Yossi Klein Halevi’s book “Letters to my Palestinian Neighbor” is a wonderful compendium of the Israeli narrative; beautifully written, sensitive and sensible, painting a relatively clear picture of the challenges with which we are up against in arriving at a mutual understanding between Jews and Palestinians in Eretz Israel/Palestine which would bring regional peace.
Nevertheless, despite the author’s understanding of the deep love and commitment both sides feel for the land which they must eventually, somehow, agree to share, he doesn’t seem to trust them enough to consider any arrangement beyond the venerable Two State Solution which, politically speaking, appears nigh impossible to implement now. In so doing, he summarily dismisses one of the more realistic alternatives – a federation (without calling it such by name) – issuing a dire warning and conveying an analogy which doesn’t match up to reality.
The book is important for anyone who wants to quickly obtain a brief understanding of what the conflict is about, particularly the emotional aspects. While under the present political reality the book doesn’t really leave much hope for a timely resolution of the conflict; it nevertheless leaves you with a positive feeling which is credit to the author’s balanced writing.
Emanuel Shahaf
Co-Chair, Federation Movement
Emanuel Shahaf
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