The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

This book focuses on the September 2000 confrontation between Israelis and Palestinians, examining the characteristics of a confrontation that developed into a protracted low-intensity conflict. Topics addressed include the strategies adopted by both sides, the reasons for the failure of moderation, and the phenomenon of unilateral disengagement.

"This book represents the state of the art in the application of the concepts of conflict resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It brings together some of the best minds in Israeli academia in a systematic assault on the key quandaries posed by the collapse of the peace process and the intensified violence of recent years. Unlike most such anthologies, it integrates the contributions of leading analysts, representing diverse approaches and disciplines, in a well-structured and mutually reinforcing framework, making this work extremely valuable in both academic and policy-making contexts. Of particular interest is the convincing delineation of the transition from conflict resolution to conflict management as the overarching theme of the enterprise. In short, this is cutting-edge research that is indispensable to anyone with a strong interest in the problematic current state of Israeli-Palestinian relations - and in the prospects, nevertheless, for future amelioration."

- Alan Dowty, Professor Emeritus, University of Notre Dame, and President of the Association for Israel Studies'Professor Yaacov Bar-Siman-Tov has assembled an outstanding panel of experts at the Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies (JIIS) to chronicle and interpret a sad and disappointing turn in policy and attitudes on the Israel-Palestinian conflict. This landmark study describes and analyzes how hopes for 'conflict resolution' that pervaded the 'Oslo era' from 1993 to 2000 shifted tosettling for 'conflict management' after Camp David 2 failed and the Al-Aksa Intifada began. Focusing on the years 2000-2004, the study team clearly documents how the spirit of negotiation and hopes for peace turned to violence, renewed occupation, and unilateralism.'

- Professor Russell A. Stone, Director, Center for Israel Studies, and Chair, Department of Sociology, American University, Washington DC

YAACOV BAR-SIMAN-TOV is Giancarlo Elia Valori Professor of International Relations, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.