Shlomo Ben-Ami

Shlomo Ben-Ami is an Israeli diplomat, politician, and scholar who served as Israel's Minister of Foreign Affairs and Minister of Public Security during 2000-2001. As a prominent academic, he has authored numerous books on Spanish history and Middle Eastern politics. Ben-Ami was Israel's first ambassador to Spain (1987-1991) and played a significant role in establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries. His scholarly work includes extensive research on Spanish politics and society, particularly focusing on the origins of the Spanish Civil War and the Franco dictatorship. During his political career, Ben-Ami participated in various Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations, including the Camp David Summit in 2000 and the Taba talks in 2001. After leaving politics, he became Vice President of the Toledo International Center for Peace and has written extensively on Middle Eastern conflicts and international diplomacy. Ben-Ami currently serves as Vice President of the Toledo International Center for Peace and continues to publish analyses of international affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His works are frequently published in major international newspapers and academic journals, and he regularly provides commentary on global political developments.

Readers value Ben-Ami's insider perspective as Israel's former foreign minister and his balanced analysis of Israeli-Palestinian relations. His book "Scars of War, Wounds of Peace" receives attention for presenting both sides' narratives while acknowledging failures on all fronts. Positive reviews highlight: - Clear historical documentation - Even-handed approach to complex issues - Personal insights from diplomatic experiences Common criticisms include: - Dense academic writing style - Over-emphasis on diplomatic minutiae - Limited coverage of pre-1967 events Ratings: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (89 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (23 ratings) Multiple readers note his credibility stems from direct involvement in peace negotiations. One Amazon reviewer wrote: "Ben-Ami provides rare insight into actual negotiation sessions that few others can offer." A Goodreads review praised the "thorough research and firsthand accounts" while critiquing the "sometimes dry diplomatic details."

Scars of War, Wounds of Peace: The Israeli-Arab Tragedy (2006) A historical examination of the Arab-Israeli conflict from 1948-2006, focusing on peace negotiations and their failures.

Prophets Without Honor: A Background to Freud, Kafka, Einstein and Their World (2010) An analysis of Jewish intellectuals in Central Europe during the late 19th and early 20th centuries and their cultural impact.

El circulo de los tres (1989) A Spanish-language work examining the diplomatic relations between Great Britain, Spain, and France during the 1940s.

Spain's Transition to Democracy (1999) A detailed account of Spain's political transformation from Franco's dictatorship to democratic rule.

Fascism from Above: The Dictatorship of Primo de Rivera in Spain (1983) A study of Miguel Primo de Rivera's dictatorship in Spain from 1923 to 1930 and its impact on Spanish society.