While Israel Slept - by Yaakov Katz & Amir Bohbot (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

A powerful indictment of the political and military decisions that led to October 7

While Israel Slept tells the gripping inside story of how Hamas, Israel's weakest enemy, succeeded in launching a surprise attack on one of the world's most powerful militaries. Through a detailed examination of the events leading up to October 7, 2023, the book exposes the intelligence and strategic failures that enabled this devastating invasion. It takes readers back in time, showing how years of complacency, mistaken intelligence analysis, and a misguided policy of containment enabled Hamas to prepare for an assault that Israel did not believe was possible and that would change the Middle East.

The book unveils the dramatic events of the night before the attack, highlighting the cracks in Israel's military and political leadership. It provides unprecedented details on how key warnings were missed, and how Israel ignored the growing threat from Hamas, believing that the group was weak and deterred. By exposing these failures, While Israel Slept offers a stark, sobering account of how overconfidence and complacency paved the way for disaster, while underscoring the critical lessons Israel must embrace to safeguard its future.

Review Quotes

Advance Praise for While Israel Slept

"A shocking, detailed, and gripping investigation of the Israeli catastrophe of Oct. 7, 2023, by two of the country's best journalists. A necessary book for anyone hoping to begin figuring out what happened and how to ensure it doesn't happen again." --Matti Friedman, author of Spies of No Country and Pumpkinflowers

"A clear-eyed post mortem... Not only are the recommendations critical for Israel's security but the warning about the cost of a divided nation is grist for America as well." --Wendy Sherman, former U.S. deputy secretary of state

"How could it happen? While Israel Slept tells the gripping, painful story of what led to Israel's failures on October 7- and what must be done to prevent it from ever happening again." --Elliott Abrams, former U.S. deputy national security adviser and special representative for Iran

"This searing, sobering, eye-opening book is necessary reading for anyone who wants to understand what happened on October 7 and why -- and for everyone who cares about Israel's future."
--Sarah Hurwitz, author of Here All Along, former White House speechwriter

About the Author

Yaakov Katz is the former editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post and a senior fellow at JPPI, a global think tank for the Jewish people. He writes regularly for Newsweek and the Jewish Chronicle, hosts the JPPI weekly podcast and is a frequent guest analyst on CNN and BBC. He is the author of Shadow Strike and the co-author with Amir Bohbot of Weapon Wizards.

Dr. Amir Bohbot is one of Israel's leading military commentators, a lecturer at Ben Gurion University of the Negev, and a senior researcher at Bar Ilan University. He is a sought-after analyst on Israeli TV and radio stations, has worked for Maariv, and since 2011 has served as the military and defense correspondent for Walla.