Gershon BaskinGershon Baskin
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Gershon Baskin

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.
Rain clouds are seen over the Dome of the Rock, on the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City October 30, 2009. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside
Insights

From Jerusalem: Democracy

Gershon Baskin believes that it should be unacceptable for us to continue to make the claim that Jerusalem is united and that it is the capital of a democratic country while 40% of its residents hold no citizenship, not even of the country that controls their lives.

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsMarch 2, 2023 ago
A visitor walks toward the Dome of the Rock as he enters the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, in Jerusalem's Old City. (photo credit:REUTERS)
Insights

Using religion to move forward in the Jerusalem conflict

Gershon Baskin firmly believes that it is through religions that we can find the paths toward positive change.

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsFebruary 23, 2023 ago
Gershon Baskin
Insights

Mea culpa

Gershon Baskin does not profess to know what the solution is for finding a way to live in peace on this land. He knows that it can only be done by good people on both sides working together to make peace a reality.

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsFebruary 16, 2023 ago
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu votes in national election, March 17, 2015. (photo credit:MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Insights

No democracy with occupation

Gershon Baskin feels that democracy is indivisible and equality must be enjoyed by all people under the same political regime.

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsFebruary 9, 2023 ago
Funeral in Jenin
Insights

The Unending Cycle

Gershon Baskin believes that the common factor in past terrorists isn’t religion, economic situation or educational background. They all had a loved one die in Israeli action.

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsFebruary 1, 2023 ago
Israeli-Palestinian-Jordanian Trade
Insights

Eine Lösung für Israel-Palästina

Die früheren Philosophien über die Landaufteilung zwischen Israelis und Palästinensern waren unzulänglich, findet der Autor.

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsJanuary 29, 2023 ago
Israeli-Palestinian-Jordanian Trade
Insights

The solution to Israel-Palestine

Gershon Baskin explores solutions to the situation in the Middle East

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsJanuary 25, 2023 ago
Palestinians carry knives and daggers as they attend a military parade of members of al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Hamas movement, to mark the 28th anniversary. (photo credit:MOHAMMED ABED / AFP)
Insights

Changing our position on Hamas

Gershon Baskin believes that all parties should seek to engage directly with Hamas and to push forward opportunities for Hamas to demonstrate pragmatism.

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsJanuary 19, 2023 ago
PROTESTERS IN Jordan hold Jordanian and Palestinian flags as they march in protest against Israel..(Photo by: REUTERS)
Insights

A New-Old Approach

Gershon Baskin feels that Israel deserves to be condemned for the continued and systematic abuse of Palestinian rights,

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsJanuary 12, 2023 ago
Palestine- Israel Journal
Insights

Proposals for Israeli, Palestinian, and International Action Now

Gershon Baskin shares his ideas regarding the many things that Israelis, Palestinians, Israelis and Palestinians together, and international actors could do to push us forward toward a better future.

By Gershon Baskin, 3 yearsJanuary 8, 2023 ago

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The Negotiator: Freeing Gilad Shalit from Hamas

The Negotiator: Freeing Gilad Shalit from Hamas
Click here to Buy The Negotiator: Freeing Gilad Schalit from Hamas
In 2006, Gilad Schalit was kidnapped by a group of Gaza militants. Decades of animosity and distrust thwarted any attempt at a prisoner exchange. THE NEGOTIATOR is the firsthand account of Gershon Baskin, who made it his mission to liberate Gilad Schalit. Baskin drew on his ties to Hamas to create a secret back channel and succeeded where official mediators had failed, paving the way for the deal that brought Gilad home.
Click here to Buy The Negotiator: Freeing Gilad Schalit from Hamas
Click here to Buy the Book in Hebrew
Click here to learn more about the book

In Pursuit of Peace in Israel & Palestine


In his latest book, In Pursuit of Peace in Israel & Palestine, Gershon Baskin reveals how relations in the Middle East are based on justified fear, influenced by lack of human contact and reinforced by continued violence that solidify patterns of thinking and behavior that negatively influence public policies.

Buy In Pursuit of Peace in Israel & Palestine

Freeing Gilad: The Secret Back Channel

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"Free Gilad" is the story of an unprecedented secret communication channel developed by Gershon Baskin developed that made a decisive contribution towards the release of Gilad Shalit.
Click Here to Order the Book and Learn More
Click Here to buy The Negotiator: Freeing Gilad Schalit from Hamas


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