Intifada: The Palestinian Uprising--Israel's Third Front

The authors of this surprisingly optimistic study, both Israeli journalists, describe how the Palestinians have made strategic gains through Jordan's renunciation of its claim over the occupied territories and by the recognition of the PLO by the U.S. They note that the PLO has revised its attitude toward a possible settlement and that Israeli leaders are beginning to understand that any settlement must be negotiated with the Palestinians themselves rather than with the Arab states. Arguing for a tripartite union bringing Jordan, Israel and the Palestinians together in a single settlement package, Schiff and Ya'ari urge two immediate steps: an administrative withdrawal by the Israelis from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and the transfer of the latter to the PLO with a locally elected leadership ``to test the Palestinians' ability to hold to an agreement and prevent acts of terrorism.'' (Mar.)