Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Update 2005

Oslo Accords, 1993 between Israel and the PLO between Israel and the PLO treaty included: treaty included: mutual recognition mutual recognition limited self-rule for Palestinians in Jericho and Gaza limited self-rule for Palestinians in Jericho and Gaza provisions for a permanent treaty that would resolve the status of Gaza and the West Bank. provisions for a permanent treaty that would resolve the status of Gaza and the West Bank. agreement was sealed by a historic handshake between Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin. agreement was sealed by a historic handshake between Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

an extremist Jewish settler killed 39 Palestinians as they prayed in a West Bank mosque. an extremist Jewish settler killed 39 Palestinians as they prayed in a West Bank mosque. Israel withdrew in May from Jericho on the West Bank and from Gaza. Israel withdrew in May from Jericho on the West Bank and from Gaza. Arafat entered Gaza and swore in members of the Palestinian Authority, which took control of education and culture, social welfare, tourism, health and taxation Arafat entered Gaza and swore in members of the Palestinian Authority, which took control of education and culture, social welfare, tourism, health and taxation Hebron Massacre, 1994

Rabin Assassination, 1995 Rabin and Peres signed an agreement expanding Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and giving the Palestinian Authority control over six large West Bank towns Rabin and Peres signed an agreement expanding Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank and giving the Palestinian Authority control over six large West Bank towns Rabin was assassinated at a peace rally two months later by an Israeli law student with connections to right-wing extremists Rabin was assassinated at a peace rally two months later by an Israeli law student with connections to right-wing extremists

Palestinian/Israeli Elections, 1996 first-ever elections held by Palestinians first-ever elections held by Palestinians Arafat was the overwhelming choice as president of the Palestinian Authority Arafat was the overwhelming choice as president of the Palestinian Authority Israel, a massive bus bomb set off by Islamic extremists killed 25 and wounded dozens Israel, a massive bus bomb set off by Islamic extremists killed 25 and wounded dozens Hard-line Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu defeated Peres in a close race. Hard-line Likud Party leader Benjamin Netanyahu defeated Peres in a close race. Netanyahu and Arafat pledged to work toward a final peace treaty Netanyahu and Arafat pledged to work toward a final peace treaty later that year, Israeli gov’t to end a freeze on construction in the occupied territories later that year, Israeli gov’t to end a freeze on construction in the occupied territories Clashes continued Clashes continued

Handover of Housing and Hamas, 1997 Hebron (West Bank) returned to Palestinian control after 30 years Hebron (West Bank) returned to Palestinian control after 30 years Netanyahu (Israeli PM) approved a large new Jewish housing project in eastern Jerusalem Netanyahu (Israeli PM) approved a large new Jewish housing project in eastern Jerusalem New violence broke out--suicide bombs in an outdoor market in Jerusalem that killed 15 and wounded 170. New violence broke out--suicide bombs in an outdoor market in Jerusalem that killed 15 and wounded 170. An extremist Palestinian group called Hamas claimed responsibility, and the Israeli Cabinet insisted the peace talks would continue only when the terrorism stopped. An extremist Palestinian group called Hamas claimed responsibility, and the Israeli Cabinet insisted the peace talks would continue only when the terrorism stopped.

Wye River Accords, 1998 yearlong stalemate, marathon 21- hour session, mediated Clinton yearlong stalemate, marathon 21- hour session, mediated Clinton Netanyahu and Arafat signed a land-for-peace deal Netanyahu and Arafat signed a land-for-peace deal crackdown on terrorists crackdown on terrorists redeployment of Israeli troops redeployment of Israeli troops transfer of 14.2 percent of the West Bank land to Palestinian control safe passage corridors for Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bank safe passage corridors for Palestinians between Gaza and the West Bank the release of 750 Palestinians from Israeli prisons the release of 750 Palestinians from Israeli prisons

Barak 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, 2000 Clinton moderated a summit between Barak and Arafat at Camp David as the September 13 deadline for a final peace accord approached. Clinton moderated a summit between Barak and Arafat at Camp David as the September 13 deadline for a final peace accord approached. The talks ended after 15 days with no agreement. The talks ended after 15 days with no agreement. Arafat rejected Barak's offer for control of most, but not all, the territory Israel occupied in the 1967 Six-Day War. Arafat rejected Barak's offer for control of most, but not all, the territory Israel occupied in the 1967 Six-Day War.

Israeli right-wing opposition leader Ariel Sharon led a delegation to a Jerusalem site that Jews and Muslims consider sacred. Israeli right-wing opposition leader Ariel Sharon led a delegation to a Jerusalem site that Jews and Muslims consider sacred. Crowds of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank began attacking Israeli security forces after the controversial visit. Crowds of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank began attacking Israeli security forces after the controversial visit. Barak's support eroded, and he resigned in December, calling for a special prime minister election to be held in February Barak's support eroded, and he resigned in December, calling for a special prime minister election to be held in February 2001.

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

The September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States sparked a renewed interest in the Mideast peace processThe September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States sparked a renewed interest in the Mideast peace process But violence erupted again in December after explosions in Jerusalem and the northern Israeli port city of Haifa, which killed at least 25 Israelis and three suicide bombers. But violence erupted again in December after explosions in Jerusalem and the northern Israeli port city of Haifa, which killed at least 25 Israelis and three suicide bombers. The attacks led to major Israeli military strikes against Palestinian targets in the West Bank and Gaza, and a new round of violence started, stalling the peace process once more. The attacks led to major Israeli military strikes against Palestinian targets in the West Bank and Gaza, and a new round of violence started, stalling the peace process once more.

Violence intensifies, 2002 The situation in the Mideast worsened: constant barrage of suicide bombings and Israeli military actions. constant barrage of suicide bombings and Israeli military actions. Israeli forces invaded Palestinian refugee camps to flush out what Israelis say are militants Israeli forces invaded Palestinian refugee camps to flush out what Israelis say are militants multiple suicide bombings were carried out by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a military offshoot of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement. multiple suicide bombings were carried out by Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, a military offshoot of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement.

The conflict raged despite a series of diplomatic efforts: Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah put forth a peace plan in which Arab states would recognize Israel's right to exist in exchange for its return to pre-1967 borders Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah put forth a peace plan in which Arab states would recognize Israel's right to exist in exchange for its return to pre-1967 borders The U.S., E.U., U.N. and Russia later submitted a three-phase plan calling for a Palestinian state and conclusive peace accord by 2005 The U.S., E.U., U.N. and Russia later submitted a three-phase plan calling for a Palestinian state and conclusive peace accord by 2005 But Israeli and Palestinian officials failed to reach any major agreements.But Israeli and Palestinian officials failed to reach any major agreements.

Road Map to peace…2003 The second intifada continued with Palestinian suicide bombings taking place in Tel Aviv and Haifa. Israel retaliated against what it said are known Palestinian terrorists and the homes of suicide bombers. Israel retaliated against what it said are known Palestinian terrorists and the homes of suicide bombers. Israelis returned incumbent prime minister Ariel Sharon to power in a January general election. Israelis returned incumbent prime minister Ariel Sharon to power in a January general election. The main opposition Labor party saw its public support collapse, after its leader campaigned on a plan to withdraw Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers from Gaza and to resume negotiations with the Palestinians, including Yasser Arafat. The main opposition Labor party saw its public support collapse, after its leader campaigned on a plan to withdraw Jewish settlers and Israeli soldiers from Gaza and to resume negotiations with the Palestinians, including Yasser Arafat.

Abbas as Prime Minister Arafat, under international pressure, instituted a constitutional reform for the Palestinian Authority Arafat, under international pressure, instituted a constitutional reform for the Palestinian Authority transferred some of his powers to the newly created post of prime minister. transferred some of his powers to the newly created post of prime minister. Mahmoud Abbas elected to that positionMahmoud Abbas elected to that position

Reforms that didn’t work Abbas resigned as Prime Minister after 3 or 4 months because he felt helpless as Prime Minister. He did not feel that enough power was transferred to his authority Abbas resigned as Prime Minister after 3 or 4 months because he felt helpless as Prime Minister. He did not feel that enough power was transferred to his authority Ahmed Qurie replaced him as Prime Minister until Arafat’s death and the subsequent election. Ahmed Qurie replaced him as Prime Minister until Arafat’s death and the subsequent election.

Events of 2005… Coming soon from a project near you…