‘Loewenstein’s account of how the myth of Israel’s “start-up nation” is born out of the state colonisation of Palestine is a riveting and essential read. From drones to Pegasus software, policing techniques to deadly ammunition, this is a persuasive and timely intervention.’
Eyal Weizman, director of Forensic Architecture
‘A welcome addition to the growing body of work on the militarisation of Israel and its incredible hold of the armaments and security global market. Crucial sourcebook and an excellent read!’
Haim Bresheeth-Zabner, author of An Army Like No Other
‘Loewenstein writes a fascinating book, documented and evidence-based, on the lesser-known side of the occupation, one of the few in history where the occupier only benefits and does not pay anything for it. This is a book that paints a portrait of Israel, one of the ten largest arms exporters in the world, which trades in death and suffering and sells them to anyone who wants to buy.’
Gideon Levy, Haaretz
‘I just couldn’t put it down. It’s truly the best book on this topic that I’ve read. The choice of chapters, the amazing work Loewenstein does to get the voices of the people impacted and of researchers to paint a picture of the Israeli arms industry that is more complete and insightful than I’ve seen anywhere else.’
Shir Hever, political economist and author of The Privatisation of Israeli Security
‘[A]n exposé of the policies, weaponry, and technology that the Israeli government has deployed against Palestine and sold around the world — from hacking software to drones and even 3G mapping.’
Judges’ comments from the the 2023 Walkley Book Awards
‘Loewenstein deconstructs the tools of Israel’s military-industrial complex, analysing what he describes as “the architecture of control”, used on Palestinians before being sold around the world to strengthen despots from Guatemala to Myanmar. Loewenstein’s global investigation exposes secret documents and details exclusive interviews that reveal the role Israel plays in spreading instruments of repression.’
Judges’ report from the 2024 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards
‘Antony Loewenstein dissects how and why the Jewish state went all in on arming the world’s autocrats, from Viktor Orbán to Mohammed bin Salman — a dizzying but essential read.’
Sam Russek, The New Republic
‘Loewenstein connects the dots in this compelling, horrifying investigation. The Palestine Laboratory provides crucial context about the Israel-Hamas war, and the reality of life in the occupied Palestinian territories prior to October 7.’
Kate Knibbs, WIRED
‘Loewenstein has brought a book to a gunfight, taking on Israel’s enormous and expanding military-industrial complex and invasive cyber spy operations with the low-tech tool of words on paper …an eye-opening account of a shadowy world … The Palestine Laboratory is an important and powerful book.’
Michael Ruffles, The Sydney Morning Herald
‘Loewenstein’s real purpose is to highlight the fact that despite its claims “to be a noble and unique entity in the world”, Israel routinely supports internationally repressive, even genocidal, regimes through exporting both ideology and, more lucratively though not unrelatedly, a valuable arms and tech industry … The Palestine Laboratory is unmistakably the work of a journalist, offering a data-packed series of case studies that add to the arsenal of Loewenstein’s main contention … Evidently Loewenstein’s strategy in writing this excoriating account of Israel is to hoist it on its own petard: even if you are only willing to listen to Jewish and Israeli voices about the realities of Israel, the evidence is there in their own words.’
Micaela Sahhar, Sydney Review of Books
‘Well-researched ... Loewenstein probes deeper into the psyche of a military-industrial entanglement that has led to the dehumanisation of Palestinians.’
Mehul Srivastava, Financial Times
‘A sharp exposé of how Israel’s suppression of Palestine has translated into lucrative anti-terrorist systems that the Israeli government exports globally … As the author shows, the Israelis have sent weapons and technology to Pinochet’s Chile in the 1970s as well as to disreputable regimes in Burma, Sri Lanka, Rhodesia, and Rwanda, among others. Israel’s vaunted Uzi gun, designed in the late 1940s, has been sold to more than 90 countries since then … An eye-opening delineation of the alarming ramifications of Israel’s status as an “ethnonationalist state”.’
Kirkus Reviews
‘Loewenstein highlights a rarely discussed aspect of Israel's standing in the world, its dominance of the international military, security, and surveillance industries … Citing numerous Israeli and US military and cybersecurity experts, Loewenstein urges a sober re-evaluation.’
Booklist
‘Draws on documents and interviews to show how the weapons, technology, and tactics developed by Israel to subjugate the Arabs living under occupation are being exported across the world — meaning, in effect, that Israel is profiting financially from the pain and suffering of Palestinians.'
The Independent
‘Timely ... Loewenstein provides an impressive and succinct ... historical summary of Israel’s shady track record in foreign policy since its establishment.’
Mairav Zonszein, The World Today
‘An incisive exploration of Israel's sordid ties with autocracies, regimes engaged in mass displacement campaigns and governments needling their way into your phone … Loewenstein’s book stands out as a new addition to the pantheon of important works of political reportage about Israel's role in the world, and what toll — especially for Palestinians — that role may take.’
Patrick O. Strickland, Middle East Eye
‘Loewenstein’s analysis of Israeli arms dealing offers a sobering roll-call of the past half-century’s standout despots and pariah nations … In The Palestine Laboratory, Loewenstein does not merely indict Israel for its failure to live up to the promise of its founding principles and its leading role in the supply, sustainment and normalisation of a border-industrial complex. He also condemns Europe, the US, Australia and the West for their politicisation of fear of the outsider, their receptiveness to divisive demagoguery, and their moral complicity in the immiseration of millions who live under occupation and oppression, and the millions more who roam the Earth in search of safe harbour. Israel may have lost its way, but once-civilised nations seem to be following it into the darkness.’
Kevin Foster, The Conversation
‘An outstanding work of investigative journalism … The book details how Israel built a system for training the police and military of repressive regimes from the US to South Sudan, including the death squads in Argentina, Colombia and Nicaragua … The author provides evidence of the scale of Israel’s supremacy in the field of surveillance, and the threat posed by its support of anti-democratic dictatorships worldwide and the use of such technology for spying against Western democracies.’
Bob Newland, Morning Star
‘Through dedicated reporting and clear analysis, The Palestine Laboratory reveals several unsettling truths about [a] new and more insidious nationalist ideology … What is eye-opening in Loewenstein’s book is how Israeli spycraft operates in tandem with its efforts to court its truculent neighbours, carried out by commercial entities with close ties to the Israeli government … If The Palestine Laboratory accomplishes one thing, it is to show that the Palestinians are the canary in the coal mine of our diminishing freedoms.’
Vanessa Francesca, Meanjin
‘Excellent ... Lowenstein explores the myriad ways that Israel ruthlessly exploits its occupation of Palestine to showcase, and then sell and export, all manner of military hardware, surveillance technology, cyber-warfare technologies and policing techniques.’
Michael Lavalette, Counterfire
‘[A] sharp exposé of how Israel’s suppression of Palestine has translated into lucrative security systems that the Israeli government exports globally … Meticulous … The book is an eye-opening study of the real situation.’
Muhammad Ali Siddiqui, ARY News
‘A convincing and powerful voice.’
Marc Martorell Junyent, New Arab
‘Groundbreaking.’
Progressive International
‘Loewenstein has produced a very effective analysis and critique of Israel’s repressive role in the world today. It should be widely read.’
Andrew Hornung, Jewish Voice for Labour
‘Informative.’
Mike Phillips, Labour Hub
‘A timely read at any given moment … Loewenstein traces the international community’s complicity with Israel in much detail.’
Ramona Wadi, Middle East Monitor
‘Loewenstein’s book offers a harrowing account of Israel’s military-industrial complex and its sinister role in perfecting and exporting oppressive technologies around the world.’
Politics Today
‘A powerful exposé of the centrality of the arms industry in maintaining Israel's economy … The Palestine Laboratory forces readers to interrogate how the global security market relies on the dehumanisation of people of colour — most notably Muslims and/or Arabs.’
Meena Ghani, Global Justice Now
‘A forensic account of Israel’s role in creating and distributing lethal weaponry and surveillance technology … Loewenstein’s book is an important weapon in the struggle against Israel’s occupation of Palestine, and indeed the very existence of Israel as an ethno-nationalist state. It should be read by all those with an interest in the struggle for justice and the debauched dealings of international weapons companies.’
Jasmine Duff, Marxist Left Review
Praise for Pills, Powder, and Smoke:
‘Loewenstein’s book is meticulous and forensic, and also impassioned and urgent. What stands out is the clarity of his thinking and the rigour of his arguments. He has an historian’s grasp of the big picture and a storyteller’s skill for getting us to walk in the other’s shoes. The vast scope of his thinking, travel, and research is evident on every page, as is his clear-headed compassion. This book is vital and I couldn’t put it down.’
Christos Tsiolkas
Praise for Pills, Powder, and Smoke:
‘Antony Loewenstein is an amazing journalist and this is an amazing book. Anyone who cares about the war on drugs — one of the biggest catastrophes in the world — should read this superb book right away.’
Johann Hari, author of Lost Connections and Chasing the Scream
Praise for My Israel Question:
‘It’s a deeply held plea for balance in what has proved to be the most intractable conflict of our time, a breath of fresh, compassionate air in a debate riven by hatred, propaganda, and hypocrisy … My Israel Question is a beacon for progressive thinkers. Its very existence is testament to hope. It deserves a wide readership.’
The Sunday Telegraph
Praise for Disaster Capitalism:
‘Chilling study, based on careful and courageous reporting, and illuminated with perceptive analysis, helps us understand all too well the saying that man is a wolf to man.’
Noam Chomsky
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