"With so much attention devoted to how Israeli policies led to the collapse of the Oslo peace process, struggles and trends among Palestinians are often neglected. Klein builds on decades of research to illuminate the accomplishments and failures of Palestinian leadership, the political transformation of Hamas, and the disastrous decline of the Palestinian Authority."-- Ian S. Lustick, Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania "A trenchant, insightful and timely book on the leadership styles and records of two Palestinian presidents who for better or worse have shaped the strategy of the Palestinian national movement for more than half a century."-- Aaron David Miller, former Middle East analyst and negotiator, US Department of State "Menachem Klein, one of Israel's foremost experts on the Palestinian issue, has written a superb comparative biography of Yasser Arafat and Mahmoud Abbas. This is a critical read for anyone interested in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, for it dissects clearly the leadership challenges within Palestinian society."-- Daniel Kurtzer, Professor of Middle East Policy Studies, Princeton University, and former US Ambassador to Israel (2001-05) and Egypt (1997-2001) "Klein [has] authored a valuable comparative analysis of the only two presidents of the Palestinian Authority . [this] important monograph includes an especially pertinent and contemporary critique of the perceptions and attitudes of both Israeli and Palestinian negotiators, as well as the close role of the US in influencing them.

"--CHOICE "Klein provides rich insights into the psychological makeup of his two principals, the personal inclinations that have contributed to their successes and their failures."--Fathom.