Past+Peace+Attempts

__**Egypt and Israel Sign a Peace Agreement:**__

In 1979, as a result of intense diplomatic efforts by the United States the year before, Egypt became the first Arab country to recognize Israel and to enter into a peace treaty with it. Egypt’s President, Anwar Sadat, realized that a continuing state of war with Israel was harming the Egyptian economy and the well-being of his people. For its part, Israel returned to Egypt all of the Sinai that had been captured during the 1967 war and removed Jewish families from the homes they had established there. This agreement became a model for Israel’s “land for peace” policy.

__**The Oslo Accords:**__

The Oslo Accords were a set of agreements that began in 1993 when Israel and the PLO signed a Declaration of Principles (DOP). The Oslo Accords led to the creation of the Palestinian Authority, which had responsibility for administering the territory under its control. It also called on Israel to gradually withdraw its military presence from the Gaza Strip and a small area around Jericho. It left Israel the right to defend itself and its citizens, including those in the territories. Along with the DOP, Israel and the PLO exchanged Letters of Mutual Recognition. For the first time, the PLO formally recognized Israel, renounced violence, and publicly expressed acceptance of peaceful coexistence with Israel. Also, for the first time, Israel formally recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people. The Oslo Accords were intended to be an interim agreement that would lead to a permanent settlement with Israel giving up land in return for peace and security. Both Israelis and Palestinians accuse the other of not fulfilling their obligations. __**Israel and Jordan Sign a Peace Agreement:**__

As with the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, the United States led a difficult but successful diplomatic process to help Jordan and Israel achieve peace. In 1994, Jordan became the second Arab country to recognize Israel. Trade, business relations, tourism, cultural exchanges, and scientific cooperation between the two nations have increased since the agreement was signed, but at a slower pace than hoped for initially.

**__The Camp David Summit:__**

American President Bill Clinton brought Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian President Yasser Arafat to Camp David in July 2000. It was the first major attempt to negotiate a comprehensive final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians. Although the negotiations were carried out in secret, participants President Clinton and US Middle East envoy Dennis Ross attributed the failure of the talks to Arafat’s refusal to compromise. They reported that Barak made major concessions, including withdrawing from the vast majority of the West Bank to create an independent Palestinian state with a capital in East Jerusalem. However, Arafat did not feel the offer was enough and refused it. He made no counter-proposals. The goal of the summit, two states living side by side in peace, was not achieved and further conflict ensued.   **__The Arab Peace Initiative Is Proposed:__**

In March 2002, during the Beirut Summit of the Arab League, crown prince Abdullah of Saudi Arabia (the current king of that country) proposed a peace initiative that was endorsed by all members of the Arab League. The proposal offered Israel peace in return for Israeli withdrawal from all territories captured in the 1967 War, recognition of an independent Palestine, with East Jerusalem as its capital, and a “just solution” for Palestinian refugees. The Arab League endorsed the proposal again at the Riyadh Summit in 2007. The proposal is viewed by some as a major breakthrough because previously most Arab nations had ruled out peace, recognition, and even negotiations with Israel. Israel has welcomed the proposal, but does not accept all of its demands. Israel especially rejects the demand that it withdraw to the pre-1967 borders as a precondition to negotiations. In July 2007, Israeli leaders met with representatives of the Arab League to discuss the proposal. This was the first time that the Arab League sent an official delegation to Israel.   __**The Roadmap for Peace Is Proposed:**__

The Roadmap for Peace, known as the Roadmap, is a plan for peace that was proposed in 2003 by the “Quartet” the United States, Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations. It involves reciprocal steps by the Israelis and Palestinians with the ultimate goal of an independent Palestinian state and a secure Israel. The Roadmap is divided into three phases, but has never progressed past the first. Progress on the Roadmap was completely halted following the Palestinian election of Hamas in 2006. Hamas is a terrorist organization committed to destroying Israel. Negotiations between Israel and the Palestinian Authority became possible again when the Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas, dissolved the government controlled by Hamas. On November 27, 2007, the basic principles of the Roadmap were reaffirmed at the Annapolis Conference. There has yet to be significant progress as a result of the Roadmap or the Annapolis Conference.