The Eyes of Abel: my review

The Eyes of Abel: Daniel Jacobs

The beauty of Israel, the warmth coming from the sun as it is about to set and the stillness in the air are the setting for the first scene in this novel. As Roger Charlin and Maya Cohen sit together, discuss their lives, his stories and their feelings about Israel, Palestine and more something will shake the foundation that are sitting on, the horizon and landscape will explode within seconds as bombs fill the sky, hotels and buildings collapse, a boat explodes and the world changes. Thinking about his publication and his expose on Newton Oil, he reflects back on his sources, his initial encounter with Maya Cohen and even more his feelings about Israel/Palestine their conflicts his take on the situation and why he feels it has never been resolved. The Eyes of Abel answers these questions and much more as the author flashes back three months to before this attack happened in Israel, relates another that happens over San Francisco and describes what Charlin did to prove that terrorists like the one who got through in San Francisco can often fool security officers. But, what he learns will hopefully change that for readers and for him.

Deciding to do an expose and bring to light that sometimes airport security is too tight, profiles certain people and singles them out for extra interviews or scrutiny, with the help of some of his colleagues Roger creates a new image for himself as an Arab traveling from America to Israel. What happens during his brief encounter, why the agent realized he was using a fake passport and created a fake identity just lets you know that the agents at El Al Israel are truly always on target. Investigating a secret energy project at Princeton we hear him speaking with his source, getting the information and understand just how creative and in-depth he will go to get a story and in this case the Pulitzer Prize. But, March 26, 2015 would change it all.

Trans Flight 144 goes down and the events spiral out of control as Roger Charlin immerses himself in more than just the story about racial profiling at the airport. Trying to find out more about Maya Cohen leads him to many discussions and negative viewpoints about the state of Israel. With Maya relating her position and Charlin his discussions are heated, well informed and each side is vividly presented. But, Roger is trying to create an article that will break open the fact that EL AL security seems to target those that are Arab or appear to be Arab. Is it politically correct to single out these people, shouldn’t everyone receive the same security clearance and why is he so concerned with Middle-Eastern people at the airport? But, meeting Maya would change it all but just that is she and why is she really here? Within this complex plot there is much more as the Princeton Plasma Lab At Princeton lying dormant for so long seems to have come to life igniting more than just the possibility of a new energy program. Thinks get out of control even though his relationship with Maya heats up as his reporter friend and Ben Lampsky breaks it all wide open in an article that sets events in motion that causes more than just lives that will be lost. Israel comes into the limelight and the light is shines but the truth is clouded. Reporters, Charlin states, are supposed to report the truth and not worry who gets the story out first. Reporters, Ben states, report events as they see them, write the story through their own eyes giving the public what they want them to see and hear. But a video that has been either doctored or whose credibility is in question sparks more negativity about Israel before the scientists at this lab are whisked away and hopefully back home before more lives are lost.

Project Sherwood according to the facts related by author Daniel Jacobs “Was a secret effort in the 1950’s during the Eisenhower administration to produce unlimited energy through fusion.” But, this information, a trip to Princeton and signing on to assist his friend to learn just who in the government funding an energy program that was declassified decades ago, would set in motion catastrophic events to huge proportions. Observing several men walking dogs in the middle of the night might not trigger anything suspicious except in this case the location was near the lab. As the author elaborates about the program, discusses energy production we learn more about what might be driving this program to be restarted and wonder why anyone would unleash it to the press and not protect its security. World energy would change and telling the world about it would do more harm than good. So, why did Charlin agree to find out more about the government and take the bait that since the TransCom 144 incident he has done nothing significant? Within Chapter Four taking place Feb. 5, 2015 we learn about an Israel Medical Team being killed and the details are graphically described on pages 37-39. As his relationship with Maya had intensified he found out information about her that would change their fate. Learning about her real reason for being in America, knowing that she disappeared did not stop him from wanting answers and trying to find her but not before he is interrogated by the Senate Congressional Committee when Lampsky breaks open the story about the Fusion program, the possibility of fusion break through and his hope he would succeed. But,

When asked by his article about racial profiling was never filed readers will be surprised about his response knowing how Charlin feels about Israel and his negative viewpoint. But, things change, perceptions differ and although he still has some misgivings about how Israel handles and responds to attacks he’s becoming more open-minded. On page 91 you can read Lampsky’s expose and article about the Breakthrough at Princeton Labs and hear his words, decide for yourself if he knowing created what happened next and what happens when Charlin explains Maya’s role in being her and how this endangered the scientists involved. Throughout the next two chapters many incidents happen and are vividly described by the author focusing on attacks on Israel soldiers and deciding on whether the reporter really told what happened or what she thinks that happened. Slanted journalism in many cases and incidents ignited by the press added by UTUBE Videos.

When interrogated by the State Senate Committee Charlin realizes just how who set him up, and why. His remarkable comeback and his response will impress readers. Just who in the government is pulling the strings and why when Charlin relates information regarding the killing of federal funding for fusion research did the tone of the hearing change? A news bulletin relating events in Israel, reactions and a world turned against a people just trying to live and survive! Read pages 115-118 to hear the voices of so many, the reporter’s vision or viewpoint of the events and how different sectors of different countries react to the same incident.

Hidden behind the walls of a nondescript building is a projector whose screen will emit slides that would change the course of the world, change Charlin’s perspective about Israel and within the 11 described by the author one that would bring the fusion program and success to life. But, when secrecy is breaches and Israel is in danger, those involved, two eliminated what chance do they have? While he and Maya look sternly on she is formulating what his next move might be. Will Charlin agree to the terms? Will he risk it all to help Israel, the United States, the fusion program and hopefully dismantle a war before it’s too late?

What happens next is explosive and the one person that is the key turns in different directions. Abel’s Lattice: Abel was the second son born to Adam and Eve. Abel was the first shepherd, the first martyr in the Bible and murdered by Cain, his brother. This sacrifice did not please God. Cain, a farmer grew grains and vegetables and Abel was a shepherd tending the family’s herds. Brothers, who never got along, yet loved each other. Adam and Eve had to find a way to atone for their sins. Abel was worried that his sacrifice is special to God and he offered his best lamb. Why did Cain sacrifice Abel? Why did he think God preferred him? Cain sacrificed straw, which caused the difference in God’s response. Instead he asked his brother to walk with him and struck him down to the ground and killed him. As with Israel the countries see her as taking action, favored by the United States, not being punished for their retaliations and favored by many. Cain was only concerned about getting caught and not the consequences of his actions. The ending you might say parallels the fact that we often have to deal and live with our choices and within ourselves the consequences. What happens at the end is quite explosive, thought provoking and proves that we teach children to think before they act, this is what happens when adults should have done the same. The description of the lattice is quite extraordinary; the events of March 26^th will burn within Charlin and Maya’s minds forever, as they will the reader. Decide for yourself who is right and who needs to understand: too many Cains in the world and not enough Abel’s to provide the stability needed to protect everyone. Israel is here to stay she will not give up and In the Eyes of Abel: in the Eyes of the people of Israel: Freedom for everyone and let’s hope someday Peace within the Mid East and the World. This is one powerful novel that will create much discussion, controversy over the material offered and definitely a must read. Charlin and Maya: What’s next?

Fran Lewis: Reviewer

.