Abstract

In the summer of 2000, President Clinton, Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat came together to negotiate peace between Israel and Palestine. It was a moment laden with hope, that ended in infamous failure. But why did it fail?

The Camp David negotiations made headlines around the world for many months, but the real debates took place behind closed doors. This book is his startling account of the arguments, the relationships and the strategies that played out over the summer of 2000. Based on personal correspondence and position papers with all three leaders, and a long personal association with Yasser Arafat and a whole series of Israeli Prime Ministers dating back to 1985, this book offers a unique account of the real reasons behind the failure of Camp David.
'This book is another big step down the road to peace in the Middle East. I commend Reverend Helmick for writing it, and I recommend it to you'
Rev. Jesse Jackson
'A sophisticated analysis of the flaws in peace diplomacy and the importance of real and perceived justice to the sustainability of any agreement'
Joseph V. Montville, Diplomat in Residence, American University, Senior Fellow, Center for World Religions, Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution, George Mason University, Senior Associate, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC
'For more than three decades, Fr. Raymond Helmick, S.J. has been engaged professionally and personally, sometimes at risk of his life, in work to understand and help resolve the Arab-Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Everyone concerned for peace in the Middle East, will gain greater understanding of the conflict and what's required for peace from reading this book'
Ronald J. Young, Executive Director, U.S. Interreligious Committee for Peace in the Middle East