Lessons in Peacemaking: How Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Rabin Defended Israel Through Vision and Territorial Compromise Open Access

Abstract

Israel stands at the threshold of a historic choice. As of December 2023, its presence in the West Bank has grown to 450,000 Israelis outside of East Jerusalem. Unless something is done to halt the growth of Israeli settlers living outside of the major blocs, it is difficult to imagine anything other than a single binational state emerging in the next few decades. Real leadership is needed to preserve the possibility of two-state solution and separation between Israel and the Palestinians. Violent conflicts such as between Israel and the Arab world do not necessarily move toward resolution, even when continued conflict endangers the survival and prosperity of the regimes. Permanent ends to intractable wars—and even diplomatic breakthroughs such as the Oslo Accords—are not inevitable and the fact that they took place in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict serves as a testament to the courage of past leaders. Despite their differences, Menachem Begin and Yitzhak Rabin understood the value of compromise; they knew that giving up certain territories was imperative to ensure Israel’s strategic welfare. Any future breakthrough will require Israeli prime ministers who are likewise willing to make difficult decisions to preserve Israel’s future. 

Table of Contents

1) Introduction                                                                     

2) Menachem Begin and the Israel-Egypt Peace                                   

3) Yitzhak Rabin and the Oslo Accords                                        

4) Applying the Lessons of the Past                                           

5) Bibliography                                                                             

About this Honors Thesis

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School	Emory College
Department	History
Degree	B.A.
Submission	Honors Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	History, World History History, Middle Eastern Jewish Studies
Keyword	Camp David Oslo Palestine President Bill Clinton Yitzhak Rabin Israel President Jimmy Carter Egypt Peace Process Menachem Begin President Anwar Sadat
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Ward, Jason, Emory University
Committee Members	Stein, Kenneth, Emory University Levin, Geoffrey, Emory University

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