Tested by Zion

This book tells the full inside story of the Bush Administration and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Written by a top National Security Council officer who worked at the White House with Bush, Cheney and Rice, and attended dozens of meetings with figures like Sharon, Mubarak, the kings of Jordan and Saudi Arabia, and Palestinian leaders, it brings the reader inside the White House and the palaces of Middle Eastern officials. How did 9/11 change American policy toward Arafat and Sharon's tough efforts against the Second Intifada? What influence did the Saudis have on President Bush? Did the American approach change when Arafat died? How did Sharon decide to get out of Gaza and why did the peace negotiations fail? In the first book by an administration official to focus on Bush and the Middle East, Elliott Abrams brings the story of Bush, the Israelis and the Palestinians to life. "Elliott Abrams played a major role in the development of Mid-East policy during the Bush administration. He has written an excellent account that will be an invaluable source for future historians and for all who want to understand one of the most important chapters of that era." - Richard B. Cheney, Former Vice President of the United States "Elliott Abrams was at the epicenter of President Bush's commitment to forge a sustainable solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tested by Zion, Abrams's fascinating new book, takes the reader inside the debates that took place in the Oval Office with the president and his senior advisors on Middle East peace." - Dr. Henry Kissinger, Former United States Secretary of State "Elliott Abrams has written the definitive insider account of the U.S.-Israeli relationship during the critical years under President George W. Bush. This fascinating, important book is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of Israel, the U.S.-Israeli relationship, and the prospects for peace in the Middle East." - Joseph I. Lieberman, United States Senator (Independent-Connecticut) "Abrams's riveting insider account of the Bush administration's policies and actions with regard to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is a must-read. Chock-full of details that are relevant not only to historians but to future policy makers, Tested by Zion is accessible, readable, and brilliantly presented. Although I don't always agree with my former student, Elliott Abrams, I always learn from him and am proud to have been one of his teachers. This book really matters." - Alan M. Dershowitz, Harvard Law School, Author of Trials of Zion (2010) "Elliott Abrams has written an excellent book on a hitherto neglected aspect of Bush administration foreign policy. Meticulous and yet gripping, Tested by Zion weighs the opportunities for diplomacy against its limitations more convincingly than any other account I've seen of the recent Israeli-Palestinian relationship. Highly recommended." - John Lewis Gaddis, Yale University "Mr. Abrams's book is the definitive history of the last Republican president's considerable accomplishments in the Levant." -Wall Street Journal "The book is not only a fascinating yarn for those of us who report on or follow closely the Middle East but also a tour de force of diplomatic history which captures an era and set of characters like few books have done." -Jennifer Rubin, The Washington Post1. Early days; 2. 9/11 and the search for a policy; 3. Roadmap to disengagement; 4. 'New realities on the ground'; 5. Arafat, disengagement, Sharon; 6. Olmert - peace or war?; 7. War in Lebanon - and Condi; 8. From Mecca to Annapolis; 9. The 'meeting' at Annapolis; 10. Final days in Gaza and Turtle Bay; 11. Lessons learned; 12. Conclusion.