This is a tough-minded (and bound to be controversial) assessment of the prospects for peace in the Middle East by the former US President, who has been deeply involved in the region's politics both as President and throughout the years, including the Palestinian election of January 2006.
This book is a brief assessment of past history and the existing issues that must be resolved before a peace agreement can be reached. Carter interweaves his experiences and involvement in the long process.
Intro: Why the Middle East issue is important; and the need for Wester readers to understand.
1. Brief History
2. Wars of 1948, 1967, 1973; the evolving role of the UN and US administrations.
3. Personal involvement in Israel, beginning in 1972 and extending through the Camp David Accords and treaty between Israel and Egypt. Carter incorporates the basic differences among and between Israelis, Palestinian factions, the neighbouring countries, the Saudis, and Europeans, and the role of AIPAC and other ex-patriot Jewish groups.
4. Israel's invasion of Lebanon, 1993 Oslo Accord, to assassination of Rabin.
5. Election of Arafat as president, plus members of the Palestinian Authority in 1996
6. Subsequent peace attempts, the Clinton, Barak, Arafat debacle at Camp David.
7. Semi-private investigations that lead to the Geneva Accord.
8. Why the basic tenets of the Geneva Accord are the only feasible basis for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.
9. The impact of Gaza withdrawal, election of Abbas, victory of Hamas, up to the present as far as possible.
