MACMILLAN The Challenges of Resolving the Israeli–Palestinian Dispute: An Impossible Peace?

This book explains why the Israeli–Palestinian dispute is so difficult to resolve by showing that it consists of multiple distinct conflicts. Because these tend to be conflated into a single conflict, attempts at peace have not worked. Underpinned by conflict theory, observations of those involved and analyses of polling data, the book argues that peace will not be possible until each of the dispute’s distinct conflicts are managed. Early chapters establish a theoretical framework to explain and define the different conflicts. This framework is then applied to the history of the dispute. The actions and perceptions of Israelis and Palestinians make sense when viewed through this framework. The Oslo peace process is examined in detail to explain how and why each side’s expectations were not met. Ultimately, lessons in ways to build a future viable peace are drawn from the failures of the past. Review “Carlill’s tools of analysis, for anyone who has been dealing with the conflict for as long as I have, come as a very refreshing clarification of things that we always vaguely understood. To be given these definitions in clear and well-organised language is a serious contribution to the discussion.” (Eran Lerman, Vice President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, and former Israeli deputy national security adviser) “Balanced and cogently argued, this important and original book should be read by anyone who wants to better understand the Palestinian–Israeli conflict and why it remains so intractable. Even when I disagree with Bren Carlill, I find his ideas compelling.” (Yossi Klein Halevi, Senior Fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute, and author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor) “Bren Carlill’s proposed “territorial/existential dichotomy” offers an innovative and at times provocative approach to the apparently intractable conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians. By applying that approach to failed negotiations of the past (notably, the Oslo Accords, beginning in 1993), Carlill demonstrates that negotiations involving “existentialist” goals on one or both sides are doomed to failure, and that even negotiated settlements between “territorialists” of good faith may not survive unless the determined efforts of “existentialists” to scuttle their progress are recognized by both sides from the beginning.” (David Mesher, Professor, San José State University, USA) From the Back Cover ‘Balanced and cogently argued, this important and original book should be read by anyone who wants to better understand the Palestinian–Israeli conflict and why it remains so intractable. Even when I disagree with Bren Carlill, I find his ideas compelling.’ ―Yossi Klein Halevi, Senior Fellow, Shalom Hartman Institute, and author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor This book explains why the Israeli–Palestinian dispute is so difficult to resolve by showing that it consists of multiple distinct conflicts. Because these tend to be conflated into a single conflict, attempts at peace have not worked. Underpinned by conflict theory, observations of those involved and analyses of polling data, the book argues that peace will not be possible until each of the dispute’s distinct conflicts are managed. Early chapters establish a theoretical framework to explain and define the different conflicts. This framework is then applied to the history of the dispute. The actions and perceptions of Israelis and Palestinians make sense when viewed through this framework. The Oslo peace process is examined in detail to explain how and why each side’s expectations were not met. Ultimately, lessons in ways to build a future viable peace are drawn from the failures of the past. Bren Carlill has spent over 20 years professionally or academically focused on the Israeli–Palestinian dispute, including living in Israel for several years. He has also worked in Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and T