The absence of peace : understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict / Nicholas Guyatt.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Why does the Israeli army still occupy the vast majority of the West Bank? Why has the Palestinian standard of living declined dramatically since the beginning of the Oslo peace process? Why do suicide bombers attack Israel's cities? Fifty years after Israel's founding, why is there no peace between Israelis and Palestinians? The Absence of Peace offers an answer to all these questions, combining an analysis of the political events surrounding the Oslo process with an account of life on the ground in the West Bank and Gaza Strip under the 'peace' regime. Nicholas Guyatt explains the historical context of the latest peace efforts, and the motives and interests of the various players, regional and international, who are party to the agreements. This book also plots the disastrous course on which the present peace process is headed, towards a greater Israel, a series of Palestinian reservations and even more violence between the two sides. Most importantly, The Absence of Peace rejects the suggestion that there is no solution to the conflict, and offers practical ideas for a more stable and enduring agreement between Palestinians and Israelis.

Greater Israel -- Zionism and the creation of Israel -- 1967 and its aftermath -- The settlement programme -- Settlements and Israeli public opinion -- The intifada and the road to Oslo -- Oslo -- The Declaration of Principles -- Rabin: Oslo falters -- Netanyahu: Oslo adrift -- Peacemaking and Politics -- Israel: in search of the 'doves' -- The Palestinians and Oslo -- The international community -- Conclusion: 'a negotiation with ourselves' -- Life under Oslo -- The permit system -- Detention and torture -- Land confiscation -- House demolition -- Environmental and economic exploitation -- Living in Gaza -- Jerusalem -- Building Jerusalem -- Town planning -- Quality of life -- Permits and the 'quiet deportation' -- From settlements to suburbs -- Sympathy and symbolism -- The 'permanent status' of Palestine -- Completing the Oslo process -- The 'permanent status' issues -- Palestine after permanent status -- Final solutions -- Alternatives to Oslo -- The two-state solution -- The one-state solution -- Prospects.