In Search of Israeli-Palestinian Peace

Beating Swords into Plowshares: In Search of Israeli-Palestinian Peace by Shai Har-El Type of audience I envision for the book The type of audience I envision for this book is at the same time Academic and Professional, as well as an appeal for the large public of readers. It is well researched and informative and it can be a great help to academics, professors and students, and on the other hand, it will have a wide appeal to the large public as it brings a wide scope and coverage of the field of peace in the Middle East, and a new rational, objective and optimistic view to the solving of the long lasting Israel - Palestinian Conflict that has cost so many lives on both sides and so much destruction. Author Shai Harel is certainly suitably qualified to produce a high quality and original book that will draw and satisfy a wide range of scholarly and professional audience, as well as the large public of readers. In addition, this fine book will certainly have both an interdisciplinary appeal and an international appeal. The significance and quality of the project This book has a great significance as it presents an original contribution to the field of peace research in general, and to the solving of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict in particular. It is deeply researched, informative, objective, well-argued and well-demonstrated. It not only engages with recent scholarship but also takes it forward to where it is most needed, the newly developed area of peace research. The author shows an original and peaceful way how to reach the so long sought for Israeli - Palestinian Peace. One of the major strengths of this proposal is that the research is rigorous and it certainly meets the international standards set by this discipline. By using the Biblical quotation: 'Beating Swords into Ploughshares' for the title of the book, Dr. Shai Har-El brilliantly illustrates that the ways the conflict has been dealt with in the past - 'the use of the Sword' with war after war , has proved that it does not solve the conflict. The Sword - War is not the way. The new, original road the author proposes to adopt is to lay down arms, on both sides, and to turn all materials, amenities and potentials into useful and peaceful instruments (Ploughs) for planting a common field of understanding and harmony, through face to face negotiations, that can pave the way to a Peace Treaty between Israel and Palestine, that will be accepted by both the Palestinian and the Israeli sides, like the peace Treaty between Egypt and Israel, and Jordan and Israel. The fine quality of this coherent and richly informative book enhances the message of hope, and it helps to dissipate the nowadays shadowy waves of despair on all sides, concerning the possibilities of peace between Israel and Palestine. Structure, organization, and presentation of the material The organization and structure of the varied contents of the book help in enhancing the timelessness of the project, and ensuring its shelf-life. The presentation of the rich materials is coherent, well distributed and wisely laid out. The 'Personal Prologue' before the 'Historical Overview', at the beginning of the book creates a bridge of confidence between the author and the reader, who feels from the outset that he is in good and honest hands. The first chapter in Part One, 'Creating a New Paradigm' draws us at the outset into the heart of the main aspects of the message of the book. After accurately describing his 'New Vision of Peace' in the Middle East and between Israelis and Palestinians, Har-El shows us that where there is a vision there is a way that can lead people to flourish on both sides. He discusses the unrealistic attitude that some leaders and people adopt that maybe the conflict will go away by itself, and he clearly demonstrates that it will not, both leaders and people on both sides, have to work very hard on solving this continuous conflict as it will not disappear by itself. A vision that can pave peace is available by using the power of the imagination. His ending in this first chapter of the book by appealing to both the Israelis and Palestinians: "Keep the Hope for Peace Alive!" adds power and significance to the whole structure and organization of book. The Structure and Organization of Part Two of the book, highlights the importance of the searching and finding of creative innovative solutions to the Israeli - Palestinian Conflict. The author brings several examples from the past that can be lessons for the present and the future. Har-El organizes this important chapter in such a way that the important work of Peacebuilding is at the heart of the chapter. He clearly demonstrates that it is a key component of the whole Peace Process. Further down he presents us with: 'A Real Israeli-Palestinian Peace Plan', a workable plan that is conceivable, objective and possible, with a Jerusalem that can become the real City of Peace. The author did well to place the subject of building interreligious confidence between Jews and Muslim in the third chapter, as it is an important underlying issue to this ongoing difficult conflict. He shows that it is a matter of education on both sides, the Palestinian and the Israeli, and he calls on both the Jews and the Muslims to practice the legacy of their common Biblical father Abraham - the legacy of 'Thou shallt Not kill!' The concept of ending the book in the fourth chapter with an appeal to the reader to himself becoming a 'Peace Ambassador' and to join the Middle East Network which he has founded and directs, gives a practical outcome to the book. The Epilogue that follows is well written and effective, and it aptly closes the organization and structure of this brave and so timely book. I highly recommend the publication of this original and important book. I would be willing to provide an endorsement of the final manuscript that could be used to publicize the book.