How the Oslo Accords tried to find peace between Israel and Palestine

Following the tensions after the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, in June 1967, the Six-Day War resulted in Israel's occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

This occupation fueled a new generation of people who felt a deep resentment and conflict. By the late 1980s, the First Intifada, a Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule, intensified the situation.

As a result, the need for a peaceful resolution became more urgent. 

In 1991, the Madrid Conference initiated a new phase of negotiations. It brought together Israeli and Palestinian representatives for direct talks.

Meanwhile, secret back-channel negotiations began in Norway. These clandestine efforts aimed to bypass the official diplomatic stalemate. 

In 1992, Israeli and Palestinian representatives began unofficial talks in Norway. Initially, the meetings involved academics and low-level officials.

However, over time, senior leaders such as Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO official Mahmoud Abbas joined the dialogue.

It was the Norwegian government that facilitated the overall process. Norwegian diplomats, including Terje Rød-Larsen and Mona Juul, provided a neutral ground for the negotiations.

With secrecy paramount, isolation allowed for more open and candid exchanges. As a result, the negotiators appeared to make significant progress.

In August 1993, the parties reached a preliminary agreement. 

Yitzhak Rabin, the Prime Minister of Israel, chose to engage in secret negotiations despite that fact that many considered risky.

He sought to secure Israel's future while making some concessions to the Palestinians. On the other side of the ideological divide was Yasser Arafat, leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). 

Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat then endorsed the first draft of the agreement. Their approval signified a major breakthrough.

Finally, on September 13, 1993, Rabin and Arafat, along with U.S. President Bill Clinton, gathered in Washington, D.C., for the official signing.

Clinton had been acting as a crucial mediator and his administration provided diplomatic support that facilitated the signing ceremonies. 

The Oslo I Accord, which was the one signed on September 13, 1993, which was officially called the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, included provisions for the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA), which would assume governing responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The PA's role was to oversee administrative functions and security in these areas. As a result, Palestinians would gain a degree of self-governance. 

In addition to the creation of the PA, the accord outlined a phased withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

This process was intended to build trust between the two parties. The agreement also called for the holding of elections for the Palestinian Legislative Council within nine months.

These elections aimed to establish a legitimate and democratic Palestinian leadership. Moreover, the accord recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people. 

Crucially, the Oslo I Accord set a five-year timeline for the completion of a permanent peace agreement. During this interim period, both sides committed to further negotiations on key issues.

These included the status of Jerusalem, the right of return for Palestinian refugees, and the borders of a future Palestinian state. 

The Oslo II Accord, signed on September 28, 1995, aimed to expand the foundations laid by the Oslo I Accord. The agreement, officially known as the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, focused on the further transfer of powers and responsibilities to the Palestinian Authority (PA).

It divided the West Bank into three distinct areas: Area A, under full Palestinian control; Area B, under Palestinian civil control and Israeli security control; and Area C, under full Israeli control.

Through this division, the accord sought to balance security concerns with the goal of Palestinian self-governance. 

In addition to territorial divisions, the Oslo II Accord established protocols for Palestinian elections. The agreement called for elections to be held for a Palestinian president and a legislative council.

Moreover, the accord outlined steps for economic cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians. 

The agreement also addressed a series of security arrangements. It included provisions for joint patrols and coordination between Israeli and Palestinian security forces.

These measures aimed to reduce violence and build trust. However, with frequent clashes and mutual distrust, cooperation proved difficult.

Additionally, the accord aimed to improve movement and access for Palestinians. It outlined plans for safe passage routes between the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

These routes were intended to facilitate travel and economic activity.  

The implementation of the Oslo Accords faced significant challenges from the beginning. Initially, the agreements generated cautious optimism on both sides.

Many Israelis and Palestinians saw the accords as a genuine opportunity for peace. This optimism led to increased cooperation in certain areas.

After the signing, the first phase involved the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. By 1995, about 7 percent of the West Bank had come under Palestinian self-rule.

This partial transfer aimed to build trust, yet many Palestinians felt it was insufficient. With ongoing settlement activity, tensions continued to rise.

Over 200,000 Israeli settlers lived in the West Bank. 

Security coordination between Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA) also proved difficult. The accords required joint efforts to combat terrorism and violence.

However, mutual distrust hindered effective cooperation. Violent incidents, including suicide bombings, escalated.

Between 1993 and 1999, more than 250 Israelis died in such attacks. On the other hand, Israeli military operations often resulted in Palestinian casualties and further resentment. 

Political opposition on both sides also challenged the accords. In Israel, right-wing factions vehemently opposed concessions to the Palestinians.

They argued that the peace process jeopardized Israel's security. The assassination of Yitzhak Rabin in 1995 shocked both Israelis and Palestinians. Rabin had been a key proponent of the accords.

His death dealt a severe blow to the peace process. Subsequent Israeli leaders varied in their commitment to the agreements.

Similarly, Palestinian factions such as Hamas rejected the accords, viewing them as a betrayal of their cause. As a result, they launched attacks to undermine the peace efforts.

In 1996, a series of bombings by Hamas killed over 50 Israelis, leading to a backlash against the PA. 

After the Oslo Accords, several key developments shaped the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The 2000 Camp David Summit attempted to build on the Oslo framework.

U.S. President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat participated in the talks.

However, the summit failed to produce an agreement. Issues such as Jerusalem, refugees, and borders remained unresolved. As a result, tensions escalated once again. 

In September 2000, the Second Intifada broke out, leading to a significant surge in violence. This uprising marked a severe deterioration in relations.

Israeli and Palestinian casualties mounted, with over 4,000 deaths by 2005. With the rise in hostilities, the peace process stalled.

Trust between the two sides eroded further. Then, the Roadmap for Peace, proposed in 2003, aimed to restart the peace process.

This plan, endorsed by the United States, the European Union, Russia, and the United Nations, outlined steps toward a two-state solution.

Although initially accepted by both parties, its implementation faltered. 

In 2006, Hamas won the Palestinian legislative elections, leading to a significant political shift. This victory deepened the divide between Hamas and Fatah, the two main Palestinian factions.

With Hamas' control of Gaza and Fatah's dominance in the West Bank, Palestinian politics grew increasingly fragmented. These divisions complicated peace efforts.

In 2007, the Annapolis Conference sought to renew peace talks. Hosted by the United States, it brought together Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.

However, the negotiations made little headway. Continued violence and mutual distrust impeded progress. Subsequent efforts, including U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's 2013-2014 initiative, also failed to achieve lasting results.

The peace process remained elusive, with both sides entrenched in their positions.