cover image The Struggle for Peace: Israelis and Palestinians

The Struggle for Peace: Israelis and Palestinians

. University of Texas Press, $14.95 (341pp) ISBN 978-0-292-73071-7

A companion to a PBS documentary, this hodgepodge of essays and analyses collected by Fernea ( Guests of the Sheik ) and Hocking ( Islam ) offers a mere sliver of hope that peace between Israelis and Palestinians is possible. The heart of the collection is a series of too-brief comments by two dozen activists on both sides who have been working for peace despite their doubts about the efficacy of these efforts and the censure and punishment to which they have been subjected. These personal statements are complemented by numerous academic analyses, including historical overviews of the conflict by an Israeli and a Palestinian, which are unfortunately unequal in scope and effectiveness; a dry consideration of the two sides finding common interests through mediation; and an irrelevant look at the role of U.N. peacekeeping forces around the world. The boldest piece is Yehoshafat Harkabi's call to both sides to come to their senses, harshly taking to task both Israeli moderates and the U.S. government for failing to put their views across forcefully to the Likud government. Illustrations not seen by PW. (July)