Peace Process 2010: An Unprecendented Endeavor?

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December 15, 2010 • Volume 28 • Winter 2011

By Donna Pinsky

The road to peace in the Middle East has never been straight-forward. Current efforts at reconciliation are daunting, and must be viewed against a backdrop of past attempts, concessions, and obstacles to peace. Rather than take place in a vacumn, the 2010 peace talks have a long history as is demononstrated in the following timeline:

1947 --United Nations recommends the partition of the territory under the British Mandate into a Jewish state and an Arab state; reluctantly accepted by the Jews, met with violent attacks by neighbouting Arab countries rejecting the compromise.

May 14, 1948 - State of Israel proclaimed; seven Arab armies attack in the War of Independence. Israel emerges victorious, Egypt takes control of Gaza, and Jordan occupies the "West Bank" and East Jerusalem.

1956 - Suez Campaign - Egypt nationalizes the Suez Canal, preventing the passage of Israeli ships. The Sinai War ensues: U.S. forces Israel to withdraw, despite Israel's victory.

1967 -Six Day War - Egypt blockades the Straits of Tinm, and creates a unified military front with Jordan and Syria. Israel's pre-emptive attack results in the conquest of the West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights, and the
Sinai; and the reuniting of Jerusalem.

1967 - The Summit of the Arab League in Khartomn establishes the Three Nos: No recognition of Israel, No negotiation with Israel, No peace with Israel.

1967 - The United Nations adopts Resolution 242: Israel must retreat to pre-i967 borders as a condition for peace with the Arah nations.

1973 -Yom Kippur War - Egypt and Syria launch a surprise attack on Israei.

Sept. 17,1978 - Camp David Accords: peace is signed between Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli P.M. Menachem Begin, facilitated that includes the Sinai desert to Arab control, displacing established Jewish communities, and agrees to transitional arrangements for a self-governing authority in the West Bank and Gaza. Despite opposition, Begin freezes Israeli settlements to facilitate the progress of negotiations. Strategically c ritical Sinai is granted to Egypt in exchange for Sadat's promise to make and maintain peace.

Dec, 10, 1978 - In recognition of their efforts for peace, Israeli P.M. Begin and Egyptian President Sadat are awarded the Noble Peace Prize.

Oct. 6, 1981 - Sadat is assassinated by Islamist army officers.

1982 - Lebanon War - After years of attacks on Northern Israel by Lebanese terrorists, Israel launchesOperation Peace in Galilee. Result: creation of a security zone in South Lebanon to protect Israel from terrorists.

1991 - U.S.-backed Peace Conference in Madrid, Spain. The Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and a Jordanian delegation participate in what ends up being an unproductive meeting.

Sept. 13; 1993 - Oslo Accords (Israeli P.M. Yitzchak Rabin, PLO leader Yasser Arafat, and former U.S. President Bill Clinton): Israel and the Palestinians agree to mutual recognition and sign the first phase of the
Osio Accords. Israel agrees to exchange land in Judea and Samaria (the ·"West Bank") for cessation of Palestinian violence. Hamas and other terrorist groups unleash a wave of suicide-bombings against Israeli civilians.

Oct. 26, 1994 - Peace is signed with Jordan: Israeli P.M. Rabin with Jordanian President King Abdullah Hussein. Israel transfers land in exchange for water rights in the region.

1994 - Rabin wins the Nobel Peace Prize, together with Shimon Peres and Arafat.

1995 - Rabin is assassinaled by an extreme Right-wing Israeli radical opposed to the Oslo Accords.

OcL 23, 1998- Wye River Accords: Israel agrees to withdraw from the West Bank, and the PLO agrees to remove from its covenant a clause inciting violence against Israel.

May 23, 2000 - Israel withdraws from parts of Hebron and South Lebanon. No constitutional change from the Palestinians.

July 11, 2000 - Camp David II: Israeli P.M. Ehud Barak, PLO leader Arafat with U.S. President Clinton. Israel offers Arafat unprecedented concessions for .peace: more than 90% of West Bank; Gaza; parts of
Jerusalem; religious control over the Temple Mount, and the creation of a Palestinian state. Arafat rejects these proposals, refuses to make a counter-offer, and incites the Second Intifada.

2003 - The Quartet (composed of the United Nations, the European Union, Russia, and the United States) present proposals for the creation of two states. The Palestinians are to cease violence, Israel to curtail
"settlements."

2005 - Israel, under Ariel Sharon, withdraws unilaterally from Gaza, evacuates military forces, and dismantles settlements.

2006 - Second Lebanon War. Hamas terrorists engage in a frontal assault against Israel, killing two soldiers, and capturing Gilad Shalit, who remains a prisoner. Hezbollah engages in attacks against Northem
Israel; Israel's retaliation launches the second Lebanon War.

2007 - Hamas launches a violent coup against the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, rapidly taking control and chasing out Fatah leaders.

2008- Israeli P.M. Ehud Olmert offers Palestinian Authority leader Mahmoud Abbas even more generous offers than those proposed at Camp David 11. Abbas rejects the offer. In Gaza, the violence continues, with Hamas militants launching rockets into Israeli cities. Israel retaliates with Operation Cast Lead to end incessant violence against Southern Israel.

2009 - Under pressure from U.S. President Barack Obama, Israeli P.M. Benjamin Netanyahu armounces a IO-month freeze on settlement construction along the Green Line, and opens discussion with P.A. President
Abbas about creating a Palestinian state. Abbas refuses to meet without an intermediary.

September 2010 - President Obama overcomes Palestinian resistance and initiates discussions in Washington, D.C .. Negotiations break down when Abbas insists on a continuation of the settlement freeze and Netanyahu demands Palestinian recognition of Israel as a Jewish State.

Notwithstanding the challenges surrounding efforts at reconciliation, attempts at peaceful negotiation and the courage of those initiating them must not be discounted. We remain hopeful that a sustainable and mutually
satisfYing peace can be achieved in the near future.