Israeli Peacemaking Since 1967: Factors Behind the Breakthroughs and Failures, by Galia Golan. Reviewed by Michael Garver

Authors

Michael E. Garver, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Abstract

This book review analyzes Galia Golan’s recent book Israeli Peacemaking Since 1967: Factors Behind the Breakthroughs and Failures. Using seven (7) conflicts following the 1967 Seven-day War, Golan identifies the actors and processes that were factors that led to progress or failure in the peacemaking relations between Israel, neighboring Arab nations, and international parties. Leadership, security, and interstate negotiation were the three (3) primary factors that were identified as having the greatest impact on Israeli peacemaking process, both positive and negative. The interplay between primary leaders and leaders of opposing factions (spoilers) is traced through the course of the initiation of conflicts and the peace process to illustrate the importance of regime change and public opinion pressure on Israel and parties negotiating with Israel. The legitimate security concerns of Israel were also analyzed and were criticized in light of changes in the relations between different neighboring parties. Golan also covers the complex impact of the variety of actors and interests that have comprised the interstate negotiations that have supported and sabotaged the peacemaking process in the Middle East. Written from the perspective of an Israeli academic and a private citizen, Golan makes compelling arguments that illustrate the conditions under which the peace process has resulted in breakthroughs and the conditions that have resulted in failure.

Author Bio(s)

Michael Garver is a doctoral student at Nova Southeastern University in the Department of Conflict Resolution. Michael has been involved in peace activism for more than thirty (30) years, and has been involved in negotiation, mediation, arbitration, peace education, and conflict resolution in labor organizations, business consulting, prison-based education, and community building. Throughout his academic career, he has researched solutions to conflict in the Middle East in an effort to support peaceful resolution of conflict and successful implementation of sustainable relationships between the various parties in the region.

Keywords

peacemaking, Israel, interstate negotiation, Middle East peace

Publication Date

10-1-2016

DOI

10.46743/1082-7307/2016.1368

Recommended Citation

Garver, Michael E. (2016) "Israeli Peacemaking Since 1967: Factors Behind the Breakthroughs and Failures, by Galia Golan. Reviewed by Michael Garver," Peace and Conflict Studies: Vol. 23: No. 2, Article 6.
DOI: 10.46743/1082-7307/2016.1368
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/pcs/vol23/iss2/6