Between Rabin and Arafat : A Political Diary Behind the Oslo Deal, 1993–1994

This book shares first-hand insights into the implementation of the Oslo Accords between Israel and the Palestinians, written by a high-ranking Israeli military intelligence officer and former foreign policy advisor to Israel’s fifth prime minister, Yitzhak Rabin. It offers a diary of the political events surrounding the Israeli prime minister in 1993–1994, focusing on a key turning point in the Israeli-Arab conflict – those crucial days when Rabin had to choose between promoting a peace process with the Palestinians or trying to strike a deal with the Syrians and waiting for the Jordanians to join. The book sheds new light on Rabin’s attitudes towards the Palestinians, on his meetings with Yasser Arafat, and on what went on behind the scenes of the official diplomatic negotiations.

Readers will learn about the power struggles and ego-driven rivalries between Israeli politicians and high-ranking generals, about the relationship between politicians and the media, and about problems such as the leaking of sensitive information to the press. This book will be of interest not only to scholars, but also and more importantly to policymakers around the world, and to anyone interested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and finding a two-state solution in the region. “A vital and extremely well-written book, not only for the academia, but above all for the decision makers across the globe, West and East, North and South, in fact anyone who talks about a two-state solution in the region". Arno Tausch, Professor of Political Science, Innsbruck University, Austria