Israeli-Palestinian Israeli-Palestinian ConflictConflict

Update 2005Update 2005

Oslo Accords, 1993Oslo Accords, 1993

• between Israel and the PLO between Israel and the PLO

• treaty included:treaty included:

• mutual recognitionmutual recognition

• limited self-rule for limited self-rule for Palestinians in Jericho Palestinians in Jericho and Gazaand Gaza

• provisions for a permanent treaty that would resolve provisions for a permanent treaty that would resolve the status of Gaza and the West Bank. the status of Gaza and the West Bank.

• agreement was sealed by a historic handshake between agreement was sealed by a historic handshake between Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

• an extremist Jewish an extremist Jewish settler killed 39 Palestinians settler killed 39 Palestinians as they prayed in a West Bank as they prayed in a West Bank mosque.mosque.

• Israel withdrew in May from Israel withdrew in May from Jericho on the West Bank and Jericho on the West Bank and from Gaza. from Gaza.

• Arafat entered Gaza and Arafat entered Gaza and swore in members of the swore in members of the Palestinian Authority, which Palestinian Authority, which took control of education and took control of education and culture, social welfare, culture, social welfare, tourism, health and taxationtourism, health and taxation

Hebron Massacre, 1994Hebron Massacre, 1994

Rabin Assassination, 1995Rabin Assassination, 1995

• Rabin and Peres signed an Rabin and Peres signed an agreement expanding agreement expanding Palestinian self-rule in the West Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and giving the Palestinian Bank and giving the Palestinian Authority control over six large Authority control over six large West Bank townsWest Bank towns

• Rabin was assassinated at a Rabin was assassinated at a peace rally two months later by peace rally two months later by an Israeli law student with an Israeli law student with connections to right-wing connections to right-wing extremists extremists

Palestinian/Israeli Elections, 1996Palestinian/Israeli Elections, 1996

• first-ever elections held by first-ever elections held by PalestiniansPalestinians• Arafat was the overwhelming Arafat was the overwhelming choice as president of the choice as president of the Palestinian AuthorityPalestinian Authority

• Israel, a massive bus bomb set off by Islamic extremists Israel, a massive bus bomb set off by Islamic extremists killed 25 and wounded dozens killed 25 and wounded dozens • Hard-line Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu defeated Hard-line Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu defeated Peres in a close race. Peres in a close race. • Netanyahu and Arafat pledged to work toward a final Netanyahu and Arafat pledged to work toward a final peace treatypeace treaty

• later that year, Israeli gov’t to end a freeze on later that year, Israeli gov’t to end a freeze on construction in the occupied territoriesconstruction in the occupied territories

• Clashes continuedClashes continued

Handover of Housing and Hamas, Handover of Housing and Hamas, 19971997• Hebron (West Bank) returned to Hebron (West Bank) returned to Palestinian control after 30 years Palestinian control after 30 years • Netanyahu (Israeli PM) approved Netanyahu (Israeli PM) approved a large new Jewish housing a large new Jewish housing project in eastern Jerusalemproject in eastern Jerusalem

• New violence broke out--suicide bombs in an outdoor New violence broke out--suicide bombs in an outdoor market in Jerusalem that killed 15 and wounded 170. market in Jerusalem that killed 15 and wounded 170. • An extremist Palestinian group called Hamas claimed An extremist Palestinian group called Hamas claimed responsibility, and the Israeli Cabinet insisted the peace responsibility, and the Israeli Cabinet insisted the peace talks would continue only when the terrorism stopped. talks would continue only when the terrorism stopped.

Wye River Accords, 1998Wye River Accords, 1998

• yearlong stalemate, marathon 21-yearlong stalemate, marathon 21-hour session, mediated Clintonhour session, mediated Clinton• Netanyahu and Arafat signed a Netanyahu and Arafat signed a land-for-peace deal land-for-peace deal

• crackdown on terroristscrackdown on terrorists• redeployment of Israeli troopsredeployment of Israeli troops

• transfer of 14.2 percent of the West Bank land to transfer of 14.2 percent of the West Bank land to Palestinian controlPalestinian control• safe passage corridors for Palestinians between Gaza safe passage corridors for Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bankand the West Bank• the release of 750 Palestinians from Israeli prisonsthe release of 750 Palestinians from Israeli prisons

Barak by a Landslide, 1999Barak by a Landslide, 1999• Moderate Labor candidate Ehud Barak unseated Netanyahu in the May prime minister election• winning by a record margin• Israel released 200 Palestinian prisoners and began transferring West Bank land to Palestinian control as part of the terms of the Wye accords.

Impasse, more fighting, 2000Impasse, more fighting, 2000• Clinton moderated a summit Clinton moderated a summit between Barak and Arafat at between Barak and Arafat at Camp David as the September 13 Camp David as the September 13 deadline for a final peace accord deadline for a final peace accord approached. approached.

• The talks ended after 15 days The talks ended after 15 days with no agreement. with no agreement.

• Arafat rejected Barak's Arafat rejected Barak's offer for control of most, offer for control of most, but not all, the territory Israel but not all, the territory Israel occupied in the 1967 Six-Day occupied in the 1967 Six-Day War. War.

• Israeli right-wing opposition leader Ariel Sharon led a Israeli right-wing opposition leader Ariel Sharon led a delegation to a Jerusalem site that Jews and Muslims delegation to a Jerusalem site that Jews and Muslims consider sacred. consider sacred.

• Crowds of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank Crowds of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank began attacking Israeli security forces after the began attacking Israeli security forces after the controversial visit.controversial visit.

• Barak's support eroded, and he resigned in December, Barak's support eroded, and he resigned in December, calling for a special prime minister election to be held in calling for a special prime minister election to be held in February 2001.February 2001.

Sharon’s victory; renewed violenceSharon’s victory; renewed violence

After months of stepped-up violence between After months of stepped-up violence between Palestinians and Israelis, Likud Party leader Ariel Palestinians and Israelis, Likud Party leader Ariel Sharon defeated Ehud Barak by a landslide in Israel's Sharon defeated Ehud Barak by a landslide in Israel's February 6 special election for prime minister.February 6 special election for prime minister.

•The September 11 terrorist attacks on the United The September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States sparked a renewed interest in the Mideast States sparked a renewed interest in the Mideast peace processpeace process

• But violence erupted again in December after But violence erupted again in December after explosions in Jerusalem and the northern Israeli port explosions in Jerusalem and the northern Israeli port city of Haifa, which killed at least 25 Israelis and three city of Haifa, which killed at least 25 Israelis and three suicide bombers. suicide bombers.

• The attacks led to major Israeli military strikes The attacks led to major Israeli military strikes against Palestinian targets in the West Bank and Gaza, against Palestinian targets in the West Bank and Gaza, and a new round of violence started, stalling the peace and a new round of violence started, stalling the peace process once more.process once more.

Violence intensifies, 2002Violence intensifies, 2002The situation in the Mideast The situation in the Mideast worsened: worsened:

• constant barrage of constant barrage of suicide bombings and suicide bombings and Israeli military actions. Israeli military actions. • Israeli forces invaded Israeli forces invaded Palestinian refugee camps Palestinian refugee camps to flush out what Israelis to flush out what Israelis say are militantssay are militants

• multiple suicide bombings were carried out by multiple suicide bombings were carried out by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a military offshoot of Palestinian Brigades, a military offshoot of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.

The conflict raged despite a series of diplomatic efforts:The conflict raged despite a series of diplomatic efforts:

• Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah put forth a peace Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah put forth a peace plan in which Arab states would recognize Israel's plan in which Arab states would recognize Israel's right to exist in exchange for its return to pre-1967 right to exist in exchange for its return to pre-1967 bordersborders

• The U.S., E.U., U.N. and Russia later submitted a The U.S., E.U., U.N. and Russia later submitted a three-phase plan calling for a Palestinian state and three-phase plan calling for a Palestinian state and conclusive peace accord by 2005conclusive peace accord by 2005

•But Israeli and Palestinian officials failed to reach But Israeli and Palestinian officials failed to reach any major agreements. any major agreements.

Road Map to peace…2003Road Map to peace…2003

• The The second intifadasecond intifada continued with Palestinian suicide continued with Palestinian suicide bombings taking place in Tel Aviv and Haifa.bombings taking place in Tel Aviv and Haifa.

• Israel retaliated against what it said are known Israel retaliated against what it said are known Palestinian terrorists and the homes of suicide Palestinian terrorists and the homes of suicide bombers. bombers.

• Israelis returned incumbent prime minister Ariel Israelis returned incumbent prime minister Ariel Sharon to power in a January general election. Sharon to power in a January general election.

• The main opposition Labor party saw its public The main opposition Labor party saw its public support collapse, after its leader campaigned on a plan support collapse, after its leader campaigned on a plan to withdraw Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers from to withdraw Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers from Gaza and to resume negotiations with the Palestinians, Gaza and to resume negotiations with the Palestinians, including Yasser Arafat. including Yasser Arafat.

Abbas as Prime MinisterAbbas as Prime Minister

• Arafat, under Arafat, under international pressure, international pressure, instituted a instituted a constitutional reform for constitutional reform for the Palestinian Authoritythe Palestinian Authority

• transferred some of his transferred some of his powers to the newly powers to the newly created post of prime created post of prime minister. minister.

•Mahmoud Abbas Mahmoud Abbas elected to that position elected to that position

Reforms that didn’t workReforms that didn’t work

Abbas resigned as Prime Minister Abbas resigned as Prime Minister after after 3 or 4 months because he felt 3 or 4 months because he felt helpless as Prime Minister. He did helpless as Prime Minister. He did not feel that enough power was not feel that enough power was transferred to his authoritytransferred to his authority

Ahmed Qurie replaced him as Prime Ahmed Qurie replaced him as Prime Minister until Arafat’s death and the Minister until Arafat’s death and the subsequent election.subsequent election.

Events of 2005…Events of 2005…

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