Born in 1918, Yigal Allon rose to become one of the founding figures of the state of Israel and an architect of its politics. This biography focuses on Allon's life up to 1950, his clash with founding father David Ben-Gurion, the end of his military career, and the watershed in culture and character between the Jewish Yishuv and Israeli statehood.

Yet in the end, the promise Allon showed as a brilliant young military commander remained unfulfilled. The great dream of the Palmah generation was largely lost, and Allon's name became associated with the failed policies of the past.The story of Allon's life frames the history of Israel, its relationship with its Arab neighbors, its culture and spirit. This important biography touches on matters--Israel's borders, refugees, military might--that remain very much alive today.

List of AbbreviationsPreface: Last Rites1. Mes'ha: The Beginning2. Kadoorie Agricultural School3. Ginossar4. The Start of Security Work5. British-Jewish "Cooperation"6. The Palmah: Beginnings7. The Palmah, 1943-478. Countdown to Statehood and the Onset of War9. The Ten-Day Campaigns10. Commanding Officer of the Southern Front11. Triumph and TragedyEpilogue: The End of ThingsNotesBibliographyIndexAcknowledgments