This book presents the first comprehensive legal analysis of the Oslo Accords. Professor Geoffrey Watson begins by rejecting suggestions that the Accords are non-binding political undertakings. He argues instead that they are binding international agreements between subjects of international law. Professor Watson next analyses Israeli and Palestinian compliance with the Accords. Watson concludes that each side has a mixed record of compliance, but that neither side
has committed so serious a breach as to warrant termination of the Accords. Finally, Professor Watson offers some suggestions on how international law might help shape a final status agreement between
the parties.
Industry Reviews
`High quality ... Watson intended to make the information accessible for lawyers and non-lawyers alike, which he achieves, using a light and legible style ... The book contains a number of useful maps, which facilitate understanding the situation in the area ... This book is a useful and very readable contribution to the ongoing debate about the legal implications of the situation in the Middle East.'
Netherlands International Law Review
`... the first comprehensive legal analysis of the series of agreements between Israel and the Palestinians known collectively as the 'Oslo Accords'... extremely thorough...'
SHOFAR Summer 2002, Vol. 20, No. 4
`... the discussion is highly systematic, carefully and respectfully considering alternate arguments ... conclusions, if not incontrovertible, are always well-grounded and supported by logic. The author also does a superb job in providing frequent signposts, orienting and re-orienting the reader to where the point at hands fits into the larger flow of the book. This is especially necessary in a work sufficiently technical to daunt all but the more
determined lay reader. The major sub-agreements that comprise the Oslo Accords are helpfully reproduced in appendices to the main text ...'
SHOFAR Summer 2002, Vol. 20 No. 4
`the real merit of the book lies in its rigorous analysis of the legal aspects of the Accords, and in that respect it is a valuable contribution to the relatively sparse literature on the subject.'
Journal of the Commonwealth Lawyers' Association 2001
`Watson ... has done a service to all international lawyers by presenting a thorough and meticulously researched study of the legal issues pertaining to the Oslo Accords. ... Watson's analysis is continually engaging and thought provoking. ... includes an excellent index ... also an extensive bibliography, which should prove extremely useful to researchers. ... thorough, well researched, lucidly written, and fair to all sides in its presentation. It
would be a fine addition to any international law library.'
The American Journal of International Law Vol. 95, 2001
`This eminently readable, dispassionate volume presents a comprehensive legal analysis of the Oslo Accords ...'
Choice May 2001
`In total, Watson's analysis is extremely well-reasoned. His arguments proceed logically to the conclusion that the Oslo Accords are legally binding instruments of international law, and that they are an important milestone in progress towards Middle Eastern peace.'
D. Vogel, Harvard International Law Journal