Synopses & Reviews
In January 1986, two working journalists were flying aboard the official jet of Israel's Prime Minister Shimon Peres, as he toured Europe and reactivated his secret diplomacy with Jordan's King Hussein. Within two years Palestinians living under Israeli occupation rose in revolt. The two journalists, Yossi Melman and Dan Raviv, decided the time was ripe for this the first complete account of the clandestine relationship between Israel and Jordan. Melman and Raviv examine the hostile partnership by focusing on an unacknowledged but powerful partnership among three key parties in the Middle East dispute: the Israelis, the Jordanians, and the Palestinians. Based on interviews with participants in the secret diplomacy and on documents previously hidden from the public, this work describes Hussein's meeting with Israel's leaders and reveals how Israel and Jordan forged a relationship covering everything from "counter-terrorism to counter-mosquito tactics." "The authors are the first to deal thoroughly with the history of behind-the-scenes diplomacy bewteen Israel and Jordan, compiling and expanding upon persistent reports of secret contacts." Associated Press
Review
This account of Israel and Jordan presents and analyzes the relationship between two countries who have reached a peaceful resolution without the official sanction of a treaty. Journalists Melman and Raviv focus upon the developments of Palestinians, Israelis and Jordanians to explore how this peaceful relationship came to pass, basing their examinations upon interviews with secret negotiators and documents which never became public. Behind the Uprising thus offers more than the usual chronicle of already-known facts: it goes behind the scenes to examine power structures and relationships which have received relatively little public attention, it examines the works and methodology of leaders of both countries, and it surveys the foundations of agreements which were condcted in secret by both countries. Numerous footnotes offer references for scholarly readers who want insights on source documentation, but the chapters are lively and revealing enough for general-interest readers with special concerns about Middle East conflicts and issues. The result is a powerful documentary of secret negotiations and agreements which offers hope for a wider-ranging peace in the Middle East.The Midwest Book Review
Review
This book describes, in an exciting and detailed way, the relationship between Israel and Jordan, including secret diplomatic contacts. Now, when the subject is on the national agenda, the book gives important background material which helps in the understanding of the difficulty of the problem.Gad Yaacobi, Cabinet Minister in Israel's government
Review
A great deal has been written about King Hussein's meetings with Israeli ministers, including myself. . .but few accounts have been as accurate, authoritative, and intimate.Abba Eban, former Israeli Foreign Minister
Synopsis
"The authors are the first to deal thoroughly with the history of behind-the-scenes diplomacy between Israel and Jordan, compiling and expanding upon persistant reports of secret contacts." Associated Press
About the Author
YOSSI MELMAN, currently a Nieman Fellow at Harvard, is an Israeli newspaper columnist and a graduate of Hebrew University, Jerusalem.DAN RAVIV is a CBS News correspondent in London.
Table of Contents
Preface
Introduction
The Territories Explode
Abdullah of Arabia
"Meir"
Hussein the Heir
The Devonshire Place Doctor
This Time in Paris
A Phone Call to the Palace
"Operation Lift"
Why Not in Tel Aviv?
"Must I Make War on You?"
Seven Lean Years under Likud
Minimalists and Maximalists in Amman
Return of the Jordanian Option
May We Help You, Your Highness?
Building a Condominium
Breaking the Deadlock?
Appendices
Bibliography
Index