Making Peace and Writing about It

In: Bustan: the Middle East book review, Volume 1, Issue 1, p. 21-28

Abstract

Abstract
The Arab-Israeli peace process, a U.S. led diplomatic effort, has been unfolding over nearly four decades. Various American policies, ranging from a step by step approach to securing a comprehensive settlement, reached their peak in the 1990s, with the Clinton administration's sustained efforts to settle the Arab-Israeli dispute. Although these efforts yielded several successful outcomes, including mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestinian national movement and greater Arab-Israeli normalization, they were marred by the continuous Israeli-Palestinian strife and other negative developments. Much of these efforts were promoted by professional experts, working for various branches of the U.S. government. This article surveys several books written by some of these officials, which provide diverse accounts of the unfolding events. The testimonies in these books range from comprehensive surveys to attempts at exploring the reasons for America's failed venture, and offer new insights into the peace process.