"The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict (Alpha Books)" comprehensively covers the history and facts of tense relations between Jews and Arabs in the Middle East. The book is analyzes and guides the reader throughout the history of the conflicts in the region and the prospects for peace. Without the "political science jargon," the book focuses to help the reader have a better understanding the complexities of the region.

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D., foreign policy analyst and editor of the Near East Report, discusses his new book "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict."

A transcript follows. Editor's Note: Washingtonpost.com moderators retain editorial control over Live Online discussions and choose the most relevant questions for guests and hosts; guests and hosts can decline to answer questions.

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: I want to welcome everyone online to discuss the history of the Arab-Israeli conflict and current controversies. Ask me anything. You don't have to be an idiot to read the Idiot's Guide or to ask a question.

Tampa, Fla.: Have there been times in the past when a peace deal has been offered?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: From the earliest days of Zionist settlement in the region, the Jews looked for ways to live in peace with their neighbors. In 1947, the Jews accepted a difficult compromise that left them with a fraction of the territory they believed they were entitled to in the hope that this would lead to peace. The UN divided Palestine into a Jewish and Arab state, but the Arabs rejected the compromise. The conflict ever since has remained one over the willingness of the Arab side to compromise and accept the existence of Israel.

Washington, D.C.: What is the number one reason Palestine and Israel have not been able to reach a peace accord?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Israel thought it was going to reach a settlement with the Palestinians when it signed the Oslo agreement with Arafat. Israel offered to withdraw from most of the West Bank and Gaza in return for peace. Arafat, however, has remained committed to creating a Palestinian state in place of Israel instead of beside Israel. That is the principal obstacle.

Topeka, Kan.: Do you think Arafat is doing enough to stop Palestinian terrorist organizations and suicide bombers? What, if anything, has he done?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: If Arafat wanted to stop terrorism, he could do so immediately by treating the terrorists the way he does his enemies. Typically, he arrests them, tries them, and shoots them -- usually all in one day. In Syria, Hafez Assad destroyed the town of Hama, killed 20,000 people when he was challenged by radical fundamentalists. If Arafat were serious he would do something along these lines, but he sees the terrorists as allies rather than enemies and, in fact, is the one ordering many of the attacks.

Alexandria, Va.: The Tanzim and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade have carried out numerous suicide bombings, often using female bombers.

What is the relationship between these groups and Arafat? Are these suicide-bombing groups part of Fatah which Arafat controls? Does Arafat pay the members of Tanzim and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Arafat controls the principal faction of the PLO that oversees the non-Islamic terrorist groups. Israel found documents during the recent incursion that directly tied him to terrorist attacks.

Alexandria, Va.: Why did Arafat reject President Clinton's peace plan 18 months ago?

Was it because the Clinton Plan called for settling all the descendants of Palestinian refugees outside of Israel's pre-1967 borders, instead of inside as Arafat demands?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Prime Minister Barak and President CLinton worked hard to reach a final settlement with Arafat at Camp David in July 2000. Barak offered to withdraw from 95% of the WB, all of Gaza, give the Palestinians a state with parts of east Jerusalem and to dismantle 63 settlements in the WB. Arafat rejected the deal and offered no counterproposal. His goal remains to liberate all of "Palestine," which means the destruction of Israel. Other Palestinians in his delegation were prepared to accept the Barak deal which is why there is some hope that new leadership could bring about a negotiated settlement.

South Bend, Ind.: What is the basis for Ariel Sharon's statement that Jordan is actually the original "Palestine" and the real home of the Palestinians?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Geographically and historically Jordan was part of Palestine. Jordan was invented by the British in 1921, carved out of roughly 80% of historic Palestine to pay off one of the Arab leaders who helped them in WWI. Politically and strategically, however, it would not be to Israel's advantage for Jordan to be the Palestinian state (even though a majority of the population there is Palestinian) because it would be a stronger more dangerous state than a smaller WB state wedged between Israel and Jordan, both of whom have an interest in keeping the Palestinian state weak.

Mt. Lebanon, Pa.: Has any Palestinian leader ever promoted a Ghandi-like, passive resistance approach to kicking the Israelis out of the disputed territories? If so, whatever happened to him? Violence doesn't seem to be getting the Palestinians anything other than more poverty and misery. And after all, Ghandi told the Brits that one day they would just throw in the towel and wearily go home, confident that his methods would prevail. Thanks much.

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: One of the myths heard frequently is that the Palestinians are driven to terrorism by frustration, poverty, desperation, that they have no other choice. The truth is they do have choices. One is negotiations. That is their best hope for ending their frustration. Another option is non-violence, which worked for Gandhi and Martin Luther King. The Palestinians choose violence.

Rockville, Md.: I think it's worth noting that The Near East Report, of which you are editor, is published by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC). Why then, should why should we believe that this book is a fair and balanced analysis?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Read the book for yourself and decide. I am not associated with AIPAC or the Near East Report. I last worked there about 10 years ago. TOday I direct the nonprofit American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise which is an educational organization and I also run the Jewish Virtual Library web site, an encyclopedia of Jewish history and culture (www.JewishVirtualLibrary.org).

The book has been written as objectively as possible. This does not mean that everyone will agree with everything that appears. Disagreements are inevitable, but the facts in the book are unassailable and no one yet has said that anything is factually inaccurate.

Washington, D.C.: Are you anti-Palestinian (as it appears from your answers) or merely anti-Arafat and his tactics?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: I am not anti-Palestinian. I believe most Palestinians would prefer to live normal lives, sending their children to school, going to work, and enjoying their freedom. Unfortunately, the Palestinians' leaders, notably Arafat, have denied them their freedom through their corrupt rule and by their failure to end the violence and negotiate a compromise that would bring about Palestinian statehood. If the Palestinians had a leader such as Sadat or King Hussein, they would today have a state of their own.

Arlington, Va.: I thought your book might be a relatively unbiased way to find out a bit more about the forces at play in the Middle East -- but from the few answers you've already given, you are definitely using the book as a platform to promote a pro-Israeli agenda.

Wouldn't the book truly have been more useful if you had co-authored it with, say, a Palestinian author?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: There are facts and there are falsehoods. Though there are two sides to every story, they are not always equally true or morally equivalent. FOr example, polls taken after 9/11 in the Arab countries showed that most Arabs believed the Mossad was responsible for the bombing of the WTC. A Saudi newspaper recently said Jews use the blood of non-Jews to make cakes for the Purim holiday. Palestinian media has accused Israel of injecting Palestinians with the AIDS virus and dropping poison candy on Gaza. These are examples of another "side" that is untrue. If someone wants a specifically Arab opinion, it is not hard to find in books or in the media. Incidentally, I find it interesting that you never hear someone ask Hanan Ashrawi or other Arab authors and spokespeople why they are not offering an Israeli point of view. My book is a straightforward account of history. As I say, no one has said it is inaccurate, only questioned its objectivity because the word Israel appears in my biography. I am not hiding my association with organizations that work with Israel and my current nonprofit works to educate people about the relations between Israel and America. My main interest as an American and as a Jew is to see a peaceful Middle East in which Israel lives as a secure nation beside an equally secure and peaceful Palestinian state.

Washington, D.C.: What, if anything, can the United States do at this point to facilitate a peace agreement? For that matter, what role can our European allies and moderate Arab countries play in the process to help stabilize this region?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Europe has little to contribute to the peace process because it has become so closely identified with the Arab sde of the conflict and has no credibility with Israel. This is why the US is the one credible partner. The United States needs to work to end the Palestinian terrorism and then facilitate negotiations between Israelis and Palestinians that will bring about the creation of a Palestinian state in most of the WB and Gaza and security for Israel.

Scotland: If Israel had dismantled 63 settlements under the Clinton Plan, how many would have been left in the West Bank?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Good question. Don't know the exact answer. Those 63 would have been most, if not all of the ones in the Palestinian state. The remaining settlements would have all been within the new borders of Israel. Arafat even accepted the creation of settlement blocs that would have included more than 80% of the settlers. It is worth noting that Ariel Sharon is the one who convinced Menachem Begin to dismantle settlements in Sinai to secure the peace treaty with Egypt and that he was the commander who physically removed them. The Palestinians can test Sharon's commitment to peace only by ending the violence and moving to negotiations. There is little doubt that Sharon will respond favorably. Remember he has publicly come out in favor of a Palestinian state - against the wishes of his own party!

Columbia, Md.: When you say in your first answer that the Jews of Palestine accepted the partition plan (1947) you neglect to mention that many did not, such as Menachem Begin who declared that partition of the "holy land" is illegal, and vowed to continue to fight. Also is it not true that Ben Gurion described the partition in private correspondence as a first step? As in, a stepping stone to a larger state?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Begin and some other Jews indeed believed that Israel was entitled to more territory. The British had promised a homeland in Palestine, which included the area allotted to the Arabs and what became Jordan. Begin, however, was a minority, and Ben-Gurion used military force against Begin's forces when he was viewed as threatening Israel's authority. Begin subsequently became a member of the loyal opposition. Re claims that Begin, BG or Israel is expansionist the proof is in the history. Israel is probably the only country in history that has won lands in defensive wars and given them up. Israel has repeatedly traded land for peace. Israel can't trade land for terror.

Washington, D.C.: What do you think of Israeli soldiers refusing to serve in the occupied territories? Why would they do such a thing?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Fewer than 1% of Israeli soldiers have refused to serve. They have gotten publicity because they are an anomaly. What is more interesting is that during Israel's recent operation, more than 100% of reservists showed up for duty. Many reservists who were not required to serve volunteered, including people with disabilities and those who were beyond the age of service.

South Riding, Va.: Dr. Bard, in your response to an earlier question you state "Jordan was invented by the British in 1921, carved out of roughly 80% of historic Palestine to pay off one of the Arab leaders who helped them in WWI".

It could also be argued that Israel was invented by the British via the Balfour Declaration, the League of Nations and the United Nations to either give Jews a state of thier own or, more cynically, to have a place for Jews to go to from other nations.

Some argue that Israel was created on land that was inhabited by others, and that this 'forced' state creation is the reason for much of the problems that exist today.

I would be interested in your views on this.

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: This is historically inaccurate. Israel existed as a state roughly 3,000 years ago and was independent for centuries. The only reason Israel isn't celebrating its 3,000 bday this year instead of its 54th is that the Jews were expelled by foreign conquerors. By contrast, there has never been a Palestinian state in recorded history. Incidentally, Jerusalem also was never the capital of an Arab entity. It is also interesting to note that the Palestinians never complained of the Jordanian occupation of the WB from 1948 to 1967 and demanded the creation of a Palestinian state.

Columbia, Md.: Relating to the earlier question of Palestinian leaders promoting non-violence, what would you say about Mubarak Awad? He had written a book about Islam and non-violence, the story of Ghandi's lieutenant in Mulism northern India, and advocated (and still advocates) Ghandi-like resistance to Israeli rule. Why do you think he was deported from the Occupied Territories during the first Intifada, when the conflict was still in a civil disobedience stage and there weren't any suicide bombers? What about other leaders of the first Intifada who practiced civil disobedience and were deported (in violation of the Geneva Convention)?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: The real question is where is the Palestinian equivalent of Peace Now? Thousands of Israelis march to protest their governtment's policies. No such protest has ever taken place in the PA. On the contrary, the demonstrations that are held are to celebrate suicide bombers, Osama bin Laden and the bombing of the World Trade Centers. Think about all the coverage you've seen the last several weeks. Have you seen a single interview with a Palestinian critical of Arafat? Lots of Jews and Israelis have criticized Israel. When there is a Palestinian Peace Now or when Palestinian mothers begin to demonstrate for peace instead of glorifying the martyrdom of their children, the prospects for peace will improve.

Columbia, Md.: You seem a little confused about what Clinton and Barak offered in the last negotiating round and when it was offered. IT sounds like the figures you list come from a plan offered by Clinton in December of 2000, not at Camp David. This plan was the basis for the negotiations at Taba (Jan 2001) which Israel pulled out of at the time of the elections and hasn't returned to since. The Palestinians didn't reject the offer, both sides accepted it as the basis for further negotiations, but as I've said, Israel never returned to the table. Oops, that wasn't a question.

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: The lead US negotiator in all the talks with the Palestinians, Dennis Ross, has repeatedly said Arafat offered no counterprosals and rejected Barak and Clinton's ideas.

Scotland: You are smooth and tricky in your answers.like "the creation of a Palestinian state in MOST of the WB and Gaza".
You are wrong.there can be no Palestinian State carved up into cantons and under the control of Israel.
The Likud Party answered the Big Question about a future State 2 weeks ago.the sooner Israel pursues Res 242 with Prince Abdullah's Beirut Declaration as guarantee the better.Views?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Again, Dennis Ross has made clear the Palestinians were offered a state that would be contiguous, not cantons. If they didn't like the offer, Arafat could have made a counter offer. He did not. More than a year later, Palestinians began to invent a variety of reasons for why Arafat refused the offer of the Palestinian state he had said he desired.

washingtonpost.com: A note to our readers that Mitchell Bard, Ph.D., is the executive director of the nonprofit American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise (AICE) and a foreign policy analyst who lectures frequently on U.S.-Middle East policy. Dr. Bard is also the director of the Jewish Virtual Library (www.JewishVirtualLibrary.org), the world's most comprehensive online encyclopedia of Jewish history and culture. For three years he was the editor of the Near East Report, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee's (AIPAC) weekly newsletter on U.S. Middle East policy. He also served as a senior analyst in the polling division of the 1988 Bush campaign.

Fairfax, Va.: I am confused by the status of the Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Why do all the peace proposals seem to assume that the Israeli settlers would be forced to leave their homes and move to Israel? Why would those settlers not simply become Jewish citizens of Palestine, much like there are currently Muslim citizens of Israel?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: If I said Jews should not be permitted to live in Washington DC, you'd say that is anti-Semitism, bigotry, discrimination. Yet Palestinian spokespeople go on TV every night and say Jews have no right to live in the WB. It's anti-semitism, bigotry and discrimination. In fact, Jews have lived in the area of Judea and Samaria for centuries, probably longer than the Palestinians. There is no reason why Jews should be allowed to be citizens one day of Palestine. Of course, many Arab states do deny Jews that right. Jordan, for example, has an explicit law against it. Chances are most, if not all Jews would prefer to live in Israel.

Washington, D.C.: Hello! You are set up as this balanced educator on the Middle East, yet all your answers blame only the Palestinians. We are supposed to blindly believe that the ever-expanding Israel is actually victimized by Arabs? Your claim to be a guide to the Middle East is laughable.

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: How is Israel ever-expanding? It withdrew from more than 90% of the territory in won in 1967 by giving up Sinai. Since Oslo it has given up nearly 100% of Gaza and more than 40% of the WB? Barak offered to give up all but 5% of the WB and Israel has offered to withdraw from most, if not all of the Golan Heights. That's an odd way to expand.

Columbia, Md.: What evidence do you have when you say that Arafat remained committed to a Palestinian State in place of Israel instead of beside Israel? Since, 1974 Arafat has risked his life (at the hands of Abu Nidal, Ahmed Jibril, etc.) in seeking a two-state solution. As far back as 1972 Arafat's top aide Abu Iyad publicly advocated a two-state solution. So you are claiming that Arafat, and other top PLO men, have been lying for 30 years despite considerably risk to their own lives. (Iyad was assassinated by Abu Nidal) How can you document this bold assertion?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: The Palestinian Authority web site had until recently a map of "Palestine." Itwas not a WB state beside Israel, it was a state replacing Israel. Palestinian textbooks do not show Israel on their maps. Arafat wears his khaffiyeh in the shape of "Palestine." The fatah logo and that of other PLO groups is in the shape of all of "Palestine." In Arabic he has consistently said he is committed to liberating all of "Palestine."

Washington, D.C.: It is extremely disingenuous of you to market a book as an "Idiot's Guide" which obviously blames only Palestinians.

I love the argument that the Palestinians have to come up with a Ghandi--why don't the Israelis just live within their borders, like ever other country in the world? Where is their Ghandi?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Israel has many Gandhis in the peace movement. ALl Israelis would be happy to live within their borders if they could be determined in negotiations. Until the Palestinians stop sending suicide bombers to blow up pizzerias, shopping malls and markets, they cannot determine a defensible border.

Re only blaming the Palestinians. It is not the Israelis who are sending suicide bombers into Palestinian markets and cafes. Israel certainly has its share of faults and they are documented each day in the free Israeli press. No such criticism ever appears in the Arafat-controlled PA media.

Washington, D.C.: The Israel right or wrong crowd always must do fast double talking to divert from their double standards. You claim Jews were forced out of Israel centuries ago by foreign conquerors, but what of the Palestinians forced out of Israel after 1948?

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Wealthy Palestinians left before the war in 1948. Most other Palestinians fled to avoid being caught in the crossfire or because their leaders told them if they got oout of the way, the Arab armies that invaded in May 1948 would drive the Jews into the sea and they could return to claim their property and that of the Jews as well. In a few instances Palestinians were expelled from villages. In the bigger cities like Haifa, the documentation clearly shows the Jews urged them to stay. The 150,000 Palestinians who stayed in their homes became free and equal citizens of the state. The Palestinians who fled were confined by their Arab brethren to refugee camps and have remained refugees ever since despite millions of dollars of UN assistance. Even today, after receiving billions, the PA prefers to keep its own people in refugee camps rather than build permanent housing for them.

Washington, D.C.: What effect do you believe the events of September 11 have had on the Palestinian cause? I'm not a Jew, but as an American, any sympathies I had for the plight of the Palestinian people was erased by their celebrations following Sept. 11. I suspect I'm not alone.

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: Sept 11 revealed that there are Islamic radicals who are committed to a holy war against non-Muslims. They will never accept a Jewish state in the Islamic world and that is why even if Israel were to withdraw to the 1967 border tomorrow, as the Saudis proposed, it would not end the terrorism of Hamas and Islamic Jihad. THose groups have made clear that there is no border Israel can withdraw to that will satisfy them except the Mediterranean. These same radicals we now see threaten Americans as well.

Maryland: I agree with you that if not for Arafat, the West Bank would have been an independent Palestine long ago. But at this point, what would be the problem with Israel moving all the West Bank settlers back inside the pre-1967 borders, and letting the Palestinians have the West Bank? That would probably satisfy the Palestinian moderates and improve Israel's standing among moderates throughout the Arab world. The radicals won't ever be satisfied, of course.

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: It is conceivable the Jews would move out of most of the WB as Barak proposed, but only if the Palestinian cease their terrorist campaign. Otherwise, they will interpret an Israeli withdrawal as weakness and belive that if they continue their suicide bombings they can force Israel to withraw to the sea. This was the lesson of Lebanon. Israel unilaterally withdrew from 100% of Lebanon - even the UN agreed -- and yet Hezbollah continues its terror campaign. And the Palestinian interpreted the Israeli action as withdrawing in response to the terror, which stimulated the current wave of violence.

Mitchell, Bard, Ph.D.: I want to thank everyone for their questions. I hope you will buy the book and learn more about the history of this conflict. By all means read others as well to get a variety of perspectives, but the Complete Idiot's Guide will give you the best general overview of the Middle East conflict. Also visit our web site www.JewishVirtualLibrary.org.

Thank you.

washingtonpost.com:

That wraps up today's show. Thanks to everyone who joined the discussion.

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