Gershon BaskinGershon Baskin
  • About
  • Book Gershon
  • Insights
  • Interviews
  • Videos
  • Archives
  • Contact

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.
Gershon Baskin shares his insights on how he was instrumental in mediating between the Hamas and Israeli governments, which eventually brought about the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit after more than five years in captivity.
Insights

Gershon Baskin: the veteran peace activist who brought Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit home

Gershon Baskin shares his insights on how he was instrumental in mediating between the Hamas and Israeli governments, which eventually brought about the release of Israeli soldier Gilad Schalit after more than five years in captivity.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsMarch 5, 2014 ago
Security barrier near Jerusalem. Photo: REUTERS/Baz Ratner
Insights

Encountering Peace: Annexing the West Bank – a catastrophic plan for the Jewish people

I have yet to figure out what people on the Right propose instead of partitioning the land into two states for two peoples.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsMarch 2, 2014 ago
Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa and Gershon Baskin
Insights

Encountering Peace: Mutual and reciprocal recognition

Israel is no less the state of Palestinian Arabs who were born here for generations than it is the state of a new Jewish immigrant from Ethiopia, Russia or France.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsFebruary 19, 2014 ago
Israeli and Palestinian negotiating teams sit with US Secretary of Kerry in New York, Sept 27, 2013. Photo: REUTERS/Brendan McDermid
Insights

Encountering Peace: A Sober Assessment

As long as the parties are talking, Israel can continue to say that its hand is outstretched in peace to its neighbors.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsFebruary 15, 2014 ago
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, February 2, 2014. Photo: YONATHAN SINDE / FLASH 90
Insights

Encountering peace: The moment of truth

Netanyahu as the leader of the right wing in Israel is the ideal political leader to make the deal with the Palestinians.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsFebruary 5, 2014 ago
Mahmoud Abbas Photo: Marc Israel Sellem/The Jerusalem Post
Insights

Encountering Peace: Our Palestinians, their Jews

Examining some of the intricacies of the Israeli-Palestinian relationship through Netanyahu’s recent proposal to allow settlers who don’t withdraw, to remain in future Palestinian state.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsJanuary 30, 2014 ago
Gilad, Noam and Aviva Shalit with Gershon Baskin
Insights

A very personal statement on peace

There is only one solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict – two states for two peoples.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsJanuary 22, 2014 ago
Ariel Sharon meets with his advisers at his Jerusalem residence, December 21, 2005. Photo: ISRAEL OUT REUTERS/Avi Ohayon/GPO
Insights

Encountering Peace: Sharon’s biggest error

Now, with talks in Israel about the possible failure of negotiations once again, there are renewed utterances about the need to once again engage in unilateralism.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsJanuary 15, 2014 ago
The Jordan River
Insights

The people’s water

The water belongs to all of the people living on the land, and no one has more rights to it than anyone else.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsJanuary 8, 2014 ago
John Kerry . (photo credit:Reuters)
Insights

Welcome back, Mr. Secretary!

Welcome back, Mr. Secretary. I am quite sure none of the leaders you will meet on this visit to Israel and Palestine will say “thank you,” so I will say it on behalf of all of the people of Israel and Palestine. We need you, even if we find it hard to admit.

By Gershon Baskin, 12 yearsJanuary 1, 2014 ago

Posts pagination

Previous 1 … 65 66 67 … 100 Next
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

freeinggiladcover335
"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


  • Bio
  • Book a Speech
  • Request Speaking Engagement
  • Speech Topics
  • Kudos
  • Presentations/Past Events
  • MidEast Advisor Services
  • Venues
  • Publications
  • Insights
  • Audio
  • Video
  • Interviews
  • Archives
  • Book Reviews
  • Contact
Hestia | Developed by ThemeIsle