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.
Jordan valley settlement.
Insights

Settlements, annexation and the death of Zionism

Gershon Baskin believes that Donald Trump is completely unpredictable, but what is clear is the responsibility of decisions that he will actually face when the weight of the world is on his shoulders.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsDecember 21, 2016 ago
It’s not just the economy
Insights

It’s not just the economy

Gershon Baskin believes that the number one economic issue is the need to make peace with our neighbors and that we must address this because if we don’t, we will continue to see more and more Israelis fall under the poverty line.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsDecember 14, 2016 ago
Gershon Baskin shares his views on peace at 3S Artspace
Insights

Encountering peace?

Gershon Baskin is against an imposed peace, and he is hopeful that the new American administration will tell us all that they will not come to our rescue with a new American-led peace initiative.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsDecember 8, 2016 ago
A view of the Carmel Fire from NASA's Aqua satellite taken on December 3, 2010
Insights

Building a shared society

Gershon Baskin believes that Israel’s leaders have a responsibility to all of Israel’s citizens to build the paths of inclusion and belonging for Israel’s Palestinian citizens.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsNovember 30, 2016 ago
Avigdor Lieberman
Insights

Transitional mind-shifts

Gershon Baskin wishfully thinks that the “stepping out of the mold” of Avigdor Lieberman, a Soviet-born Israeli politician who serves as the Defense Minister of Israel, could be first step on a much longer path forging a new future for Israelis and Palestinians alike.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsNovember 24, 2016 ago
Wall adjacent to the Kalandiya refugee camp. Photo by: Ksenia Svetlova
Insights

Excuse me for asking

Gershon Baskin thinks that the exact location of the border has to be determined in negotiations with the Palestinians, but first there must be a decision, by the government of Israel, that there must be a border.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsNovember 16, 2016 ago
Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu at Trump Tower, September 25, 2016. Credit: Israel Government Press Office (GPO)
Insights

My First Piece of Advice to President Elect Trump

Gershon Baskin’s best advice to the new American President is STAY AWAY! Don’t raises hopes of a new American initiative.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsNovember 11, 2016 ago
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) met with PA President Mahmoud Abbas. (photo credit:Ran Aharon)
Insights

Israel needs a fully functioning opposition

Gershon Baskin believes that there is no credible alternative for Israel’s leadership is out there – only a slightly improved version of the original, which has proven to be a failure for almost 20 years now, marching Israel directly into the pandora’s box of bi-nationalism.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsNovember 10, 2016 ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas
Insights

Putting the end forward

Gershon Baskin believes that the most obvious change in the past 20 years is the total lack of trust that exists today across the conflict lines.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsNovember 2, 2016 ago
Activists, including Israelis and Palestinians, take part in a demonstration in support of peace near Jericho. (photo credit:REUTERS)
Insights

Speaking peace out loud and all over

Gershon Baskin believes that since the birth of the State of Israel and the birth of the Palestinian refugee problem, we (both) have been on the path of choosing death, not life.

By Gershon Baskin, 9 yearsOctober 26, 2016 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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