The Absence of Peace: Understanding the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict / Edition 1

by Nicholas Guyatt

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781856495806
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	06/01/1998
Series:	Absence of Peace Series
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.48(d)

About the Author

Dr Nicholas Guyatt was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Princeton University. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of History at Princeton.
Dr Nicholas Guyatt was educated at Emmanuel College, Cambridge and Princeton University. He is currently a lecturer in the Department of History at Princeton.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Foreword
Maps
1. Greater Israel
2. Oslo
3. Peacemaking and Politics
4. Life under Oslo
5. Jerusalem
6. The 'permenant status' of Palestine
7. Alternatives to Oslo
Index

Editorial Reviews

The peace process in the Middle East has been seriously misunderstood, in my opinion, with very unfortunate human consequences. Nick Guyatt's lucid and well-informed study is a badly needed corrective. I hope that it will be widely read, and will help bring about a redirection that is imperative if ominous prospects are to be averted, and some measure of peace and justice are to be achieved.” —Noam Chomsky

From the Publisher

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

Library Journal

As Israel celebrates its golden anniversary as a modern state, Guyatt (visiting Cambridge historian at Princeton U.) analyzes why--despite its successes as a democratic and economic power--peace with the PLO is still so elusive. Within an historical-political context, he cites the flaws of the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords, and argues that violence will eclipse peace as long as Palestinians are dependent on Israel in an apartheid-like system. The author proposes one-state and two-state alternatives to the Oslo process. Paper edition (unseen), $19.95. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

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