Gershon
Gershon
Gershon Baskin is one of the most recognizable names in the Middle East Peace process. He is a political and social entrepreneur who has dedicated his life to peace between Israel and its neighbors. His dedication to creating a culture of peace and environmental awareness, coupled with his impeccable integrity, has earned him the trust of the leaders of all sides of the century old conflict. Few people have such far-reaching and positive impacts on promoting peace, security, prosperity and bi-national relationships. Gershon is an advisor to Israeli, Palestinian and International Prime Ministers on the Middle East Peace Process and the founder and director of IPCRI, the Israeli-Palestinian Public Policy Institute. He was the initiator and negotiator of the secret back channel between Israel and Hamas for the release of 1,027 prisoners – mainly Palestinians and Arab-Israelis of which 280 were sentenced to life in prison, including Yahya Sinwar, the current Palestinian leader of the Hamas in the Gaza Strip. The prisoners were imprisoned for planning and perpetrating various attacks against Jewish targets that resulted in the killing of 569 Israelis in exchange for one Israeli soldier, Gilad Schalit. Gershon is actively involved in research and advocacy concerning topics such as social policy, environmental security, political strategy, peace education, economics, culture and in the development of affordable solar projects with the goal of providing clean electricity for 50 million people by 2020. He is a founding member of Kol Ezraheiha-Kol Muwanteneiha (All of the Citizens) political party in Israel. He is now directing The Holy Land Bond and is the Middle East Director for ICO – International Communities Organization - a UK based NGO working in conflict zones with failed peace processes.
Articles by Gershon:
Do Netanyahu and Sinwar Want a Deal?
Posted on: 10 Apr 2024
Gershon Baskin feels that Israel’s first priority to do everything humanly possible to bring the hostages home, because Israel failed to protect its citizens on October 7 and Israel has a moral responsibility to bring them home.
This has to end!
Posted on: 03 Apr 2024
Gershon Baskin firmly believes that the first order of the day is to end this war. Enough!
Die Doha-Verhandlungen, der Sieg der Hamas und Israels Verluste
Posted on: 20 Mar 2024
Die Verhandlungen über einen Waffenstillstand in Gaza und ein Geiselabkommen sind in Doha wieder aufgenommen worden. Die jüngste Antwort der Hamas deutet auf den möglichen Willen der Hamas hin, eine Einigung zu erzielen. Was das bedeuten könnte.
The Doha Negotiations, Hamas’s Victory and Israel’s Loss
Posted on: 19 Mar 2024
Gershon Baskin believes that It is hard to recognize through the anger and the desire for revenge that a solution is in front of us. But it is there. It is not easy and it requires a lot of work. It will require that we make great efforts to learn from the failures of the past.
Stop the war now
Posted on: 13 Mar 2024
Gershon Baskin believes that all 193 member states of the United Nations (194 with the State of Palestine) should recognize both Palestine and Israel and should support the two-states solution.
Trauma and the Hope for Tomorrow
Posted on: 08 Mar 2024
Gershon Baskin senses that from the River to the Sea only real peace will make us free.
Is There a Possible Diplomatic Way to End This War?
Posted on: 05 Mar 2024
Gershon Baskin believes that there is still a chance for a partial deal with Hamas that could return tens of hostages alive; it must be done now!
A Cease-fire Deal Would Be a Huge Victory for Hamas, but Israel Has No Choice
Posted on: 07 Feb 2024
Gershon Baskin believes that the 2011 Hamas-Israel hostage deal, which he helped negotiate, set a price of over 1,000 Palestinian prisoners for one Israeli soldier. It should have been the very last time Israel had to ransom its citizens, but today, Hamas has the upper hand.
The Reality We Have to Change: An Open Letter to the Palestinian public
Posted on: 26 Jan 2024
Gershon Baskin in an open letter to the Palestinian public shares his recommendations on how to create a Palestine state that we will be proud of
Every bomb Israel drops in Gaza is a betrayal of the hostages
Posted on: 26 Jan 2024
Gershon Baskin senses that The Israeli leadership is putting the destruction of Hamas ahead of protecting innocents – including Israel’s own.