The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab WorldAs it Celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, the State of Israel could count many important successes, but its conflict with the Palestinians and the Arab world at large casts a long shadow over its history. What was promulgated as an "iron-wall" strategy -- dealing with the Arabs from a position of unassailable strength -- was meant to yield to a further stage where Israel would be strong enough to negotiate a satisfactory peace with its neighbors. The goal remains elusive. In this penetrating studv. Avi Shlaim examines how variations of the iron-wall philosophy have guided Israel's leaders; he finds that, white the strategy has been successful, opportunities have been lost to progress from military security to broader peace. The Iron Wall brilliantly illuminates past progress and future prospects for peace in the Middle East. |
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Abba Eban Abdullah agreed Allon American Arab world Arab-Israeli conflict Arafat armistice agreement arms army attack Aviv Begin Beirut Ben-Gurion border British cabinet Cairo cease-fire chief of staff conference decision defense diary diplomatic Egypt Egyptian election Eshkol forces foreign minister foreign policy Gaza Strip Golan Heights Golda Meir Gurion Hebrew Ibid intifada Iraq Iraqi iron wall Israel's security Israeli Israeli withdrawal Jabotinsky Jerusalem Jewish Jews Jordan Jordanian June King Hussein Knesset Land of Israel Lavon leaders Lebanese Lebanon Likud London majority Mapai meeting ment Middle East military Moshe Dayan Nasser negotiations Netanyahu nuclear occupied territories official operation Oslo Palestine Palestinian party peace process peace treaty political position President prime minister problem proposal refugees relations Resolution 242 Sadat settlement Shamir Sharett Sharon Shimon Peres Sinai Soviet strategy Syria talks tion United wanted West Bank Yitzhak Rabin Yitzhak Shamir Zionist
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Page 7 - His Majesty's government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people and will use their best endeavours to facilitate the achievement of this object, it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine, or the rights and political status enjoyed by Jews in any other country.
Page 3 - The aim of Zionism is to create for the Jewish people a home in Palestine secured by public law.
Page 3 - Congress in a word — which I shall guard against pronouncing publicly — it would be this: At Basel I founded the Jewish State. If I said this out loud today, I would be answered by universal laughter. Perhaps in five years, and certainly in fifty, everyone will know it.