The Lost Decade of the Israeli Peace Camp

Twelve years ago, Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) were making significant progress in the US-sponsored bilateral peace negotiations. Since then, the stalemate in the talks has become the new normal. The Israeli peace camp has been subjected to a smear campaign that has shaken its self-esteem and ruined its chances of winning over the public. This systematic smearing of Israeli and Palestinian two-staters has paid off: Israel's declared left-wing parties now constitute together roughly a meager 10% of the vote and the issue of the conflict has been pushed to the sidelines. How did we get to this point? This essay offers insights into several processes that combined to transform Israel's political landscape over the past decade.