6.3 Major peace initiatives and their outcomes

The Camp David Accords of 1978 marked a pivotal moment in Middle East peace efforts. This historic treaty between Israel and Egypt, brokered by the U.S., set a precedent for future negotiations and demonstrated the possibility of Arab-Israeli reconciliation.

However, the accords left key issues unresolved, particularly regarding Palestinian rights. This led to further peace attempts like the Oslo Accords and Arab Peace Initiative, which aimed to address the broader Arab-Israeli conflict and establish a Palestinian state.

The 1978 Camp David Accords

Camp David Accords of 1978

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• First peace treaty between Israel and an Arab state brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter and signed by Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat
• Israel agreed to withdraw from the Sinai Peninsula, which it had occupied since the 1967 Six-Day War (Suez Crisis)
• Egypt agreed to recognize Israel's right to exist and establish diplomatic relations, ending the state of war between the two countries
• Demonstrated the possibility of negotiated peace between Israel and Arab states, setting a precedent for future peace talks (Madrid Conference)
• Isolated Egypt from the rest of the Arab world, as other states viewed the agreement as a betrayal of Palestinian interests and a separate peace deal
• Did not address the Palestinian issue or the status of other occupied territories (West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights), leaving the broader Arab-Israeli conflict unresolved
• Led to a "cold peace" between Israel and Egypt, with limited economic and cultural ties despite the formal peace agreement (tourism, trade)

The Oslo Accords and the Second Intifada

Oslo Accords and Palestinian Authority

• Oslo Accords (1993) signed by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat, brokered by Norwegian diplomats
• Mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO, with the PLO renouncing terrorism and recognizing Israel's right to exist
• Establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) as an interim self-governing body in the West Bank and Gaza, with limited powers over civil affairs (education, healthcare)
• Phased Israeli withdrawal from parts of the occupied territories, with the PA assuming control over major Palestinian population centers (Jericho, Gaza City)
• Deferral of key issues (Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, borders) to future negotiations, to be resolved within a five-year timeframe
• Opposition from hardliners on both sides, with Israeli settlers and Palestinian militant groups rejecting the peace process (Hamas, Islamic Jihad)
• Continued Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied territories, undermining trust and the prospects for a viable Palestinian state (E1 area, Har Homa)
• Limited authority and capacity of the PA to govern effectively, with corruption, internal divisions, and Israeli restrictions hindering its performance

Camp David Summit vs Second Intifada

• 2000 Camp David Summit attended by U.S. President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat
• Summit aimed to reach a final status agreement based on the Oslo framework but ended without an agreement due to key sticking points:
  1. Status of Jerusalem and sovereignty over holy sites (Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif)
  2. Right of return for Palestinian refugees displaced in 1948 and 1967 (UN Resolution 194)
  3. Extent of Israeli withdrawal from occupied territories and the contiguity of a future Palestinian state
• Second Intifada (2000-2005) Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation triggered by Ariel Sharon's visit to the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif
• Characterized by increased violence, suicide bombings, and Israeli military operations (Operation Defensive Shield)
• Erosion of trust between the two sides and hardening of public opinions, with the rise of extremist groups (Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades)
• Shift in focus from peace negotiations to conflict management, with the construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier and unilateral disengagement from Gaza (2005)

The Arab Peace Initiative

Arab Peace Initiative implications

• Proposed by Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah at the 2002 Arab League Summit in Beirut
• Calls for full Israeli withdrawal from all territories occupied since 1967, including the West Bank, Gaza, and Golan Heights (UN Resolution 242)
• Establishment of an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, based on the pre-1967 borders
• A "just solution" to the Palestinian refugee issue based on UN Resolution 194, which affirms the right of return or compensation
• In exchange, Arab states would establish normal relations with Israel, ending the Arab-Israeli conflict and providing security guarantees
• Represents a collective Arab position on the requirements for peace with Israel, endorsed by all 22 member states of the Arab League
• Offers Israel the prospect of normalized relations with the Arab world in exchange for ending the occupation, a significant incentive (trade, tourism, regional cooperation)
• Provides a comprehensive framework for addressing key issues (borders, refugees, Jerusalem) based on international law and UN resolutions
• Requires concessions from both sides and a willingness to compromise, with Israel giving up occupied territory and Arab states accepting Israel's existence
• Remains a reference point for future peace efforts, despite initial Israeli reservations and changing regional dynamics (Iran, Syria, Arab Spring)