The Oslo secret negotiations from 1992 to 1993 were some of the most astonishing and also successful negotiations in the Middle East, leading to the mutual recognition between the PLO and Israel.

Through an in-depth examination of the Oslo negotiations, this book argues that at the core of the negotiations was a fascinating dilemma of recognition. Overcoming this dilemma was at the centre of the secret negotiations.

A thorough analysis documents how decision makers tried to communicate without being able to engage in face-to-face negotiations, and highlights the significance of the role of third parties in the conflict resolution process, stressing in particular the importance of the European Union’s power in bringing the sides together.

This is a comprehensive account of the Oslo negotiations, focusing particularly on the timely issue of non-recognition – which is of great importance today given the recent emergence of the rise of Hamas as the dominant Palestinian political force.

Contents

1. Introduction 2. Israel and the PLO: Facing International and Domestic Challenges 3. Let’s Argue: A Constructivist Approach to Understanding the Oslo Talks 4. Cautious Rapprochement: A Rational Choice Approach to Understanding the Oslo Talks 5. Bargaining in Oslo 6. The Success of the Oslo Talks – And Why the Process Failed

Author Bio

Sven Behrendt is a leading expert in international negotiations and conflict resolution. He joined the World Economic Forum in Geneva, Switzerland in 2000 where he facilitates dialogue between the public and private sector on global policy issues. He initiated numerous second-track processes in the Middle East for the Bertelsmann Foundation and is co- editor of Bound to Cooperate: Europe and the Middle East.