ISRAEL DEFENSE FORCES: A People’s Army explores the special relationship between Israeli society and its army. The author has given insights into the enlistment processes, training methods and service conditions of the young men and women who make up the conscript army, and the reservists who share the ongoing security chores. He has used actual events in the IDF’s short but action packed history to illustrate the evolution of its echelons on land, sea and air. The historical narrative covers five wars and is highlighted by an insider’s description of events that captured the world’s imagination: the Entebbe raid, the Cherbourg boats and the development of some of the world’s finest armaments. Throughout, Lt. Col. Williams has retained the flavor of an army that, in the words of the late Yitzhak Rabin “comes forth from the people and returns to the people” – a truly civilian army that has attained an unmatched professionalism and daring.