The Other Walls: The Arab-Israeli Peace Process in a Global Perspective - Revised Edition

From the back-cover of THE OTHER WALLS: "Harold H. Saunders...participated in the mediation of five Arab-Israeli agreements at the height of the peace process, 1973-1979. He slew on the Kissinger shuttles and worked with Carter and Vance at Camp David and in negotiating the Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. He served on the National Security Council staff, 1961-1974." As commented upon by Philip Habib, another Middle East negotiator: "A book that is must reading for presidents, kings, prime ministers, their advisers, and all who are interested in the search for peace in the Middle East. It captures the essence of the psychological, political, and diplomatic elements that make up the peace process." Despite what one may think of Mr. Saunders views, these are his remembrances and perceptions. He discusses the peace efforts following the Six Day War (1967); analyses "Why Should a President Care"; talks about the development of a Palestinian `state', how to `approach' the Palestinians; can the 1967 `borders' be re-drawn; the role of the Superpowers; the Camp David agreement, Pres. Carter's efforts; Pres. Reagan's efforts. This isn't a minute-by-minute replay of "who offered what peace-negotiable tidbit when, and how everyone reacted to it." Instead, the author has amalgamated his experiences in offering his comprehensive analysis in suggesting how -- through his "framework" outline -- a `settlement' between these two peoples can be birthed. Reviewing this book a quarter-century after it was written, and as no `peace treaty' has been developed between Israel and `Palestine', it appears that the Palestinians still cannot support the author's contention that "a Jewish state [s]hould be created" - at least not one that fails to allow for the return of displaced Palestinian `refugees' back into Israel.