The New Jew Canon: The Truth About Camp David

Title: The Truth About Camp David Author: Clayton Swisher Description: Before Swisher wrote this book in 2004, conventional wisdom dictated that the collapse of the 2000 Camp David negotiations was all Arafat's fault and that Barak was a victim. Swisher, who was at Camp David, interviewed all the players and demonstrates that Barak was as much responsible for the failure as Arafat. Additionally, he shows that the Clinton "peace team" helped doom the Camp David talks by acting, in negotiator Aaron Miller's words, as "Israel's lawyer" not as an honest broker. This book helps Jews get beyond the blame-the-Palestinians game to the realization that peace was almost achieved, and that the reason it wasn't is due to mistakes, blunders and, in Barak's case, the sheer arrogance of the various parties. The book also helps one understand just how Barak evolved from peace negotiator to the hawk he is today. The answer: he hasn't evolved. He is no more skeptical about negotiating with Palestinians today than he was then. Recommended By: M.J. Rosenberg is the Director of Policy Analysis for Israel Policy Forum (IPF), a position he has held since the spring of 1998. In this position, MJ heads IPF's Washington, D.C. office and writes IPF Friday, a weekly opinion column on the Arab-Israeli conflict which is widely circulated throughout the United States and the Middle East. In addition, MJ has published numerous op-eds, in the national and Jewish press.

The New Jew Canon is a long-term project that seeks to canonize essential Jewish (and some Non-Jewish) reads as recommended by extraordinary rabbis, experts, and cultural leaders. Suggestions are welcome via comments or tips.

Previously: Harold Kushner's When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Recommended by Vanessa Ochs

Yesterday's Ha'aretz features a piece by the highly respected Israeli reporter, Gideon Levy.

Levy says that it's time for Secretary Rice, the United Nations Secretary-General, the Europeans and everybody else who travels to the Mideast on peace missions to end their boycott of Hamas.

He argues that the Palestinians elected a government -- after the US insisted on fair and free elections -- and now, if we are serious, we need to live with the consequences. We can't move toward a resolution if we don't engage all the parties -- at least according to Levy.

This is, of course, an argument that would be considered shocking here. But in Israel, where one can write or say whatever one wants on this issue, this piece won't shock anybody. But here it's a different story.

This is a piece worth discussing whether you agree with it or not.

Yesterday's Times had a great piece on the actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt (you know, the kid from Third Rock). He's been in a number of films since leaving the show and the kid gets amazing reviews.

The article quotes a big Hollywood guy as saying Joseph Gordon-Levitt is the best actor of the under 26 generation.

My concern is that I had thought Jewish guy, Jake Gyllenhaal was the best. Or maybe Jewish gal, Scarlett Johannsen? Or James Franco? Or Zac Efron? Or Daniel Radcliffe? Or Keri Russell?

What d'yall think?

The Washington Post today runs a page one story on Michael Bloomberg's contemplation of a run for the Presidency in '08.

The Post quotes people around the Mayor as saying that he would run neither as a Republican (he's too liberal) or Democrat (the field's too crowded) but as a Ross Perot-like independent.

Not a bad idea. I'm not a New Yorker but the view in these parts (Washington, DC) is that Bloomberg comes just after LaGuardia as the most competent mayor New York has ever had. He could fund his own campaign (no special interest money required). He's good on the issues.

Right now, with exciting figures like Obama and (longshot) Chuck Hagel in the picture, there does not seem to be much need for a Bloomberg candidacy. But what if two quasi pro-war types win the two nominations?

It's just possible voters would cry out for another choice? Why not Bloomberg under that old slogan, "Competency, For a Change."