In the summer of 2000, the most decorated soldier in Israel's history - Ehud Barak - set himself a challenge as daunting as any he had faced on the battlefield: to secure a final peace with the Palestinians. He would propose two states for two peoples, with a shared capital in Jerusalem. He knew the risks of failure. But he also knew the risks of not trying: letting slip perhaps the last chance for a generation to secure genuine peace. It was a moment of truth. It was one of many in a life intertwined, from the start, with that of Israel. Born on a kibbutz, Barak became commander of Israel's elite special forces, then Chief of Staff of the Israeli army, and ultimately, Prime Minister. Israel's history is his history.

My Country, My Life tells the unvarnished story of his - and his country's - first seven decades, of its major successes, but also its setbacks and misjudgements. He offers vivid insights into the major military operations in which he took part, from the mission to free the hostages of the hijacked Sabena Flight 571 to Operation Bayonet, which led to the breaking up of the Palestinian terrorist cell, Black September and the raid on Entebbe, of which he was a key architect. Here, too, are candid assessments of his fellow Israeli politicians, of the American administrations with which he has worked, and of himself. Drawing on his experiences as a military and political leader, he sounds a powerful warning: Israel is at a crossroads, threatened by events beyond its borders and by divisions within. The two-state solution is more urgent than ever, not just for the Palestinians, but for the existential interests of Israel itself. Only by rediscovering the twin pillars on which it was built - military strength and moral purpose - can Israel thrive.