Oslo AccordsOslo AccordsThe “Epic Fail” of Peace The “Epic Fail” of Peace

TreatiesTreaties

The Oslo Accords Treaty- The Oslo Accords Treaty- created to settle the difference

between Israelis and Palestinians • Officially named the Declaration of Officially named the Declaration of

Principles on Interim Self-Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements or Government Arrangements or Declaration of Principles (DOP)Declaration of Principles (DOP)

• Conducted in Oslo, Norway Conducted in Oslo, Norway • Completed by August 20, 1993Completed by August 20, 1993

BackgroundBackground

• The first intifada in 1987 caused president The first intifada in 1987 caused president George H.W. Bush to arrange the Madrid George H.W. Bush to arrange the Madrid Peace Conference in 1991 between Arab Peace Conference in 1991 between Arab nations and Israel, but it did not succeednations and Israel, but it did not succeed

• Norway’s foreign ministry arranged Norway’s foreign ministry arranged meetings between meetings between Yair Hirshfeld and Ron Yair Hirshfeld and Ron Pundak from Israel(Shimon Peres later Pundak from Israel(Shimon Peres later took charge)and Ahmad Sulayman Qurai took charge)and Ahmad Sulayman Qurai (Abu Ala). Negotiated for the Palestinian (Abu Ala). Negotiated for the Palestinian Liberation Organization(PLO)Liberation Organization(PLO)

What did it say?What did it say?• it set out specific steps to reach a permanent it set out specific steps to reach a permanent

agreement for peace after five yearsagreement for peace after five years• The Arabs wanted: self-governed Palestinian land, the The Arabs wanted: self-governed Palestinian land, the

IDF to be taken out of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, IDF to be taken out of the Gaza Strip and West Bank, Israel to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Israel to recognize the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) as the Palestinian representativeOrganization (PLO) as the Palestinian representative

• The Israelis wanted: the Palestinians to acknowledge The Israelis wanted: the Palestinians to acknowledge the fact that Israel had the right to be an independent the fact that Israel had the right to be an independent state, the Palestinians to renounce terrorism and their state, the Palestinians to renounce terrorism and their desire for the destruction of the Israeli state.desire for the destruction of the Israeli state.

• They agreed to set up a Committee for economic They agreed to set up a Committee for economic cooperation that united Palestinians and Israelis in cooperation that united Palestinians and Israelis in economic issueseconomic issues

• They agreed to have elections for a Palestinian They agreed to have elections for a Palestinian councilcouncil

Israeli soldiers were Israeli soldiers were to be taken out of to be taken out of the Gaza Strip and the Gaza Strip and

the West Bank.the West Bank.

Ramifications and Ramifications and ReactionsReactions

• No one was forced from their homes as a result of the treaty No one was forced from their homes as a result of the treaty because it was not a final agreement, the people that were because it was not a final agreement, the people that were there(though the majority was Palestinians already)could stay if there(though the majority was Palestinians already)could stay if they so desired at their own risk.they so desired at their own risk.

• No specific cost for the removal of Israeli troops from the West No specific cost for the removal of Israeli troops from the West Bank and Gaza strip, but it was extremely costlyBank and Gaza strip, but it was extremely costly

• 61 Knesset members voted for the decision, 50 voted against 61 Knesset members voted for the decision, 50 voted against and 8 abstainedand 8 abstained

• Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and thePopular Front for the Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad and thePopular Front for the Liberation of Palestine objected to the accords because they Liberation of Palestine objected to the accords because they refused to recognize Israel's right to exist in Plaestine.refused to recognize Israel's right to exist in Plaestine.

• After the signing, the attacks against Israel intensifiedAfter the signing, the attacks against Israel intensified• In February 1994, an Israeli, Baruch Goldstein, killed twenty-In February 1994, an Israeli, Baruch Goldstein, killed twenty-

nine Palestinians at a mosque in the West Bank.nine Palestinians at a mosque in the West Bank.• February and March 1996, Hamas, which had gained support February and March 1996, Hamas, which had gained support

after the signing of the Oslo Accords, conducted a series of after the signing of the Oslo Accords, conducted a series of suicide bombings in Israel that killed fifty-seven Israelis. This suicide bombings in Israel that killed fifty-seven Israelis. This prompted Shimon Peres, the prime minister at the time, to prompted Shimon Peres, the prime minister at the time, to break off the peace talks that were supposed to occurbreak off the peace talks that were supposed to occur

The SigningThe Signing• It as signed by It as signed by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and

PLO official Abou AbbasPLO official Abou Abbas• Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasir Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasir

Arafat shook handsArafat shook hands

"Today marks a shining moment of hope for the people of the Middle East; indeed, of the entire world“ -President Bill Clinton

WHO?WHO?Yassir Arafat(1929-2004)Yassir Arafat(1929-2004)•Fun Fact! His full name is Fun Fact! His full name is Mohammed Yasser Abdel Mohammed Yasser Abdel Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat Rahman Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseinial-Qudwa al-Husseini•He was the chairman of the He was the chairman of the PLOPLO•Founded the Fatah political Founded the Fatah political party in 1959party in 1959•Received a Nobel-Peace Received a Nobel-Peace Prize for his work with the Prize for his work with the Oslo AccordsOslo Accords

Yitzchak Rabin(1922-1925)•He was Involved in the Knesset before being elected Prime Minister of Israel•He was later elected Prime Minister of the Israel Labor Party•In November 1995, an Israeli named Yigal Amir assassinated Prime Minister Rabin for his cooperation in the Accords•Won a Nobel-Peace prize along with Shimon Peres for his accomplishments with the Oslo Accords

The OutcomeThe Outcome

• The Oslo Accords angered many people The Oslo Accords angered many people on both sides which lead to much on both sides which lead to much violenceviolence

• It was eventually violated and the It was eventually violated and the negotiations for permantent peace were negotiations for permantent peace were called offcalled off

• It has worsened the relations between It has worsened the relations between the Israelis and Palestinians causing the Israelis and Palestinians causing many deaths , which has produced even many deaths , which has produced even more angry peoplemore angry people

ANSWERS!!!ANSWERS!!!

AMAZINGAMAZING