Professor David Rothkopf discusses the pivotal role of a small nation in negotiating a landmark Middle East peace agreement - the Oslo accords.

In 1973, a single handshake on the White House lawn between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders marked the end of decades of confrontation and conflict. But this breakthrough was brokered not through superpower intervention but with the help of Norway.

Crucially it was done through secret informal communications called 'back channel diplomacy'.

Professor Rothkopf hears from the negotiators about how they brought the two sides together under the cover of an academic conference and how, ultimately, their careful diplomacy resulted in the landmark Oslo accords.

But, as he discovers, back channel diplomacy does not always work.

A Kati Whitaker production first broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2017. Show less