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:
A letter to Ghazi Hamed
Posted on: 17 Feb 2025
In an open letter to Ghazi Hamad, Gershon Baskin shares that there is no winner in this war – we all lost. Palestine lost. Hamas lost. Israel lost.
Phase One – Back on Schedule….BUT…..
Posted on: 13 Feb 2025
Gershon Baskin feels that Israelis and Palestinians will never have security unless both of them have security. Hard to swallow now while we are all still living in trauma and fear, but this war really must be the last Israeli Palestinian war.
Accelerate the Release of all Hostages
Posted on: 08 Feb 2025
Gershon Baskin senses that Enough is enough. We all know how this should end—so let’s get there already!
The Delusion of Mass Emigration
Posted on: 06 Feb 2025
Gershon Baskin senses that we Israelis have to figure out how to get Netanyahu out of power and return Israel to its senses and understanding that the two states solution is back on the table and that it is the only way to ensure Israel’s security and well-being.
Israeli breach of the agreement
Posted on: 02 Feb 2025
Gershon Baskin senses that Netanyahu is abandoning the hostages and endangering them.
Six points regarding the current situation between Israel and the Hamas
Posted on: 01 Feb 2025
Gershon Baskin shares six important insights regarding the situation in the Middle East.
Palestinian and Israeli choices
Posted on: 30 Jan 2025
Gershon Baskin senses that the choice is in the hands of the Palestinians if they will continue on the path of Hamas which will lead to more death and destruction or if they will decide on a new path and make clear that they are prepared to live in peace and freedom with Israel if Israel will be prepared to end its occupation over what should become the free State of Palestine.
Breaches
Posted on: 25 Jan 2025
Gershon Baskin senses that the Hamas, will not give anything for free.
Return the mandate to the people
Posted on: 25 Jan 2025
Gershon Baskins senses that if Netanyahu is so confident in his abilities and the people’s support for him, let him bring this chapter to an end and return the mandate to the people.
The irony of the deal
Posted on: 20 Jan 2025
From October 7th we knew that in order to return all the hostages we would have to negotiate with Hamas. Despite this, the first and most important goal of the Israeli government since that terrible Saturday was to eliminate Hamas from all of its military and governmental capabilities. We knew Read more…