The author cites the Camp David accords as a foundation for
peace in the Middle East, but later effects would create problems. The Oslo
accords, between Rabin and Arafat, centered heavily around left wing ideals of
Rabin’s labor government, to the ire of Conservatives in Israel. When Likud won
in 1996, Netanyahu didn’t like the deal, and deliberately stalled the process.
But even without Netanyahu stalling the process, it was unravelling on its own.
The author recounts his personal dealings with Netanyahu,
Abbas, and the European advisors, none of whom really had any understanding of
Israeli attitudes. Perhaps the Oslo accords didn’t jive with the existing
attitudes of the Israelis? While this book is one big firsthand account, the
author leaves his opinion to himself, never really making his views clear. I
have to wonder, therefore, if there was ever any real hope for peace in the
Middle East. Could democracy work in Palestine? Can Judeo-Christian ideals work
in a Muslim country? What did Arafat expect to gain by governing a state that
had no farmland to produce food, and had no authority to negotiate deals with
foreign countries? Even if other nations recognized Palestine, the Israelis
controlled the airspace, and could refuse to allow planes to land in Palestine’s
airports.
Perhaps the two-state solution was doomed from the start?
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