the israeli-palestinian peace process: a personal insider’s account

This book describes the evolution of the Israeli-Palestinian peace-seeking process from 1967 to the present. Written from the perspective of Israel’s most prominent peace activist, it offers an unparalleled insider’s account of a crucial set of negotiations intended to settle a seemingly endless conflict. Hirschfeld’s historical narrative provides a wealth of knowledge and experience that is indispensable to anyone seeking to seriously approach the Middle East conflict. The book’s thorough analysis of the successes and failures of all peace efforts since the Six-Day War represents an essential asset for future negotiators, politicians, diplomats and peace activists alike. Moreover, the book shares pearls of human wisdom that anyone searching to resolve conflicts in general should take to heart. The book is of burning topicality. Not only with a view to the normalisation process between Israel and Arab countries that began with the recent Abraham Accords (2020) but also regarding the new ＂age of war＂ in Europe, sparked by Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

Yair Hirschfeld has since 1979 been involved in promoting the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. He led the non-official Israeli team in Norway and became then a member of the official Israeli negotiating team leading to the conclusion of the Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles of September 1993. In backchannel and track-two negotiations Hirschfeld developed peace-building concepts in coordination with all Israeli governments.