Table of Contents

Introduction; 1. Thatcher and the 'Finchley factor'; 2. The new Soviet threat; 3. Thatcher endorses the Venice Declaration; 4. Operation Babylon; 5. The crisis in Anglo-American relations; 6. Israel's invasion of Lebanon; 7. Thatcher's diplomatic initiative; 8. Thatcher's landmark visit to Israel; 9. The Reagan administration spurns the London Agreement; 10. The collapse of the 'Jordanian option'; 11. A new approach towards the PLO; 12. The end of a friendship; Conclusion.

Promotional Information

This volume examines Margaret Thatcher's policy on the Middle East, with a spotlight on her approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

About the Author

Azriel Bermant is a historian, and a research fellow in the arms control and regional security program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS) at Tel Aviv University. Dr Bermant was awarded his Ph.D. from University College London. His work has been published in numerous publications, including Foreign Affairs, The Daily Telegraph, The Guardian and Haaretz. He is the author of The Russian and Iranian Missile Threats: Implications for NATO Missile Defense (2014).

Reviews

'This is an important book, as it dispels three misconceptions about policies pursued by Margaret Thatcher: that she was at odds with the Foreign Office on the Israel-Palestine conflict; that she was of one mind with the Reagan administration regarding the Middle East; and that conservatives such as Thatcher automatically support other conservatives, for example, Yitzhak Shamir. Well-researched and well worth reading.' Daniel Kurtzer, Princeton University, New Jersey, and former US Ambassador to Egypt and Israel

'The fascinating aspect of Bermant's book is not only that it shows the level of British entanglement in the Middle East, but reveals the numerous peace plans launched in the period that have direct parallels with today.' Seth J. Frantzman, The Jerusalem Post

'In sum, this is a persuasive and bold account, one built upon admirable archival research and historical knowledge, and which greatly adds to our understanding of British foreign policy and the Thatcher era as they pertain to the Middle East. Its tone is admirably measured. The value is in the detail and the substantial evidence provided on certain specifics.' Rosemary Hollis, International Journal of Middle East Studies