The Palestinians - In Search of a Just Peace
by Cheryl A. Rubenberg

After living for more than three decades under occupation by Israel—and ten years after the Oslo Accords were heralded as the first step toward the resolution of a century of conflict—the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza struggle daily with conditions of severe economic, social, and psychological deprivation. What explains the dismal failure of the post-Oslo peace process? What propels the prolonged and devastating upheaval known as the al-Aqsa intifada? Cheryl Rubenberg's forceful, penetrating critique of the Oslo Accords and their aftermath points to the starkly contrasting objectives of Israel and the Palestinians.

Rubenberg conveys how Israeli policies have eroded Palestinian commitment to a peace process, how U.S intervention has affected the region, and how pervasive corruption within the Palestinian government has played a role. Her somber conclusion supports the contention that peace in the region, while hoped for by many, depends enirely on unlikely shifts in policy and objectives on all sides, which leaves the Palestinians further from realizing thier aspirations for self-determination than at any time since 1967.

About the Author
Cheryl A. Rubenberg, an independent analyst and former associate professor of political science at Florida International University, has written on U.S. policy and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for more than twenty-five years. Her previous publications include Palestinian Women: Patriarchy and Resistance in the West Bank.

Contents
- The Past as Prologue.
- Accords and Agreements: Whither Peace?
- Life in the Occupied Territories.
- Hebron: Cauldron of Hate.
- Jerusalem: City of Light, City of Darkness.
- The Palestinian Authority: Politics, Corruption, and Repression.
- Fateful Triangle: The Palestinians, Israel, and the United States.
- The al-Aqsa Intifada: Despair Manifest.
- A Future for the Palestinians?

Reviews
"This is the best book to date in English on why Oslo failed."
—Glenn E. Robinson, Middle East Journal

"A ground breaking work of meticulous research and perceptive insight that will render it a classic and required reading."
—Naseer H. Aruri, University of Masschusetts

"Anyone who wants to understand why the peace process in Israel and Palestine has gone astray—and where it ought to go—should refer to this book as an essential guide."
—Ilan Pappe, Haifa University

"Based on impeccable research, The Palestinians is a major contribution to our understanding of the current situation in the Israeli-held Occupied Territories."
—Janice J. Terry, Eastern Michigan University

"The Palestinians will become a classic account of the post-Oslo process. Rubenberg builds on uniquely solid foundations to construct an informative (and even passionate) narrative that will be valued by scholars, students, and lay readers alike."
—As'ad AbuKhalil, California State University

"An excellent job of analyzing the post-Oslo Palestinian predicament with the context of recent historical developments. Highly recommended."
—Choice

"A superb history of the post-Oslo developments in Palestinian-Israeli relations. An excellent source for all academic and public libraries."
—Library Journal