Heroic Diplomacy: Sadat, Kissinger, Carter, Begin and the Quest for Arab-Israeli Peace

by Kenneth W. Stein

Overview

From the prelude of the October 1973 Middle East war through the signing of the Egyptian-Israeli Peace Treaty in March 1979, Kenneth W. Stein grippingly traces American involvement in the Arab-Israeli negotiations. He provides an extraordinary range of first-hand accounts, recollections and anecdotes from over eighty bureaucrats, diplomats and military leaders who participated in Arab-Israeli peace talks in the 1970's and since. Since the official public record remains unavailable for reasons of national security, these interviews provide unequaled insight into the internal divisions, political intrigue and untold stories of the peace process. Charting the complex and often contradictory goals of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Syria, the US and the USSR, Stein chronicles the evolution of these negotiations and analyzes the key roles of Sadat, Kissinger, Carter, and Begin. An introduction and epilogue place this period in context of Arab-Israeli history since 1948 and the current status of the peace process.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781135962517
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/03/2002
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	352
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Kenneth W. Stein is Director of the Middle East Research Program at Emory University and Professor of Near East History and Political Science. He is the former executive director of The Carter Center where he is now a Middle East Fellow. He has been former President Carter's primary advisor on Middle Eastern affairs since 1983.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1. The Key Players in Arab-Israeli Diplomacy: 1973- 1978 CHAPTER 2. The Arab-Israeli Conflict: 1947-1973 CHAPTER 3. The October 1973 War CHAPTER 4. From War to Diplomacy: The Kilometer 101 Talks CHAPTER 5. The 1973 Geneva Middle East Peace Conference and the Buildup to Sinai I CHAPTER 6. The Syrian-Israeli Agreement, Sinai I and II, and Defining a Comprehensive Peace: 1974-1977 CHAPTER 7. Unintended Consequences: The 1977 Road to Geneva Ends in Jerusalem CHAPTER 8. From Jerusalem to Oslo and Beyond: 1978-1998 Appendix

Editorial Reviews

The Egyptian-Israeli negotiations that eventually led to the Camp David Accords not only resulted in the signing of a peace agreement between Israel and a major Arab state but also permanently changed the political and strategic map of the Middle East. In this highly readable and informative book, Stein, a historian of the Middle East and former director of the Carter Center at Emory University, gives a detailed analysis of crucial events that brought about this sea change in Arab-Israeli relations. Although the book focuses on the period from October 1973 to November 1977, Stein provides background information for a better understanding of the intricacies of the negotiating process. Through interviews with a host of participants in the Arab-Israeli peace talks, he also provides unique insight into the process of peacemaking. Highly recommended for scholars of the contemporary Middle East, journalists, and practitioners of modern diplomacy.--Nader Entessar, Spring Hill Coll., Mobile, AL Copyright 1999 Cahners Business Information.

Library Journal

"Anyone interested in getting a better grasp of the origins of the current Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations should consult this timely and well-informed book... Drawing on a wealth of Arab, Israeli, American, and Soviet sources, including interviews with decisionmakers and key participants in the peace process, Stein has painted the picture on a wide canvas, without losing sight of the small detail. His is probably the best and most comprehensive account of the making of the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty, not least owing to the dispassionate and even-handed treatment of the various participants in the process." — Efraim Karsh, Canadian Journal of History
"By combining rich and diverse sources, Stein has produced a study unusual for its freshness and credibility...a major contribution to the existing literature on the peace process in its crucial, founding stage, and, as such, is essential reading for those interested in understanding the process as it continues to unfold. Middle East Journal ...finely researched study of the Arab-Israeli peace process... Recommended for upper-division undergraduates and above." — Choice, April 2000
"This masterly study offers us diplomatic history at its best. Anyone interested in Arab-Israeli affairs, conflict resolution, and the art of negotiation will find this book essential, enjoyable, and rewarding." — Itamar Rabinovich, author of Waging Peace : Israel and the Arabs at the End of the Century
"Heroic Diplomacy is indeed remarkable. For the first time, a talented historian has written a lively chronicle of the 30-year Arab-Israeli peace process by drawing on all of the involved parties—Arab, Israeli, and American. It contributes greatly toward understanding the complex diplomatic history of the Arab-Israeli conflict." — Samuel W. Lewis, U.S. Ambassador to Israel, 1977-1985
"Stein's well-written, thoroughly researched account of the process that led to the Camp David Accords is the most comprehensive and insightful review of this political era. Heroic Diplomacy contains a host of new information, and is a coherent and compelling story." — Joel Singer, former Legal Advisor of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and drafter of the Oslo Agreements
"A fine study of that period of intense negotiations...Stein's impressive reconstruction of what the many different policymakers thought at the time and how they acted is all the more persuasive (and useful) because he scrupulously cites his sources." — Foreign Affairs
"Stein clearly loves the story, and conveys his enthusiasm through vivid, three-dimensional portraits of the protagonists...it [has] an authenticity and immediacy that many other historical accounts lack." — Middle East Insight
"Stein's study if useful both for capturing valuable oral testimony and for shedding light on the personal and political elements of successful peace negotiations." — Booklist
"In this highly readable and informative book, Stein, a historian of the Middle East and former director of the Carter Center at Emory University, gives a detailed analysis of crucial events that brought about this sea change in Arab-Israeli relations. Although the book focuses on the period from October 1973 to November 1977, Stein provides background information for a better understanding of the intricacies of the negotiating process. Through interviews with a host of participants in the Arab-Israeli peace talks, he also provides unique insight into the process of peacemaking. Highly recommended for scholars of the comtemporary Middle East, journalists, and practitioners of modern diplomacy." — Nader Entessar

From the Publisher