Sheetrit’s memoir, the author shares the insights and knowledge gained from years of public service in the book “Courage in Politics.”

THE SYNOPSIS

At twenty-five, Meir Sheetrit became the youngest mayor in Israel. He had no idea how a municipal council worked. What he did have was an unshakable belief that things could be changed.

Fifteen years after immigrating from Morocco to Israel as a child, Sheetrit was elected mayor of Yavne, then a struggling development town. His transformation of the city soon attracted local leaders from across the country, who came to see what he had accomplished and learn from his example.

That was only the beginning.

Sheetrit went on to serve thirty years in the Knesset and hold six ministerial portfolios, becoming a firsthand witness to some of the defining events, political struggles, and policy debates in modern Israel. His remarkable journey from a Moroccan Jewish immigrant family to the highest levels of Israeli government is at the heart of this candid political memoir.

Throughout his career, Sheetrit followed his convictions even when they placed him at odds with his own political camp. His belief that nothing is worth the price of war led him to support the Oslo Accords, champion the Saudi peace initiative, and pursue the possibility of lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace.

In Courage in Politics: Four Decades Serving Israel, Sheetrit recounts the harrowing scenes he witnessed during the Yom Kippur War, reveals a historic agreement between Labor and Likud that came close to changing the course of Israeli politics, and offers a rare insider’s account of prime ministers, Knesset battles, government decision-making, diplomacy, and missed opportunities in the Middle East peace process.

It is also a deeply personal story of Jewish immigration, family, ambition, public service, loss, resilience, and the values that guided a political career spanning more than four decades.

Looking back at the Israel he knew, served, and helped shape, Sheetrit reflects on the changes he has witnessed and on what he believes has been lost along the way. Yet despite his concerns for Israel’s future, he remains convinced that the country can still change course and begin rebuilding.

THE REVIEW

This was a moving, compelling book. The author does a phenomenal job of crafting a book that feels both personal and socially relevant. The author strikes a strong balance between personal insight and storytelling from their own life, grounded in modern Israeli history and politics. The level of detail the author includes in each chapter lets readers visualize these moments, creating an immersive experience that non-fiction books don’t always capture.

Today, the author’s stances reflect the need for people around the world to speak up for what’s right and not let themselves be silenced or become complacent. Readers can feel the weight of experience, having witnessed injustice, wars, and the hardships of immigration, as the author explores not only the historic changes he helped facilitate in the town. He became mayor but faced opponents, both outside and within his own party, to speak up for human rights and advocate for lasting peace between Israel and Palestine, something far too often gets overshadowed in the same age. The need for peace has never been higher, and it is inspiring to read personal insights from this Author’s work as someone who has lived within the country of Israel and recognizes the need to end the violence. The violence brings a measure of hope for those passionate about this important topic.

THE VERDICT

Compelling, moving, and engaging, Meir Sheetrit’s “Courage in Politics” is a must-read non-fiction memoir that brings together international politics and social justice. The vast amount of knowledge and insight the author is able to provide on these important topics and compelling moments in history will resonate with modern readers, and despite the hardships and frustrations the author voices about modern events, the glimmer of Hope found in the author’s voice and tone in their writing allows readers to find hope for themselves as they seek for these two nations to one day acknowledge the pain of the past while moving forward together, a sentiment nations around the world can identify with for themselves. If you haven’t yet, please be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meir Sheetrit was born in October 1948 in Ksar es-Souk, Morocco, and immigrated to Israel with his family in December 1957. At the age of twenty-five, after earning a university degree and serving in the IDF as head of the Medical Corps Officers Branch, he was elected mayor of Yavne. He served for thirteen years, during which time Yavne achieved city status. Sheetrit was first elected to the Knesset on the Likud ticket and went on to serve for thirty years. During his political career, he held six ministerial portfolios: Finance; Justice; Transportation; Education, Culture and Sport; Construction and Housing; and Interior. He also served as the minister responsible for Israel’s intelligence services and the Israel Atomic Energy Commission, and for four years as treasurer of the Jewish Agency.

He resides in Israel with his wife, Ruthie, and is the father of Dudu and Naama. His eldest daughter, Miri, died of cancer at the age of fifteen.