In 1970, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hijacked four airliners. One was taken to Cairo and blown up only seconds after its passengers escaped. Two other planes, one TWA and one Swissair, were directed to the desert floor in Jordan, where a 25 day hostage drama began. David Raab was on the TWA flight. This is his story.
'A unique book. Raab offers both a first-person account and a historical analysis of what might have been the single most politically significant terrorist event prior to September 11. The 1970 hijackings changed the course of Middle East history. There has never before been such a gripping and thoughtful recounting by the victim of a terrorist attack.' - Barry Rubin, co-author of Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography, co-editor of Anti-American Terrorism and the Middle East, and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs
'A riveting account - part personal memoir, part first-class diplomatic history - of one of the seminal events of the modern Middle East. For scholars and students of the region, as well as for journalists and policy-makers, this is an essential work.' - Michael Oren, author of Six Days of War and Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present.
This book is replete with testimonials, interviews, and recently available archived materials researched in Washington, D.C., London, Jerusalem, and Jordan. It reveals for the first time a number of little known facts surrounding the hijackings, as well as the Soviet role in the subsequent Syrian invasion of Jordan, and Jordanian and Israeli cooperation that contributed to Jordan's success in the outcome of the war. I personally participated in many events along with the leadership of Jordan and former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, at the time Ambassador to the U.S. I was also in touch with the author's father during his son's captivity. This work is enthusiastically recommended to all who share an interest in the Middle East and some of the origins of today's current encounter with global terrorism. - General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., former Secretary of State
'Raab does a riveting job of recounting his harrowing weeks as a hostage when his plane and three others were simultaneously hijacked in 1970.' - Henry Kissinger
'Raab not only retells his three-week ordeal, he chronicles in detail the political backstory: the growth of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which challenged the authority of Jordan's King Hussein.' - Susan Adler, Hadassah Magazine
Aboard A Plane In The Jordanian Desert
We Are All Fedayeen - Summer 1970
This Is Your New Captain Speaking - Sunday, September 6
Am I Leaving One Orphan Or Two?" - Monday, September 7
We May Have To Face A Tragedy" - Tuesday, September 8
Misery Loves Company - Wednesday, September 9
They Forced Me Into The Grave - Thursday, September 10
Chaos, Confusion, And Fantastic Tension - Friday, September 11
Explosions In The Desert - Saturday, September 12
My Family Is Freed - Sunday, September 13
Negotiations At A Standstill - Monday, September 14
I Just Want To Be Near My Daughter - Tuesday, September 15
The Eve Of War - Wednesday, September 16
A Little Excitement - Thursday, September 17
An Extremely Close Call - Friday, September 18
Hussein's Momentary Edge - Saturday, September 19
Our Fate In The Balance - Sunday, September 20
A Desperate Situation - Monday, September 21
The US And Israel Poised To Intervene - Tuesday, September 22
Switzerland And Germany Cave - Wednesday, September 23
What About The Hostages? - Thursday, September 24
European Hostages Rescued - Friday, September 25
Our Perilous Walk To Freedom - Saturday, September 26
Six Missing Hostages - Sunday, September 27
Nixon And Home - Monday, September 28
Last Six Freed At Last - Tuesday, September 29
European Capitulation And Culmination - Wednesday, September 30
DAVID RAAB is CEO of Raab & Co., a management consulting firm. He holds an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. from the Weizmann Institute (Israel), and a B.A. from Bar Ilan University (Israel). He has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Yeshiva University. Mr. Raab is actively engaged in Israel and Middle East affairs and has published several articles. He is married and divides his time between Teaneck, New Jersey, and Raanana, Israel.
Description
In 1970, the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine hijacked four airliners. One was taken to Cairo and blown up only seconds after its passengers escaped. Two other planes, one TWA and one Swissair, were directed to the desert floor in Jordan, where a 25 day hostage drama began. David Raab was on the TWA flight. This is his story.
Reviews
'A unique book. Raab offers both a first-person account and a historical analysis of what might have been the single most politically significant terrorist event prior to September 11. The 1970 hijackings changed the course of Middle East history. There has never before been such a gripping and thoughtful recounting by the victim of a terrorist attack.' - Barry Rubin, co-author of Yasir Arafat: A Political Biography, co-editor of Anti-American Terrorism and the Middle East, and editor of the Middle East Review of International Affairs
'A riveting account - part personal memoir, part first-class diplomatic history - of one of the seminal events of the modern Middle East. For scholars and students of the region, as well as for journalists and policy-makers, this is an essential work.' - Michael Oren, author of Six Days of War and Power, Faith, and Fantasy: America in the Middle East, 1776 to the Present.
This book is replete with testimonials, interviews, and recently available archived materials researched in Washington, D.C., London, Jerusalem, and Jordan. It reveals for the first time a number of little known facts surrounding the hijackings, as well as the Soviet role in the subsequent Syrian invasion of Jordan, and Jordanian and Israeli cooperation that contributed to Jordan's success in the outcome of the war. I personally participated in many events along with the leadership of Jordan and former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, at the time Ambassador to the U.S. I was also in touch with the author's father during his son's captivity. This work is enthusiastically recommended to all who share an interest in the Middle East and some of the origins of today's current encounter with global terrorism. - General Alexander M. Haig, Jr., former Secretary of State
'Raab does a riveting job of recounting his harrowing weeks as a hostage when his plane and three others were simultaneously hijacked in 1970.' - Henry Kissinger
'Raab not only retells his three-week ordeal, he chronicles in detail the political backstory: the growth of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, which challenged the authority of Jordan's King Hussein.' - Susan Adler, Hadassah Magazine
Contents
Aboard A Plane In The Jordanian Desert
We Are All Fedayeen - Summer 1970
This Is Your New Captain Speaking - Sunday, September 6
Am I Leaving One Orphan Or Two?" - Monday, September 7
We May Have To Face A Tragedy" - Tuesday, September 8
Misery Loves Company - Wednesday, September 9
They Forced Me Into The Grave - Thursday, September 10
Chaos, Confusion, And Fantastic Tension - Friday, September 11
Explosions In The Desert - Saturday, September 12
My Family Is Freed - Sunday, September 13
Negotiations At A Standstill - Monday, September 14
I Just Want To Be Near My Daughter - Tuesday, September 15
The Eve Of War - Wednesday, September 16
A Little Excitement - Thursday, September 17
An Extremely Close Call - Friday, September 18
Hussein's Momentary Edge - Saturday, September 19
Our Fate In The Balance - Sunday, September 20
A Desperate Situation - Monday, September 21
The US And Israel Poised To Intervene - Tuesday, September 22
Switzerland And Germany Cave - Wednesday, September 23
What About The Hostages? - Thursday, September 24
European Hostages Rescued - Friday, September 25
Our Perilous Walk To Freedom - Saturday, September 26
Six Missing Hostages - Sunday, September 27
Nixon And Home - Monday, September 28
Last Six Freed At Last - Tuesday, September 29
European Capitulation And Culmination - Wednesday, September 30
Authors
DAVID RAAB is CEO of Raab & Co., a management consulting firm. He holds an M.S. from the University of Pennsylvania, an M.S. from the Weizmann Institute (Israel), and a B.A. from Bar Ilan University (Israel). He has taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Yeshiva University. Mr. Raab is actively engaged in Israel and Middle East affairs and has published several articles. He is married and divides his time between Teaneck, New Jersey, and Raanana, Israel.
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