Looking Back, Looking Forward

Dr. 'Abd al-Shafi, head of the Palestinian negotiating team from the 1991 Madrid peace conference until the signing of the Oslo agreement in 1993, reflects on the situation of the Palestinian people today compared to 1948, the failures of the Palestinian movement historically, the Oslo agreement (providing fresh detail about its signing), and the current impasse. While supporting the military dimension of the current intifada, he spells out strict conditions for Palestinian military action, the imperative need for a unified command, and efforts for and the obstacles to the formation of such a command.