48. For the full story of Avnery's secret contacts with the PLO in the pre-Oslo years, see Uri Avnery, My Friend, the Enemy, Zed Books, 1986.
49. As an example, see William Quandt, Peace Process: American Diplomacy and the Arab-Israeli Conflict Since 1967, University of California Press, 2005.
50. Though focused on "Barak's generous offer," this essay includes commentary on the Taba talks held in Egypt in January, 2001.
51. See Hussein Agha and Robert Malley, "Camp David: The Tragedy of Errors" in the New York Review of Books, Vol. 48, No. 13, August 9, 2001.
52. The Saudi Plan, based on UN Resolution 242, the "land for peace" formula, was proposed by then Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz of Saudi Arabia and later formalized in a unanimous vote at the Arab Summit in Beirut, Lebanon, on March 27-28. On March 29, Israeli forces invaded the West Bank for a prolonged and brutal military occupation in retaliation for a Hamas-claimed attack on a hotel in the Israeli resort city, Netanya, that killed 19.
53. This refers to the present King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. Avnery notes that it is (also) an allusion to a famous Israeli song.
54. Now King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. He succeeded his half-brother King Fahd to the throne in 2005.
55. The Conciliation Committee in Lausanne was a United Nations General Assembly committee formed as part of the requirements of UN Resolution 194 to facilitate a final status agreement to end the war between Israel and Palestine. The committee convened in April 1 949, and in May an agreement to negotiate final status was signed. However the fundamental issues comprised the same basic issues that are still being negotiated today, including borders, refugees, and Jerusalem.
56. The Palestinians have essentially had a constitution since 1997, although drafts were written as far back as 1968. For a good discussion of the history of the Palestinian Constitution see "The Palestinian basic law." by Adrien K. Wing available at http://www.palestine center.org. The constitution was revised in
2003, consistent with the Road Map's conditions. Israel does not have a constitution, a theme Avnery frequently addresses.
57. As part of the Roadmap, US President George W. Bush met with Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas of the Palestinian Authority, and Jordan's King Abdullah in early June, 2003 in Aqaba, Jordan.
58. Otherwise known as the Geneva Accord, the Beilin-Abed-Rabbo agreement was an unofficial final status agreement principally proposed by former Palestinian and Israeli ministers Yassir Abed-Rabbo and Yossi Beilin. This plan has been compared to Avnery's vision for two states, although Avnery puts greater emphasis on Palestinian viability and sovereignty than the Accords do.
59. Sari Nusseibeh and Ami Ayalon published the People's Voice Initiative in 2002, a two-state, mutual-recognition-based peace plan.
60. Sharon's plan of unilateral disengagement is of particular import because it was actually implemented prior to Sharon's stroke in early January, 2006. Its effects are proving deadly in Gaza, as evidenced by a significant amount of coverage in numerous news outlets as well as various human rights reports, and the situation has only worsened since the split in the Hamas-Fatah Palestinian Unity Government.
61. Abu Ala Ahmad Qrei'a-a Fatah leader who served as the Palestinian prime