In his new book, No End of Conflict: Rethinking Israel-Palestine (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016), independent security expert and peace process researcher Yossi Alpher sees no imminent solution to a conflict that is not merely deadlocked, but actually worsening. "I used to be optimistic," Alpher writes. "Then I became realistic. Now I am so concerned regarding the future that I have written this book."
Having recently published a path-breaking study of Israel's "periphery doctrine" which aimed at cultivating regional friends outside the circle of hostile Arab and Muslim states (Periphery: Israel's Search for Middle East Allies, Rowman & Littlefield, 2015), Alpher has turned his attention to the core conflict between Israelis and Palestinians: a bloody, protracted stalemate that appears farther away than ever from a peaceful resolution.
Internet followers of this topic will recognize Alpher as the Israeli co-founder and co-director (with Palestinian Ghassan Khatib) of the superb bitterlemons.net dialogue website, whose sad demise in 2012 is symptomatic of the deterioriation many observers find so discouraging these days.
On May 2, 2016 Yossi Alpher shared his somber analysis of today's "slippery slope" towards more instability and violence with an attentive and engaged audience of almost 200 people at Montreal's Reconstructionist Synagogue, Congregation Dorshei Emet. His wide-ranging presentation touched on disappointments and failed peace efforts, as well as major strategic changes, since the Oslo process begun in 1993.
The event was co-sponsored by the Canadian Friends of Peace Now, Dorshei Emet and the New Israel Fund of Canada. Alpher was also scheduled to speak to audiences in Ottawa (Tuesday, May 3) and Toronto (Thursday, May 5). Info: peacenowcanada.org.