Judas (novel)

Judas is the final novel by Israeli author Amos Oz, first published in 2014. The novel's story is set in 1959–1960 Jerusalem and follows the student Shmuel Asch.

Plot
Amos Oz's novel Judas unfolds in 1959–1960 Jerusalem, following Shmuel Ash, a student who becomes entangled in the lives of an elderly man, Gershom Wald, and his housemate, Atalia Abravanel. As the narrative progresses, Oz explores characters and ideas against the backdrop of Israel's history. The plot gradually reveals the dark connection between the characters, shedding light on Shealtiel Abravanel's (Atalia Abravanel's father) views on coexistence. The novel intertwines Shmuel's abandoned thesis on Jesus and Judas, offering a nuanced exploration of betrayal and political complexities.

Awards
Oz was the winner of Germany's International Literature Award for Judas.

Excerpt
"That's what the Jews in Israel think, because they have no notion of the limits of power. The fact is that all the power in the world cannot transform someone who hates you into someone who likes you. It can turn a foe into a slave, but not into a friend. (...) It can't settle anything and it can't solve anything. It can only stave off disaster for a while."