The Absence of Peace: Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict - Softcover

Guyatt, Nicholas

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1856495809 ISBN 13: 9781856495806

Publisher: Zed Books, 1998

Synopsis

Why does the Israeli army still occupy the vast majority of the West Bank?

Why has the Palestinian standard of living declined dramatically since the beginning of the Oslo peace process?

Why do suicide bombers attack Israel's cities?

Fifty years after Israel's founding, why is there no peace between Israelis and Palestinians?

The Absence of Peace offers an answer to all these questions, combining an analysis of the political events surrounding the Oslo process with an account of life on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza Strip under the 'peace' regime. Nicholas Guyatt explains the historical context of the latest peace efforts and the motives and interests of the various players, regional and international, who are party to the agreements. This book also plots the disastrous course on which the present peace process is headed, towards a greater Israel, a series of Palestinian reservations and even more violence between the two sides. Most importantly, The Absence of Peace rejects the suggestions that there is no solution to the conflict, and offers practical ideas for a more stable and enduring agreement between Palestinians and Israelis.

About this title

About the Author

Nicholas Guyatt is assistant professor of history at Simon Fraser University in Canada.

Reviews

Guyatt, a Cambridge historian and visiting scholar at Princeton University, has conducted some solid research on the current Middle East peace process and concludes that the Oslo Agreement is a failure, primarily because of Israeli intransigence and public policy. The background provided is a rather stilted version of the history of Palestine, which, according to the author, was wrenched from its rightful native inhabitants by Zionist interlopers. Expropriation of Palestinians' land led to the development of the violent trappings of Palestinian extremism and anti-Israeli outbursts. The Oslo Agreement, the author concludes, was doomed from the start and never really had a chance to succeed because Israel had no intention of honoring it. Palestinian self-determination and independence can only be achieved when the remnants of Israel occupation are totally eliminated. While his approach is not particularly balanced, Guyatt spells out his perspective in clear terms and provides the reader with an articulate understanding of the Palestinian position. Recommended for large collections.?Sanford R. Silverburg, Catawba Coll., Salisbury, NC
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Zed Books
• Publication date: 1998
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1856495809
• ISBN 13: 9781856495806
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 224