"I believe," Savir writes at the fiftieth anniversary of his homeland's founding, "that for all it has achieved, the Oslo process is the true test of [Israel's] maturity as a strong modern nation able to coexist with former enemies." It was also a test of the ability of Israelis to coexist amongst themselves; Savir brings a valuable perspective on the rivalry between Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin (and how it affected their efforts to unite Israel for peace) and the efforts of opposition leaders to thwart settlement. He takes us throught the peace process step by step, explaining precisely what was achieved to ensure, in the words of his negotiating partner, Palestinian Council leader Abu Ala, they could give "the next generation... a life different from the one we had known."