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.

Woman posting note on board dedicated to Schalit.(photo credit:Ariel Jerozolimski)

Insights

Perception and deception

Perception is definitely shaped by geography – and from where I sit, I see how cheap our blood is, and how much more cheap the blood of our enemies. How sad.

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsJuly 18, 2006 ago

Insights

What comes after Hamas?

The only rational course of action that can save lives – including the life of Gilad Shalit – is to find a way to reach a bilateral cease-fire that would include a prisoner release.

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsJuly 4, 2006 ago

Ismail Abdel Salam Ahmed Haniyeh and Mahmoud Abbas

Insights

Bilateral ceasefire

The time has come for us to engrave in the brains of the Palestinians that the State of Israel is capable of “changing disks” and to work is a more conciliatory way instead of always demonstrating our aptitude as warriors.

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsJune 15, 2006 ago

Insights

No Palestinian support for convergence

The alternative is to renew the bilateral political process with the PLO represented by Mahmoud Abbas. While there are no guarantees of an agreement, there is little to lose. And Israel could anyway move ahead with planning for convergence.

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsMay 8, 2006 ago

Insights

Freedom in our time

During Pessah this year let us remember that the experience of slavery has created for us a deep consciousness and a passionate commitment to freedom and justice as incorporated in the Torah. We vow to remember that we were once slaves in Egypt and today we can retell our story of liberation. Let us truly become free, free from occupation, free from conflict and free to build peace with our neighbours.

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsApril 13, 2006 ago

Insights

East Timor in Palestine

Gershon Baskin thinks that by taking the initiative of creating the international interim governing authority in Palestine, Israel can ensure the orderly takeover of control of territories from which it seeks to withdraw.

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsApril 10, 2006 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

How to guard the two-state option

Internationalization of the solution is perhaps the best way to ensure that we do not lose the two-state option

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsFebruary 28, 2006 ago

Construction at the Jerusalem Museum of Tolerance

Insights

The Museum of Tolerance is being constructed on top of a very important Muslim Cemetery.

This project must be stopped – no good will come from it and the longer it takes to make the decision, the worse the situation will become.

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsFebruary 16, 2006 ago

The Center for Human Dignity is the Simon Wiesenthal Center-planned Museum of Tolerance over Mamilla Cemetery at the center of West Jerusalem

Insights

Stop the Building of the Tolerance Museum on a Muslim Cemetery

All of the citizens of Jerusalem should raise their voice against this project. Jews, Muslims and Christians alike should respect each others’ sacred spaces – without this there can never be peace in this Holy City or in this Holy Land.

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsFebruary 12, 2006 ago

Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas (R) talks with Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.. (photo credit:REUTERS)

Insights

Optical illusion: the hidden results of the Palestinian elections

Hamas presented a unified list in each district while Fatah and others had a multiplicity of candidates which caused great divisions.

By Gershon Baskin, 19 yearsJanuary 31, 2006 ago