U.S.-PLO Dialogue: Secret Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution [Hardcover]

Mohamed Rabie (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 218 pages
• Publisher: University Press of Florida; First edition (January 20, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813013267
• ISBN-13: 978-0813013268
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,177,603 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars Overexxagerated self-inflation, January 12, 2003

By 

Dustin Stein (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U.S.-PLO Dialogue: Secret Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution (Hardcover)

Rabie's objective of discussing the evolution of the USA-PLO dialogue is much needed. The only problem is that he focuses more on the Israel-USA relationship and the Israel-PLO relationship and relegates the PLO-USA relationship to a tertiary role in this book.

In addition he makes light of the acceptance on the Israeli and USA side to have a dialogue with the PLO. The details of the PLO bureaucracy are spared, and Israel and USA are portrayed as imperialists hindering the peace process. The connections between Palestinian terrorism groups and the PLO are all but ignored; the acceptance of the PLO as representative of the Palestinian cause is seen more as a result of Rabie and William Quandt's efforts than the USA or Israel's acceptance.

The problem with this model is that there is no reason for Israel or America to accept the PLO, yet they do. Rabie makes anything but a convincing argument for why the PLO should be the governing body of the Palestinian people. The US and Israel forced the peace dialogue; they took the initiative, not Rabie, as he would like you to believe. Never is this more evident than at the close of this biased book. The book ends with a near blast; an attempted suicide bombing that undermines the peace process, that America and Israel both condemn and Rabie's "peace" work appears for not. When in reality the attempt undermined the trust that the Israelis and American had given the PLO. Rabie wants the reader to believe his work and trust has been demolished, when what really happened is that a PLO-tied attempted suicide bombing raised more suspicions for the US and Israel once again.

In one of Rabie's rare criticisms of the PLO he predicts its imminent demise. Wrong on yet another account. All in all Rabie makes himself out to be a Palestinian savior and overemphasizes his role in the peace talks and the problems of facing imperialist American and Israel.