“Pumpkinflowers: A Soldier's Story of a Forgotten War” by Matt Friedman
I started this book yesterday and finished it today. It was compelling, haunting and even mesmerising. It was published in 2016, but I did not learn of its existence until listening to an episode of Econ Talk, a podcast hosted by Russ Roberts. Mr Roberts interviewed Mr Friedman to discuss the current Mideast conflict with an emphasis on Israel’s battle with Hezbollah in Lebanon. The discussion veered into Pumpkinflowers and Mr Roberts effusive praise convinced me to download the book to my Kindle. I strongly recommend the book. I have been focused on the nuances of Israel’s relationships in the region since the Hamas October 7 attack and Pumpkinflowers provides a unique and important perspective.
Pumpkinflowers is a personal memoir of Mr Friedman's military service with the Israeli Defence Forces in the Lebanon security zone in the late 90’s. There is an analytical and political component to the book as well. Mr Friedman was a reluctant member of the Israeli Pioneer Youth brigade and was assigned to an isolated temporary Israeli outpost and fortress in southern Lebanon affectionately called Pumpkinflowers. Flowers means “casualties” in Israeli military speak and all the outposts on Lebanon were named after spices or vegetables- eg Basil and Red Pepper. The purpose of the outposts was to create a protected buffer zone between Hezbollah bases in Lebanon and Israeli villages in northern Israel. They were tiny- about the size of two basketball courts and were manned with about 50 Israeli soldiers- all 18 to 21 year old Israeli male draftees. Inexperienced civilians from all walks of life fulfilling their military service requirement under Israeli law. The book vividly details the nature of their service and sacrifice.
Why did Israel have a military presence in Lebanon, a foreign country in the 90’s? Long story. Israel had been battling the PLO since the late 1960’s and by 1982 the PLO had set up bases in southern Lebanon which they used to launch regular attacks against Israel. The Lebanese government and army had very little control over their own territory- a reality which continues to this very day. Israel decided to remove the PLO threat and initiated an operation into Lebanon. As always, they were militarily successful. They routed the PLO, drove them back to Beirut and ultimately to Tunisia. Their original plan to withdraw was re-evaluated when a new threat emerged in the aftermath of the PLO debacle- the creation of Hezbollah, a Shia sect organisation supported, trained and funded by Iran. They were also dedicated to the destruction of Israel and made clear they would take the struggle to Israel itself. Israel’s strategy was to guard the passes into Israel by occupying southern Lebanon. The 1982 quick hit operation became an 18 year occupation. Mr Friedman argues it forecast the American experience in Afghanistan and Iraq. Quick victories that became “forever wars.” Pumpkinflowers was component of Israel’s strategic plan against Hezbollah.
The core strength of the book is Mr Friedman’s brilliant descriptions of how a bunch of conscripts became a “Band of Brothers.” The importance of military service by young men is central to Israel’s identity. With the exception of Orthodox Jews who are exempt for religious reasons (very controversial today) and Arab citizens who may opt out, all Israeli boys 18 years of age become eligible for service, defer their education, leave their families and their jobs and serve for a minimum of two years on active duty. Like all military draftees, they go where ordered and do what they are told. Friedman highlights the disparate backgrounds, values and identities of his service mates. Friedman had actually been raised in Canada before his parents moved the family to northern Israel. He effectively captures the rhythms of daily life in a combat zone- long periods of boredom, watching and anticipation punctuated by spectacular, frightful and gruesome violence. Inexperienced soldiers survive by protecting one another and letting adrenaline push them forward. The Israelis were effective at defending northern Israel, but experienced a steady stream of casualties and several highly publicised disasters including a helicopter collision which killed 73 Israeli soldiers. Eventually, public support began to wane- led by a group of mothers called the “Four Mothers.” Israel finally withdrew in 2000.
Friedman’s writing is lyrical and graceful, but also unsettling. He is matter of fact in describing how members of his unit- his buddies- were alive one day and dead the next after being picked off by a sniper or hit by an artillery shell or shrapnel. Unexpected death was part of the gig. The random nature of whether you survive or not is a major theme and the pathos and insanity of war and how it impacts the ordinary soldier is damn good. One of his compelling characters is Avi- a difficult guy who liked to read and had decided he was moving to Ireland after his war tour ended. Great potential, but boom- dead in the helicopter crash. A potentially great poet gone. I compare Pumpkinflowers to the great Vietnam combat memoirs- Dispatches by Michael Herr, A Rumor of War by Philip Caputo and The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien. Lives changed permanently by war, combat, death and bad luck.
The political atmosphere in the Israel of the mid to late 90’s provides texture to the book. It was actually a time of optimism. Reasonable people thought things could be resolved by negotiation, compromise and land swaps. The Oslo accords confirmed the PLO’s recognition of Israel in exchange for Israel agreeing to give up political control to the Palestinians in certain sections of the West Bank. The plan was for a two state with a Palestinian entity in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem. The Israeli withdrawals from Lebanon in 2000 and Gaza in 2002 was part of the same fabric. The illusion of eventual progress and agreements was shattered when the PLO rejected the Israeli proposals at Camp David in 2000- which was followed by the second Intifada characterised by suicide bombings of Israeli civilian locations. Hezbollah stepped up its attacks, moved up to Israel’s border after the 2000 withdrawal and began receiving upgraded military equipment, including rockets from Iran. Hamas took control in Gaza and pledged an eternal fight against against Israel’s existence. The optimists in Israel fell by the wayside and the realists, led by Netanyahu basically gained political control over Israel for the next 25 years. We inevitably arrive at October 7, 2023, the destruction of Hamas and Gaza infrastructure and the amazingly successful military operations by Israel in 2024 against Hezbollah and Iran. A new world is being created - just not the one people forecast in the 90’s. Friedman’s book is silent on some of the big picture issues. However, it is a reminder that ordinary people bear the brunt of these conflicts.
A surprise journey supplies the sublime ending to Pumpkinflowers. Friedman and his service mates had always joked they would return to Lebanon after the war ended. They would come as tourists and they all agreed Lebanon was beautiful. A soldier studying engineering dreamed of reopening the train line between Haifa in Israel and Beirut in Lebanon. Alas, that seems to be a pipe dream BUT, Mr Friedman did visit Lebanon as tourist in 2012. He used his Canadian passport and visited Beirut, the key historical sites and ultimately his old outpost - a degraded and abandoned Pumpkinflowers. Moving memories. He developed relationships with Lebanese civilians and Arab tourists along the way. He enjoyed most of those encounters but ruefully admitted that any comment about Israelis or Jews was uttered with hatred and bitterness. Another confirmation of the cultural chasm between very similar people in his view. He also observed the political hold Hezbollah had in every area he visited- not loved necessarily but feared and in control of the messaging about Israel. It will be important to observe whether Hezbollah retains its authority after its recent series of cataclysmic defeats.
Read this book!
