Introduction

Abstract

The book’s purpose is to chart the UN’s uneasy history in the Arab-Israeli conflict since partition was proposed in resolution 181 (1948) before scrutinizing in more detail the most recent period since peace negotiations were resumed in Annapolis (2007). Drawing on his experience as the UN’s Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process (UNSCO), based in Jerusalem for seven years (2008–2015), Serry shows conflict management and diplomacy in action while sharing with the reader his reflections and analysis of what has gone wrong and why the so-called one state reality is on the parties’ doorstep. Some fresh thinking is offered how to preserve prospects for a two state solution. This book provides a rare insight in the work and challenges of a UN envoy in the troubled Middle East of today.