As Israelis and Palestinians negotiate separation and division of their land, Meron Benvenisti, former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem, maintains that any expectations for "peaceful partition" are doomed. In his brave and controversial new book, he raises the possibility of a confederation of Israel/Palestine, the only solution that he feels will bring lasting peace.
The book tells the story of the clandestine contacts between the Israelis and the PLO which culminated in the crucial talks in Oslo. Mahmoud Abbas, who wielded great influence from behind the scenes, also explains how the negotiating team (led by Abu Ala) and their Israeli counterparts overcame their mutual suspicion and how, despite various setbacks, they used the freedom afforded by secrecy f…