Description
Book SynopsisThe Peace Process: From Breakthrough to Breakdown brings together Afif Safieh's articles, lectures and interviews from 1981, when he was a staff member in Yasser Arafat's Beirut office, to 2005, at the end of his mission in London, revealing the political and intellectual journey of one of Palestine's most skilled and distinguished diplomats.
Trade Review'[An] intellectually powerful, articulate and eloquent spokesmen. His book makes a vital contribution to our understanding of the cause that he has served with dignity and distinction for over three decades. It deserves the widest possible readership.' Avi Shlaim, Oxford University 'These pages demonstrate Afif's commitment, his deep knowledge of history, his frustrations and his sparkling good humour.' Lord David Steel 'This collection - shines with brilliance and insight. Safieh is that rare combination of scholar, diplomat and humanist. There is much to be learned from reading his work-a compelling and principled call for examination and engagement.' Sara Roy, Harvard University 'A welcome addition to the literature written on the Peace Process. It is formidable in its eloquence, humanity and the description of his hopes for a just peace for all Palestinians.' Judge Eugene Cotran
Table of ContentsContents Introduction by Afif Safieh 9 i. The PLO: The challenge and the response 13 ii. One people too many? 21 111. Dead ends? 34 1v. Palestinian peace diplomacy 52 v. Resurrecting the European working paper 63 vi. Sources of Lebanese-Palestinian tensions 70 vii. Interview with Gene Sharp on Non-violent Struggle 81 viii. Minutes of evidence taken before the Foreign Affairs Committee 107 ix. Superpower politics and the Middle East 147 x. On the Madrid peace process 155 xi. On Jerusalem 164 xii. Those were the days 177 xiii. The role of third parties 184 xiv. Historical or territorial compromise 189 xv. From breakthrough to breakdown? 191 xvi. Out of Jerusalem? 201 xvii. Fifty years on: achievements and challenges 209 xviii. On Sabeel 216 xix. Diplomacy: The art of delaying the inevitable 219 xx. The end of pre-history 230 xxi. The international will and the national whim 235 xxii. Rome and its belligerent Sparta 240 xxiii. Letter to Prime Minister Blair 248 xxiv. On Edward Said 251 xxv. Which way is forward? 254 xxvi. On Yasser Arafat 267 xxvii. Anatomy of a mission: London 1990 - 2005 271
