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:
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…
Not yet official version of the Israel-Hamas “agreement”
Posted on: 15 Jan 2025
Gershon Baskin shares an “unofficial” version of the first phase of the deal that calls for a 42-day ceasefire and the release of an initial 33 hostages, that the Hamas refuses to say if they are dead or alive.
Hamas leadership
Posted on: 15 Jan 2025
Gershon Baskin emphasizes that there is no single decision-maker in Hamas and there never was.
The deal on the table
Posted on: 12 Jan 2025
Gershon Baskin senses that the current negotiations still do not promise a done deal – but it looks very promising right now.
Is the Gaza war about to end?
Posted on: 10 Jan 2025
Gershon Baskin believes that until now, Netanyahu has sacrificed the Israeli hostages and Palestinian civilians on the altar of his political survival. This cannot last for long
Ceasefire to locate the hostages
Posted on: 01 Jan 2025
Gershon Baskin believes that Instead of Israel and Hamas arguing about which of the hostages will be released in a partial deal, it would be better to end it with a complete and comprehensive deal – to end the war and return all the hostages.
End of Year, beginning of new year
Posted on: 31 Dec 2024
Gershon Baskin wants to appeal to all of us, Israelis and Palestinians, to understand that we really only need one state to recognize the State of Palestine and that is Israel.
End of year assessment of the negotiations
Posted on: 31 Dec 2024
Gershon Baskin feels that without heavy pressure from Trump on Netanyahu, it is difficult to see how to end the war and return all the hostages.
A Dose of Realpolitik for Palestinians, Israelis, and others in the Region
Posted on: 27 Dec 2024
Gershon Baskin believes that the primary condition for changing the situation is Gaza, is that the war must end and Israel must withdraw from Gaza and for that to happen, the hostages must be returned and Hamas must no longer control Gaza.
The State of the Negotiations
Posted on: 19 Dec 2024
Gershon Baskin shares his insights regarding the nature of the negotiations, and claims that there has never been a situation like the one we are in and these negotiations are different from all previous negotiations.