Friends in Deed: Inside the U.S.-Israel Alliance

Raviv and Melman here examine the growth of the pro-Israel lobby in Washington, the spread of American popular culture in Israel, the profound effect of the Six-Day War on American Jews, the importance of the link between American Christians and Israel, and many other events and developments in the unique, complicated partnership between the two countries. The authors explore tensions in the relationship, such as defense secretary Caspar Weinberger's attempt to torpedo relations between President Reagan and Prime Minister Menachem Begin, the strain placed on the alliance by the arrest of secret agent Jonathan Pollard by Israel in 1985, and the ``hate at first sight'' reactions of both President Bush and Prime Minister Yitshak Shamir. Raviv and Melman suggest that the Jewish community in America is becoming less of a rock-solid base of support for Israel and that each succeeding generation shows signs of being less connected to the Jewish state. Readable and informative, this account will have an even wider readership than the authors' bestselling Every Spy a Prince. Raviv is a CBS News correspondent; Melman is an Israeli journalist. Photos. (May)