Death Tango: Ariel Sharon, Yasser Arafat, and Three Fateful Days in March

Death Tango explores the Middle East dynamic, tracing events from March 27–29, 2002, including the Park Hotel bombing, the Arab Peace Initiative, and the Israel-Arab conflict. It analyzes the interactions between these events and the key personalities involved, concluding that Arabs and Israelis are dancing a "death tango."

Format: Hardback
Length: 232 pages
Publication date: 15 February 2022
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Death Tango delves into the intricate dynamics of the Middle East, tracing its roots back to a pivotal period in 2002. On March 27, Passover Eve, the Park Hotel bombing in Netanya marked the most devastating Arab terrorist attack in Israel's history. The following day, the Arab League Summit in Beirut adopted the Arab Peace Initiative, a significant Arab effort to establish parameters for resolving the Israel-Arab conflict. In response, Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield, reoccupying the West Bank. Alpher expertly weaves together these three pivotal events, highlighting the key figures involved on all sides. The narrative transitions from a suicide bombing to the deliberations of Arab leaders, from the Israel Prime Minister's Office where Ariel Sharon expressed his frustration towards Yasser Arafat, to Washington, where the United States struggled to comprehend the complex dynamics at play. Finally, it reaches the Jenin refugee camp, where Israeli soldiers secured a military victory but lost the media battle in shaping public opinion. Drawing upon extensive interviews and his intimate understanding, Alpher meticulously analyzes these three days in late March 2002, concluding that Arabs and Israelis are engaged in a "death tango" of sorts.

Weight: 496g
Dimension: 236 x 160 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781538162071