By Masroor Ahmad
Livia Rokach (1934–1984) was a woman whose life embodied the complexities of identity, conviction, and the pursuit of truth in a turbulent geopolitical landscape. Born into a prominent Israeli family, she carved a unique path as a journalist, writer, and advocate, navigating the fraught terrain of Israeli-Palestinian relations.
Her work, particularly her book Israel’s Sacred Terrorism: A Study Based on Moshe Sharett’s Personal Diary and Other Documents stirred significant controversy, challenging official narratives and exposing uncomfortable truths about Israel’s early policies. Rokach’s journey—from her roots in Tel Aviv to her self-identification as an Italian writer of Palestinian origin in Rome—reflects a remarkable evolution of identity and purpose. Her life, marked by intellectual courage and personal struggles, ended tragically in 1984, leaving behind a legacy that continues to provoke discussion.
Livia Rokach was born in 1934 in Tel Aviv, then part of British Mandate Palestine, into a family deeply embedded in the Zionist establishment. Her father, Israel Rokach, was a towering figure in Israeli politics, serving as the mayor of Tel Aviv from 1936 to 1953 and later as a minister in the Israeli government.
Her mother, Esther Rokach (née Epstein), provided a nurturing environment for Livia and her sister, Iri Rokach. Growing up in a household at the heart of Israel’s formative years, Livia was exposed to the ideological fervor and political debates that shaped the nascent state. However, her later life suggests that she grappled with the contradictions between the Zionist ideals of her upbringing and the realities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Little is known about Livia’s early years, but her privileged background likely afforded her access to education and opportunities that set the stage for her career in journalism. Her family’s prominence placed her in a unique position to observe the inner workings of Israeli society, yet it was her decision to step outside this framework that defined her legacy.
In the 1950s, Livia married Shmuel Katz, a notable figure in the Revisionist Zionist movement and a close associate of Menachem Begin. The marriage, however, was short-lived, ending in divorce after a brief period. The reasons for their separation remain private, but it marked a turning point in Livia’s life. Following the dissolution of her marriage, she left Israel and relocated to Rome, a move that signaled her desire for independence and a break from the ideological confines of her homeland.
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In Rome, Livia reinvented herself, embracing a cosmopolitan identity. She began identifying as an Italian writer and journalist of Palestinian origin—a bold and provocative statement that reflected her growing empathy for the Palestinian cause. This self-identification was not merely a rejection of her Israeli roots but an assertion of a broader, more inclusive understanding of identity in the context of the Middle East’s complex history. Her choice to align herself with the Palestinian narrative, at a time when such a stance was highly controversial, underscored her commitment to challenging dominant narratives.
Livia Rokach’s career as a journalist took her to the heart of international reporting. In the 1960s, she served as Israel Radio’s correspondent in Rome, a role that allowed her to cover European politics and culture while maintaining ties to Israel. Her work for the Israeli daily Davar further established her as a capable journalist with a keen eye for detail and a nuanced understanding of global affairs. However, her perspective began to shift as she engaged more deeply with the Palestinian question, a subject that was deeply personal and politically charged.
By the 1970s, Livia had taken a significant step by becoming a correspondent for Al Fajr, a Palestinian newspaper. This move was a clear departure from her earlier affiliations with Israeli media and a public declaration of her evolving political stance. Her reporting for Al Fajr focused on the Palestinian experience, offering a platform for voices often marginalized in mainstream discourse. Her work as a journalist was not just about reporting facts but about amplifying perspectives that challenged the status quo.
The pinnacle of Livia Rokach’s intellectual and political contributions came with the publication of Israel’s Sacred Terrorism: A Study Based on Moshe Sharett’s Personal Diary and Other Documents in 1980. The book, published by the Association of Arab American University Graduates (AAUG) in the United States, was a groundbreaking exposé that drew on the personal diaries of Moshe Sharett, Israel’s second prime minister. Rokach translated and analyzed excerpts from Sharett’s diaries, revealing what she argued were deliberate Israeli policies of aggression and provocation toward Arab states in the 1950s.
Sharett’s diaries, written in Hebrew and largely inaccessible to the public at the time, provided a candid look at the internal deliberations of Israel’s leadership. Rokach’s book alleged that Israel’s actions, including covert operations and military provocations, were designed to perpetuate conflict and justify territorial expansion. These claims were explosive, as they contradicted the official Israeli narrative of a state acting solely in self-defense. Rokach’s work suggested a pattern of what she termed “sacred terrorism,” a phrase that encapsulated her critique of Israel’s policies as sanctifying violence for political ends.
The book’s publication sparked outrage in Israel. The Israeli Foreign Ministry threatened legal action to suppress its dissemination, viewing it as a betrayal of national interests. However, as Knesset member Uri Avneri presciently noted, attempting to ban the book would only amplify its reach.
Fearing a Streisand effect, Israel ultimately refrained from pursuing legal action, allowing the book to circulate, albeit in limited circles. Israel’s Sacred Terrorism became a touchstone for critics of Israeli policy, particularly among Arab and leftist intellectual communities, and remains a significant, if controversial, text in the study of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Despite her professional achievements, Livia Rokach’s life was not without personal challenges. Her decision to distance herself from her Israeli roots and embrace a Palestinian identity likely strained relationships with family and former colleagues.
Living in Rome, far from the political epicenter of the Middle East, may have offered her intellectual freedom but also isolated her from the support networks of her youth. The pressures of her controversial work, combined with the emotional toll of navigating a polarized conflict, may have contributed to her struggles.
In 1984, Livia Rokach was found dead in a Rome hotel room at the age of 50. The official account suggests she took her own life, though the circumstances surrounding her death remain a subject of speculation.
Her passing was a tragic end to a life marked by bold choices and a relentless pursuit of truth. For those who admired her, her death was a loss to the cause of justice and dialogue in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For others, it was a somber reminder of the personal costs of taking a stand in a deeply divided world.
Livia Rokach’s life and work continue to resonate, particularly among those who seek to understand the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel’s Sacred Terrorism remains a provocative text, cited by scholars and activists who argue that it exposes the underbelly of statecraft in Israel’s early years. While the book’s claims are contentious and debated, its publication marked a courageous attempt to hold power to account through primary sources—a rarity in political discourse.
Rokach’s decision to identify as an Italian writer of Palestinian origin was a radical act of self-definition, challenging the binary identities imposed by the conflict. Her work as a journalist for both Israeli and Palestinian outlets demonstrated her commitment to bridging divides, even as she faced criticism from both sides. Her life serves as a testament to the power of individual conviction in the face of institutional pressure.
In reflecting on Livia Rokach’s legacy, one is struck by the courage it took to challenge the narratives of her time. Her story is one of a woman who, born into privilege, chose to question the foundations of the society that shaped her. Her work, though controversial, opened a window into the moral and political dilemmas of a region in turmoil. While her life ended in tragedy, her contributions endure as a call to examine history with unflinching honesty.
Livia Rokach’s journey from Tel Aviv to Rome, from the daughter of a Zionist leader to a journalist advocating for Palestinian perspectives, is a story of transformation and bravery. Her book Israel’s Sacred Terrorism remains a polarizing yet significant contribution to the discourse on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Through her writing and reporting, Rokach challenged the powerful and gave voice to the marginalized, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire debate and reflection. Her life, though brief and marked by struggle, reminds us of the power of individuals to reshape narratives and confront uncomfortable truths, even at great personal cost.
