I interviewed Gershon Baskin on my last visit to Israel, in 2013 (7-5-13 AJW). Regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, most knowledgeable observers I talked with then were pessimistic about any chance of peace breaking out. Baskin, a veteran of back-channel negotiations who helped free young Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit from more than five years of cruel captivity in Gaza, was the exception. He laid out the various points of contention between the warring sides and expressed optimism about the chances for a negotiated settlement. His memoir, In Pursuit of Peace in Israel and Palestine (Vanderbilt), was published more than a year ago, but it deserves a wider readership. Baskin is one of the rare Israelis who have bridged the divide between the leaders in Israel and Palestine and delivered tangible results. — Mordecai Specktor
