George Jonas
Encyclopedia
George Jonas is a Hungarian-born Canadian writer and columnist. He is the author of 15 books. They include Vengeance (1984), the story of an Israeli operation to kill the terrorists responsible for the 1972 Munich massacre
. The book became the basis of two films, Sword of Gideon
(1986) and Munich
(2005).
, the son of Dr. Georg M. Hübsch and Magda Hübsch (née Klug). During the Holocaust
in Hungary in 1944–45, Jonas went into hiding with his family. Despite his interests in literature and education, he dropped out of high school. He emigrated to Canada in 1956.
Jonas was married to Barbara Amiel
from 1974 to 1979, and they remain good friends. A book he co-wrote with Amiel, By Persons Unknown: The Strange Death of Christine Demeter
, won a 1978 Edgar Allan Poe Award
for Best Fact Crime book. Although Jonas is of Jewish descent, his parents and grandparents converted to Christianity
when he was three years old. Jonas writes in his memoirs that Amiel insisted on being married in a synagogue, which was the first time Jonas had been inside one.
. He worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
from 1962 to 1985 as a script editor and producer.
He worked as a columnist for the Toronto Sun
from 1981 to 2001, when he moved to the National Post
where he remains a regular contributor. He has written 15 books, one play, and two operas.
became the basis for two films: TV-film Sword of Gideon
(1986), and feature film Munich
(2005), directed by Steven Spielberg
. Jonas has complained of what he considers pro-Palestinian distortions in Munich. Specifically, Jonas feels that the script writer Tony Kushner
, a Jew who has referred to the formation of Israel
as a "mistake," failed to make a moral distinction between terrorism and legitimate military actions. At the same time, some critics claim that Jonas's source for the book, New York security consultant Juval Aviv, who claimed to be the head of a Mossad
hit team, had fabricated the story. In a lengthy article in Macleans magazine in January 2006, Jonas admits that there is no way of determining whether his source was telling the truth. However, Jonas did attempt to verify many details of the story by visiting the places in Europe where his source claimed to be operating, and at least to that extent he is satisfied with the evidence.
Munich massacre
The Munich massacre is an informal name for events that occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, Bavaria in southern West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage and eventually killed by the Palestinian group Black September. Members of Black September...
. The book became the basis of two films, Sword of Gideon
Sword of Gideon
Sword of Gideon is a 1986 television film about Mossad agents hunting down terrorists associated with the 1972 Munich massacre. It was first shown on the CTV network in Canada as a four hour miniseries and later on the HBO television network. Directed by Michael Anderson and written by Chris...
(1986) and Munich
Munich (film)
Munich is a 2005 historical fiction film about the Israeli government's secret retaliation attacks after the massacre of Israeli athletes by the Black September terrorist group during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The film stars Eric Bana and was produced and directed by Steven Spielberg...
(2005).
Personal life
Jonas was born in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, the son of Dr. Georg M. Hübsch and Magda Hübsch (née Klug). During the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
in Hungary in 1944–45, Jonas went into hiding with his family. Despite his interests in literature and education, he dropped out of high school. He emigrated to Canada in 1956.
Jonas was married to Barbara Amiel
Barbara Amiel
Barbara Joan Estelle Amiel, Baroness Black of Crossharbour is a British-Canadian journalist, writer, and socialite. She is also the wife of former media baron and convicted felon Conrad Black.-Early life:...
from 1974 to 1979, and they remain good friends. A book he co-wrote with Amiel, By Persons Unknown: The Strange Death of Christine Demeter
Christine Demeter
Christine Demeter was murdered on July 18, 1973, in the garage of her home in Mississauga, Ontario at the age of thirty-three. The case attracted much attention in Canada because Demeter, a model, was young and beautiful, and her murder had been mysterious.Her husband, Peter Demeter, was...
, won a 1978 Edgar Allan Poe Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
for Best Fact Crime book. Although Jonas is of Jewish descent, his parents and grandparents converted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
when he was three years old. Jonas writes in his memoirs that Amiel insisted on being married in a synagogue, which was the first time Jonas had been inside one.
Career
Jonas worked as a radio producer in Budapest before escaping after the 1956 Hungarian Revolution1956 Hungarian Revolution
The Hungarian Revolution or Uprising of 1956 was a spontaneous nationwide revolt against the government of the People's Republic of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies, lasting from 23 October until 10 November 1956....
. He worked for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
Canadian Broadcasting Corporation
The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly known as CBC and officially as CBC/Radio-Canada, is a Canadian crown corporation that serves as the national public radio and television broadcaster...
from 1962 to 1985 as a script editor and producer.
He worked as a columnist for the Toronto Sun
Toronto Sun
The Toronto Sun is an English-language daily tabloid newspaper published in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is known for its daily Sunshine Girl feature and for what it sees as a populist conservative editorial stance.-History:...
from 1981 to 2001, when he moved to the National Post
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
where he remains a regular contributor. He has written 15 books, one play, and two operas.
Vengeance
His 1984 book Vengeance, describing the events of Operation Wrath of GodOperation Wrath of God
Operation Wrath of God ,This title was an invention of later writers, and was most likely not used by the Mossad itself. also called Operation Bayonet, was a covert operation directed by Israel and the Mossad to assassinate individuals alleged to have been directly or indirectly involved in the...
became the basis for two films: TV-film Sword of Gideon
Sword of Gideon
Sword of Gideon is a 1986 television film about Mossad agents hunting down terrorists associated with the 1972 Munich massacre. It was first shown on the CTV network in Canada as a four hour miniseries and later on the HBO television network. Directed by Michael Anderson and written by Chris...
(1986), and feature film Munich
Munich (film)
Munich is a 2005 historical fiction film about the Israeli government's secret retaliation attacks after the massacre of Israeli athletes by the Black September terrorist group during the 1972 Summer Olympics. The film stars Eric Bana and was produced and directed by Steven Spielberg...
(2005), directed by Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg
Steven Allan Spielberg KBE is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, video game designer, and studio entrepreneur. In a career of more than four decades, Spielberg's films have covered many themes and genres. Spielberg's early science-fiction and adventure films were seen as an...
. Jonas has complained of what he considers pro-Palestinian distortions in Munich. Specifically, Jonas feels that the script writer Tony Kushner
Tony Kushner
Anthony Robert "Tony" Kushner is an American playwright and screenwriter. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1993 for his play, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes, and co-authored with Eric Roth the screenplay for the 2005 film, Munich.-Life and career:Kushner was born...
, a Jew who has referred to the formation of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
as a "mistake," failed to make a moral distinction between terrorism and legitimate military actions. At the same time, some critics claim that Jonas's source for the book, New York security consultant Juval Aviv, who claimed to be the head of a Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
hit team, had fabricated the story. In a lengthy article in Macleans magazine in January 2006, Jonas admits that there is no way of determining whether his source was telling the truth. However, Jonas did attempt to verify many details of the story by visiting the places in Europe where his source claimed to be operating, and at least to that extent he is satisfied with the evidence.
Work
- The Absolute Smile, 1967.
- The Happy Hungry Man, 1970.
- Cities, 1973.
- By Persons Unknown: The Strange Death of Christine DemeterChristine DemeterChristine Demeter was murdered on July 18, 1973, in the garage of her home in Mississauga, Ontario at the age of thirty-three. The case attracted much attention in Canada because Demeter, a model, was young and beautiful, and her murder had been mysterious.Her husband, Peter Demeter, was...
co-written with Barbara AmielBarbara AmielBarbara Joan Estelle Amiel, Baroness Black of Crossharbour is a British-Canadian journalist, writer, and socialite. She is also the wife of former media baron and convicted felon Conrad Black.-Early life:...
, 1977. - Final Decree, 1981.
- The Scales of Justice: Seven Famous Criminal Cases Recreated, 1983.
- Vengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist TeamVengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist TeamVengeance: The True Story of an Israeli Counter-Terrorist Team is a 1984 book by George Jonas describing part of Operation Wrath of God, the Israeli assassination campaign launched after the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre...
, 1984. - Foreword for "In the Name of the Working Class" written by Sándor Kopácsi,Grove Press, 1986.
- The Scales of Justice: Volume II, 1986.
- Greenspan: The Case for the Defense, 1987.
- Crocodiles in the Bathtub, 1987.
- A Passion Observed: A True Story of a Motorcycle Racer, 1989.
- Politically Incorrect, 1991.
- The East Wind Blows West, 1993.
- Beethoven's Mask: Notes On My Life and Times, Key Porter Books, 2005.
- Reflections on Islam, Key Porter Books, 2007.
External links
- George Jonas’s website
- Jonas by David WarrenDavid WarrenDavid Warren may refer to:* David Warren * Dave Warren * David Warren * David Warren * Dave Warren * David Warren , inventor of the flight data recorder* David H. D...
. - George Jonas at The Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian EncyclopediaThe Canadian Encyclopedia is a source of information on Canada. It is available online, at no cost. The Canadian Encyclopedia is available in both English and French and includes some 14,000 articles in each language on a wide variety of subjects including history, popular culture, events, people,...