Description
SYNOPSIS
No regional crisis has greater potential to affect world peace than the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. None has proved more intractable, and seemingly impossible to resolve. Yet, at the end of the day, most commentators agree that the only solution to the conflict lies in the creation of a viable Palestinian state under the guidance and norms of international law: only international law can provide an autonomous legal system capable of rendering objective judgment on the claims of the competing parties.
This book provides a comprehensive survey of the international legal principles related to the Palestinian struggle for self-determination: starting with the League of Nations awarding the Mandate for Palestine to Britain after the First World War; through the partition of the Palestine Mandate by the United Nations after the Second World War; to the Palestinian Declaration of an Independent State of their own in 1988; to the diplomatic recognition of the Palestinian State by about 130 other states; through the United Nations granting the State of Palestine all the rights of a U.N. Member State but the right to vote, etc.
During the past two decades, the author has provided the Leadership of the Palestinian People with advice, counsel, and representation at all stages of this process. The scholarly analyses that he used to back up this critical work can be found in the pages of this book. Another chapter analyzes the hypocrisy and double-standards behind the Bush Jr. administration’s bogus “war on international terrorism,” with special reference to U.S. foreign policy towards the Middle East and the Muslim World after 11 September 2001.
The concluding chapter provides advice and guidance to the international grassroots Campaign for Israeli Divestment/Disinvestment, which were all inspired by the author’s involvement in the original Divestment/ Disinvestment Campaign against the former criminal apartheid regime in South Africa. Today the Republic of South Africa stands as a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples and states all over the world. The same can be true for Palestine and Israel.
This book explains why and how that can be done.
Mediterranean Journal of Human Rights –
“This book provides a comprehensive legal analysis for the Palestinian right to an independent state.” —Mediterranean Journal of Human Rights
Middle East International –
“This book provides important background to how the International Court of Justice reached its conclusions, and some interesting hints about the likely consequences.” —Middle East International
Washington Report on Middle East Affairs –
“Boyle’s penetrating analyses of Israeli and American roles in the crisis that has destabilized the Middle East for over fifty years are as cogent as his criticisms are fearless and his warnings prescient.” —Washington Report on Middle East Affairs
GHADA TALHAMI, Arab Studies Quarterly. –
“This book is a must reading for all those interested in the legal background of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.” —GHADA TALHAMI, Arab Studies Quarterly.
Journal of Palestine Studies –
“Provides easy-to-read legal analysis of some issues involved in the Palestinian quest for freedom and serves as a valuable historical (and legal) record for those analyzing Palestinian decision-making in the late 1980s and early 1990s.”—
Journal of Palestine Studies
SAM BAHOUR, Ramallah Online Book Review –
“Absolutely crucial to the broader understanding of why the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is where it is today”—SAM BAHOUR, Ramallah Online Book Review
SAM BAHOUR, an Berne, Peace NewsRamallah Online Book Review –
“a profound work which is essential reading for everyone – lawyer and non-lawyer – who seeks justice for the Palestinians.”—Ian Berne, Peace News