Russia and the Arabs: Behind the Scenes in the Middle East from the Cold War to the Present - Hardcover

Madeleine K. Albright, U.S. Secretary of State, 1997-2001 "Russia and the Arabs is a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at high stakes diplomacy in the Middle East. Primakov is an excellent story-teller who, over the course of three decades, engaged personally with every major leader in the region. Primakov's compelling account will be greeted with pleasure by some and heartburn by others, but no serious student of the era can disregard his point of view." General Brent Scowcroft, former United States National Security Advisor and author of America and the World "A fascinating and provocative analysis of developments in the Middle East as seen through the eyes of a very close observer, first as a Soviet journalist and later as a high Soviet official. One does not have to agree with every aspect of Yevgeny Primakov's reflections to find great value in his interpretation of this critical period in the evolution of the Middle East. A rewarding read." Dimitri K. Simes, President of The Nixon Center "Russia and the Arabs reads like a spy thriller, yet it is a profound study of Russia's involvement in the Middle East based on unique first-hand experience and serious analysis. No serious student of the region will be able to ignore it. This is essential reading." Middle East International Magazine "[Yevgeny Primakov's] book is replete with startling revelations and original insights." Political Affairs "Yevgeny Primakov has performed a useful service in recounting these drama-filled episodes."

Part memoir, part history, Russia and the Arabs reveals the past half-century in the Middle East from a viewpoint seldom seen by Westerners. Yevgeny Primakov, formerly the head of the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service, Foreign Minister, and Prime Minister of Russia, exposes how key political events unfolded through the personal interactions and rivalries among notable leaders from Yasser Arafat and Yitzhak Rabin to Anwar Sadat and Saddam Hussein, whom he knew personally. He shows how the 1967 and 1973 Arab-Israeli wars developed, exposes Russia's previously unknown role in the 1991 Gulf War, and assesses Russia's Middle East policies alongside those of other foreign players, including the United States. The author's first-hand accounts of behind-the-scenes encounters and his insights into what really drove the region's key events make Russia and the Arabs an essential read for everyone interested in world affairs.