In 1998 the Middle East Conflict celebrated its 50th anniversary an now, eight years later, no final general settlement is in sight. Despite peace agreements between Israel and two Arab countries in the nineteen nineties (Egypt and Jordan) and a part-settlement with the Palestinian authorities or PLO in 1993, violence reached its highest level in 2002/2004, and has still not abated, albeit decreased recently. The withdrawal of the Israeli forces and settlers from occupied Gaza is a step in the right direction, but too many uncertainties remain. Just now the political situation is confused in Israel.
The Middle East Conflict gives a clear-cut study of the conflict from 1948-2005. It should be fairly easy for readers without any special foreknowledge to read if they have a keen interest in political matters and want to understand this long drawn conflict that over the years developed into what the author describes as war. May be more dramatic than necessary, but the conflict has had a serious repercussions anywhere in the area conflict – including a damaging civil war in Lebanon – and also in a larger area than the one this study outs its focus on, namely the direct involved neighbours of Israel and the Jewish nation itself.
Lars Blinkenberg (born 1931) finalized a law degree from Aarhus University in 1956 and also studied law og political science respectively at Cambridge University (UK) and Nancy (France). Entered the Danish Foreign Service in 1957 and has been serving at the Danish Embassies, such as London, New Delhi, and Bonn, as secretary or counsellor, and as Ambassador to Venezuela (1981-86), Nigeria (1992-96) and Syria (1996-1999). He was UN observer at the elections in Nicaragua in 1990, Head of a Danish-French Cultural Commission in 1986 and – since 1993 – member of a Ahistorical. Literary an Arts Society in Copenhagen (HLK).
