“Monty Penkower’s richly detailed and scrupulously documented chronicle of Hamas’ war against Israel and the Jews makes for necessary if sobering reading. Drawing upon his lifetime of scholarship, Penkower cuts through the inevitable fog of war and provides invaluable narrative and primary source material for all future students of the subject.”—Jonathan D. Sarna, University Professor and Joseph H. & Belle R. Braun. Professor of American Jewish History (emeritus), Brandeis University“The two years that have passed since Hamas’s terrorist attack on 7 October have not diminished the magnitude of the blow Israel suffered that day. During this period, however, Israel has succeeded in striking Hamas, Hizballah, and ultimately Iran—the forces behind the 7 October attack—in ways that are likely to redraw the map of the Middle East and reshape the region’s political landscape. Monty Noam Penkower’s Awakening to Radical Islamist Evil: The Hamas War Against Israel and the Jews, Volume II, forms part of his series that seeks to document and interpret these two pivotal years. This book, as was Vol. I, is a must for anyone interested in the events that have shaped the region to date, and for those seeking to understand the direction in which the Middle East may now be heading.”—Prof. Eyal Zisser, Vice Rector of Tel Aviv University“Penkower covers not only just a war, but the political, public diplomacy, and the media aspects, as well as the Israeli internal and global external issues. He has reminded us of all the “little” happenings”.—Yisrael Medad, Jerusalem Post Magazine "For those who want to truly understand the origins of the October 7 catastrophe, Penkower is one who genuinely gets it, as one can read in this excellent book."—Ben Rothke, Times of Israel“This study provides a granular description of the first six months of the present (2023-2025) conflict in Gaza. Well written and deeply researched by a distinguished historian of Zionism and the State of Israel, it is certain to become the definitive history of this world-historical event. Highly recommended as a must-read.”— Steven T. Katz, Slater Professor of Jewish Holocaust Studies, Boston University“In Awakening to Radical Islamist Evil, Monty Penkower has produced a 'rough first draft of history' full of erudition, humanity and written with passion. Few of the protagonists in this conflict escape his razor-sharp pen as he disentangles the complex story of the Gaza war. His sympathy is directed to its innocent victims, both Jews and non-Jews. By any measure, this is a masterful and authoritative account of the first 177 days of the Hamas war against Israel and the Jews and essential reading for anyone wishing to understand Israel's right to defend itself.”— Anthony McElligott, Emeritus Professor of History, University of Limerick, Ireland"A compelling and heart wrenching account of the darkest moment in Israel's history. A must read for anyone seeking to understand the origins of this catastrophe, the sources of Israel's extraordinary recovery, and the regional and global implications of this momentous event."— Efraim Karsh, Professor Emeritus of Middle East Mediterranean Studies, King’s College London; Former Director, Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies“As Israel faces an unprecedented crisis, the eminent historian Monty Penkower has risen to the challenge of the moment - documenting in lucid prose the evil Israelis endured on October 7th, as well as the extraordinary courage, grit, and hope Israelis have demonstrated every day since. This illuminating, welcome, book --offering a thorough, detailed, first draft of history in the making—helps us understand how Israel has coped—and why Israel must win—for the sake of Western Civilization.”— Professor Gil Troy, Distinguished Scholar in North American History at McGill University
