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.
Yasser Arafat, proclaiming the Palestinian Declaration of Independence (written by the Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish) on November 15,1988.
Insights

This one is for You – The Palestinians

Gershon Baskin thinks that Palestinian society at large has failed a major morality test by lending support to the wave of killings and attempted killings of Israelis by mostly young Palestinians. Most of my columns are directed at Israelis, Jews and a pro-Israel audience – the primary readership of The Read more

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsFebruary 24, 2016 ago
Security, Stability, & Peace
Insights

Palestinian suffering makes no sense for Israel

Gershon Baskin thinks that it seems that there is no political will from the leaders on both sides to bring this conflict to a political resolution in the foreseeable future.

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsFebruary 17, 2016 ago
Opposition leader Isaac Herzog (Labor) met with PA President Mahmoud Abbas. (photo credit:Ran Aharon)
Insights

Creating a compelling vision for peace

Gershon Baskin believes that words and platforms must be translated into action and Labor must be proactive in its reaching out to Israel’s neighbors if they expect anyone to take them seriously.

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsFebruary 11, 2016 ago
Palestinians supporting Hamas chant slogans during a rally celebrating Hamas student supporters winning the student council election at Birzeit University in Ramallah. (photo credit:REUTERS)
Insights

It is also in our hands

Gershon Baskin believes that there is no reason or justification to wait for our failed leaders to reach political agreements between them.

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsJanuary 27, 2016 ago
Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Insights

Sooner or later

Gershon Baskin believes that Israel and many of its neighbors today share a common cause in limiting Iran’s power and influence, preventing the expansion and infiltration of Islamic State (IS), and in fighting terrorism.

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsJanuary 20, 2016 ago
Marwan Hasib Ibrahim Barghouti
Insights

Looking into Palestinian political realities

Gershon Baskin believes that the voices of moderation on both sides of the Arab-Israeli conflict are dissipating and the belief that peace is even possible is all but disappearing.

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsJanuary 13, 2016 ago
Palestinian children hold toy guns during a protest on the compound known to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount in Jerusalem's Old City,
Insights

The Blessing of Jerusalem

Gershon Baskin shares his ideas on possible solutions regarding the status of Jerusalem, the biggest challenge in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsJanuary 9, 2016 ago
Gershon Baskin addressing the Copenhagen Group of the International Alliance for Arab-Israeli Peace
Insights

There is no partner

Gershon Baskin believes that only through the development of renewed partnership can both leaders succeed in their primary tasks and missions.

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsJanuary 7, 2016 ago
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at a CFR meeting
Insights

The Absence of Leadership

Gershon Baskin believes that Israel’s most serious problem is its leadership crisis.

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsJanuary 3, 2016 ago
Peace
Insights

Yes, it is difficult to make peace

Gershon Baskin believes that life would be so much easier if we had nicer enemies, and that the first step of moving beyond the hatred, animosity and fear that exists on both sides is to reach a negotiated agreement.

By Gershon Baskin, 10 yearsDecember 24, 2015 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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