Customer Reviews

The Path to Geneva: The Quest for a Permanent Agreement, 1996-2004

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I bought this book because Yossi Beilin is a long time peace warrior. He has been in the middle of some of the most important negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians, and is the architect of the first comprehensive peace agreement between these two peoples. His story is as compelling as his accomplishments, and the reason I bought this book is to here this man's story. I wanted to hear his story about his experiences in the negotiating rooms, and more importantly I wanted to hear his side of the Geneva Accords. I wanted to know what it was like trying to hold peace talks during the second Intifada and the premiership of Sharon. I wanted to know what it was like fighting for peace at a time when peace had never seemed so distant, and what it was like pursuing this peace in the wake of an Israeli government more suited for war than peace and very much opposed to his actions.

I wanted the insiders account that only Mr. Beilin could offer, instead what he delivers is nothing more than an analysis of negotiations held by other people. He discusses the Oslo Accords, Camp David and the Taba talks in great detail but not so much as a participant but as an outside observer. The main problem is that hundreds of books have been written analyzing these negotiations by historians, political scientists, participants, ect that this book begs the question of why should anyone read this one. The author doesn't go into any detail of his own experiences but leaves these outside, instead deciding to focus on what other people did. I have read numerous books written by those that did participate in the actual discussions, and I have also read books that analysts that discuss these talks from the outside, and so I found myself unable to figure out a reason to read yet another book that did not give me the unique perspective of the author, instead what I got was his perspective on what the other participants did. I can get this from a hundred other sources.

The author's take on Barak and the Palestinians is not new or particularly inciteful. His take on Camp David provides no insights, and as for Taba any reader would be much better off reading Shlomo Ben-Ami or Gilead Sher. There are just better books that cover these same areas.

The biggest failing is the lack of discussion about the Geneva Accords. I still don't understand why there was no focus on one of his biggest achievements. The book would have redeemed itself with just forty or fifty pages devoted to this topic but it wasn't to be. In the end I can't and don't recommend this book. There are better books out there that cover the same issues in a much more astute way. His is an opinion peace that doesn't have enough weight.

This book is a true insiders guide on how negotiation is done. Even if you aren't particularly interested in the question of settlement, the principles of REAL conflict resolution and negotiation can be applied to CEO's or everyday life. Yosse's determination and commitment to the process demonstrates that the individuals involved in the process are almost as important as the point in question.

This book provides a great insight into the quest for peace between the Israelis and Palestinians. The author is an Israeli government insider having been a member of the Knesset and the cabinet. He was involved in the negotiations for peace. He gives an inspiring view of the moderate Israeli fight to create a permanent solution to the 50 years of war.

This book takes a real view to the end of negotiations and the reality of the second intifada. The author holds out for negotiations to begin again and knows that when they do there is no reason to start the peace process again, but should start with the agreements reached in Taba in 2001. Or the posibility exists that negotiations could be based on the authors own personal negotiations that continued beyond Taba, the Geneva Agreement.

After reading this book, I was happy to see that there are both Israelis and Palestinians who have continued to work on hammering out the differences that were left after the end of official negotiations. It gave me a sense that the possiblity for peace can still be a reality.