In Search of a Peace Settlement: Egypt and Israel between the Wars, 1967-1973

Between the two Arab-Israeli wars of 1967 and 1973, intense international diplomatic efforts were made to encourage Egypt and Israel to enter into negotiations and settle the Middle East conflict. The research here is the first that deals with events during this period, using materials from various archives in Washington, London and Jerusalem. Moshe Gat analyses the Egyptian and Israeli policies, with special emphasis on the politicians who shaped the political process: Golda Meir, Moshe Dayan, Gamal Abdel Nasser, Anwar Sadat, Joseph Sisco, William P. Rogers, Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon. Moreover, this study examines the Israeli decision-makers' conception of military power as a tool to solve conflict; no political initiative came from the Israeli side.

From the Egyptian side, Gat examines the changing policy after Nasser's death. The advent of Sadat's political leadership brought a new atmosphere to the region and actually paved the way for a settlement between Egypt and Israel. This timely contribution to Middle Eastern history highlights the rise and fall of Soviet influence in the Arab-Israeli conflict after the Six Day War and looks at the increasing importance of America's political leadership in the region.