1991
November 30
MADRID MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE
30 Oct – 1 Nov 1991
– First direct negotiations between the two conflict parties based on the “land for peace” formula.
– Inaugurated bilateral and multilateral tracks.
1993
September 13
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES (DOP) ON INTERIM SELF-GOVERNMENT ARRANGEMENTS
13 Sep. 1993
– Mutual PLO-Israel recognition.
– Framework for interim phase.
– Pledge to begin final status talks no later than at beginning of the third year of the interim period.
1994
May 04
OSLO I AGREEMENT (also: Cairo or Gaza-Jericho Agreement)
4 May 1994
– Israeli withdrawal from Gaza & Jericho
– PA established.
– Security provisions.
– Transfer of civil affairs.
– Legal & economic framework.
August 29
EARLY EMPOWERMENT AGREEMENT
29 Aug. 1994
Transfer to PA:
– Education, Culture (29 Aug.)
– Social Welfare, Tourism (13-14 Nov.)
– Health, Taxation (1 Dec.)
1995
August 27
PROTOCOL ON FURTHER TRANSFER OF POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
27 Aug. 1995
Transfer to PA:
– labor, trade, gas & gasoline, industry, agriculture, postal services, insurance, statistics, local government
September 28
OSLO II AGREEMENT (also: Interim or Taba Agreement)
28 Sept. 1995
– Further Israeli withdrawal (West Bank divided into Areas A, B, and C)
– PLC election modes and competencies
November 04
Related Events
4 Nov. 1995: Prime Minister Rabin assassinated.
Dec. 1995: End of Israeli redeployment from Palestinian population centers.
1996
January 20
Related Events
20 Jan. 1996: 1st PLC elections.
31 March 1996: Scheduled redeployment from Hebron.
4 May 1996: DoP deadline for the beginning of final status talks (Agreement to determine the nature of a final settlement, incl. Jerusalem, settlements, borders, security, refugees, and external relations).
29 May 1996: Likud wins Israeli elections. Netanyahu becomes PM.
24 Sep. 1996: Tunnel opening under Al-Aqsa compound triggers clashes.
1997
January 15
HEBRON AGREEMENT
15 Jan. 1997
– Implementation of Israeli withdrawal from 80% of Hebron (H1); security & civil arrangements.
April 02
Related Events
April 1997: end of 2nd redeployment according to Oslo II.
– Further withdrawals planned to be completed by 1997 (Oslo II) did not materialize.
1998
October 23
WYE RIVER MEMORANDUM
23 Oct. 1998
Re-negotiated Oslo II agreement:
– Implementation of Oslo II
– Resumption of final status talks
– Further Israeli redeployment (13% of the West Bank)
– Changes to the PLO Charter
– Opening of Gaza Airport and safe passage
– Release of prisoners
December 12
Related Events
12-14 Dec. 1998: PNC meets in Gaza, rescinds clauses in the PLO Charter that call for Israel’s destruction.
21 Dec. 1998: Knesset vote for early elections in May 1999 suspends further implementation of the Wye River Memorandum.
1999
May 04
Related Events
4 May 1999: End of the Interim Phase (after 5th year of self-government according to the DoP) – Permanent Status Agreement to enter into force.
17 May 1999: Labor wins Israeli elections. Ehud Barak becomes PM
13 Sep. 1999: Final Status Talks begin (according to Wye II).
Oct. 1999: Final Status Agreement to be completed (according to Oslo II).
September 04
SHARM ESH-SHEIKH AGREEMENT, (also: Wye II or Wye Plus Agreement),
4 Sept. 1999
– Implementation of the Wye River Accord
– Israeli withdrawal (11% of the West Bank in three stages)
– Opening of safe passages
– Release of 350 prisoners
September 13
Resumption of final status talks
Sept. 13
1999
13 Sep: Final Status Talks open
15 Sep: First stage of withdrawal (7% of Area C to become Area B)
6 Oct: Southern safe passage opens (originally planned: 1 Oct.)
8 Oct: Second prisoner release
15 Oct: PA reports on weapons collection and arrested suspects
15 Nov: Second stage of withdrawal (2% of Area B to become Area A and 3% of Area C to become B)
Dec: Prisoner release (Ramadan)
2000
20 Jan: Third and final withdrawal stage (5.1% of Area B & 1% of Area C become Area A)
5 Feb: Northern safe passage opens
13 Feb: Framework for a final agreement reached
13 Sep: Overall agreement reached
2000
July 11
CAMP DAVID SUMMIT
11-25 July 2000
– Final push to save the peace process between President Clinton, Arafat and Barak;
– aimed for a final agreement;
– collapsed over issues of borders, settlements, refugees, and especially Jerusalem.
September 28
Related Events
28 Sep. 2000: Ariel Sharon’s touring of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound triggers second (or Al-Aqsa) Intifada.
17 Oct. 2000: Summit at Sharm Ash-Sheikh on how to halt recent violence (Al-Aqsa Intifada), restore security cooperation and return to negotiations.
10 Dec. 2000: PM Barak resigns.
23 Dec.: President Clinton presents his “parameters” for a final status agreement based on his understanding of points reached at Camp David.
2001
January 21
TABA TALKS
21-27 January 2001
(Based on the Dec. 2000 Clinton Parameters)
– Last attempt to discuss outstanding issues prior to the Israeli elections;
– Ended unsuccessfully as Pres. Clinton’s final bridging proposal was rejected.
September 06
Related Events
6 Feb.: Ariel Sharon defeats Barak in early Israeli elections.
20 May: Mitchell Report by a fact-finding committee into the events leading to the Al-Aqsa Intifada and how to prevent their recurrence, and resume negotiations. (As a follow-up to the 17 Oct. 2000 Sharm Ash-Sheikh summit, the Mitchell Committee was formed.)
13 June: Tenet Plan: Ceasefire and security plan proposed by CIA Director George Tenet on the resumption of Israel-PA security cooperation.
2002
March 01
ARAB (SAUDI) PEACE INITIATIVE
March 2002
– Israeli withdrawal from territories occupied since 1967.
– Return of refugees
– Recognition of Israel
– Normalization with the Arab World.
May 12
Related Events
In the wake of the Al-Aqsa Intifada, Israeli army re-invades/ re-occupies most of the West Bank.
12 March: UNSC Resolution 1397 affirms the two-state solution formed.
10 April: Middle East Quartet formed.
June: Israel begins constructing the separation barrier.
20 Dec.: Middle East Quartet presents a draft of the Road Map.
2003
April 30
PERFORMANCE-BASED ROAD MAP
30 April 2003
– for a “final & comprehensive settlement” based on the two-state solution
– end to “terrorism”
– freeze on settlements
– clear timelines, dates, and benchmarks monitored by the Quartet.
– Palestinian state by 2005.
June 04
AQABA SUMMIT
4 June 2003
– Meeting between President Bush, Abbas and Sharon on how to implement the Road Map.
June 23
Related Events
June: People’s Voice initiative
19 Nov.: UNSC Resolution 1515 reiterates the commitment to a two-state solution and endorses the Road Map.
Dec.: Geneva Accord
2004
February 02
Related Events
Feb.: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon introduced his unilateral Gaza disengagement plan.
18-23 May: “Operation Rainbow” in Rafah, Gaza.
9 July: The ICJ rules that the construction of the separation barrier is illegal.
20 July: UNGA confirms ICJ ruling on illegality of the separation barrier.
11 Nov.: Death of President Arafat.
2005
January 09
Related Events
9 Jan.: Mahmoud Abbas is elected new President of the PA.
8 Feb.: Mahmoud Abbas and Sharon announce ceasefire, ending the second intifada.
Aug.-Sep.: Sharon’s disengagement plan is implemented: evacuation of settlers from Gaza and four settlements in the northern West Bank.
2005: Deadline for Palestinian state according to the Road Map.
2006
January 04
Related Events
Jan.: PM Sharon suffers a stroke; Ehud Olmert takes over.
25 Jan.: Palestinian elections – Hamas defeats Fatah, forms government with Ismail Haniyeh as PM.
April.: US and EU suspend aid to “Hamas government”.
25 June: Israeli soldier Shalit is kidnapped to Gaza.
28 June.: Israel launches “Operation Summer Rain” in Rafah, Gaza.
1 Nov.: Israel launches “Operation Autumn Clouds” in Beit Hanoun, Gaza.
2007
January 11
MADRID +15 CONFERENCE
11 January 2007
– Called unsuccessfully for an official international Middle East peace conference towards a comprehensive agreement.
February 08
Related Events
8 Feb.: Fatah and Hamas sign Mecca Agreement for unity government, which takes office on 17 March.
28 March: Arab League adopts the Saudi Peace Initiative.
15 June: Salam Fayyad appointed Prime Minister by President Abbas.
June: Hamas takeover in Gaza; Israel imposes blockade on the Gaza Strip.
2008
November 09
SHARM ESH-SHEIKH MEETING
9 November 2008
– Quartet conference to follow up on the Annapolis conference.
– Agreement that a comprehensive deal is needed on all issues (nothing would be considered agreed until everything is agreed).
December 19
Related Events
16 Dec: UNSC Resolution 1850 underscores the importance of efforts for a two-state solution and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
27 Dec: Israel launches “Operation Cast Lead” against targets in Gaza, allegedly due to rocket fire.
2009
January 18
Related Events
18 Jan.: “Operation Cast Lead” in Gaza ends with a ceasefire agreement and over 1,380 Palestinians killed.
20 Jan.: President Barack Obama takes office.
10 Feb.: Early Israeli elections bring Likud under Netanyahu back to power.
April: UNHRC appoints fact-finding commission into “Operation Cast Lead”, led by Richard Goldstone.
29 Sep.: Goldstone Report on “Operation Cast Lead” is presented.
2010
May 31
Related Events
31 May: Israeli forces raid the Gaza Flotilla.
22 Sep.: Knesset passes a law requiring a referendum and vote of at least 60 MKs for any withdrawal from East Jerusalem or Golan.
26 Sep.: As Israel refuses to extend its 10-month settlement freeze, talks come to a halt.
September 02
RESUMPTION OF DIRECT TALKS
2 September 2010
– US-brokered direct negotiations began in Washington, D.C. after 7 rounds of indirect talks.
December 17
ARAB SPRING
2011
February 14
Related Events
14 Feb.: The PA cabinet resigns. President Abbas immediately reappoints Salam Fayyad as Prime Minister, directs him to form a new cabinet.
March: After a new round of meetings and in the midst of the Arab Spring, the Quartet declares it held little hope for the resumption of talks as the differences between the two sides were far too wide.
26 June: President Abbas announces that in the absence of peace talks, Palestinians would pursue their unilateral bid for statehood in Sept.
26 June: President Abbas announces that in the absence of peace talks, Palestinians would pursue their unilateral bid for statehood in September and on 26 Sep., he submitted the formal application to the UNSC.
29 Sep.: Palestinians accept a Quartet proposal to resume talks within a month to arrive at a final agreement by the end of 2012, but demand that Israel stop building settlements.
31 Oct.: UNESCO votes to admit Palestine as its 195th full member. The US stops funding to UNESCO.
2012
January 02
Related Events
Jan.: Israeli and Palestinian negotiators meet for the first time in over a year in Amman.
14 Nov.: Israel launches “Operation Pillar of Cloud” on Gaza, starting with the assassination of Hamas military commander Ahmed Jabari.
29 Nov.: The UN General Assembly votes to grant Palestine non-member observer State status, while also expressing the urgent need for the resumption of negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians leading to a permanent two-state solution.
2013
April 13
Related Events
13 April: Prime Minister Fayyad resigns, reportedly due to power struggles within the PA.
30 April: Saudi/Arab peace plan is re-endorsed with the updated terms that a peace agreement should be based on the two-state solution on the basis of the June 1967 lines.
3 June: President Abbas appoints Rami Hamdallah as next prime minister.
2014
January 02
Related Events
2 June: The new Palestinian unity government was sworn in.
12 June: Three settler youth are kidnapped in the West Bank, triggering Israel’s search “Operation Brother’s Keeper”.
30 June: After the settler’s bodies are found, Israeli extremists kidnap and kill a Palestinian boy which triggers rocket fire from Gaza.
8 July: Israel launches “Operation Protective Edge” on Gaza, which lasted until 26 Aug., and left over 2,100 Palestinians killed and half a million displaced.
31 Dec.: Abbas signs the Rome Statute as a step to join the ICC.
– The UNSC Security Council rejects a resolution demanding an end to the Israeli occupation within three years by a vote of 8:2, and 5 abstentions.
April 24
KERRY MISSION OR TALKS
29 July 2013-24 April 2014
– Direct negotiations between Israel (Justice Minister Tzipi Livni) and the Palestinians (PLO official Saeb Erekat) under the auspices of US Secretary of State John Kerry to revive the peace process and reach a final status agreement within 9 months (by 29 April 2014).
– Based on the Clinton Parameters.
– Mission failed when Israel refused to release the last agreed group of Palestinian prisoners and approved new settlement units in Jerusalem, and President Abbas signed 15 international rights conventions in early April 2014 in response.
– Was officially suspended by Israel on 24 April 2014, a day after a Fatah and Hamas signed a unity accord.
August 24
KERRY TALKS CONTINUED
September 03
ABBAS PEACE PLAN
3 September 2014
– New proposal was presented to Kerry, which called for 9 months of direct talks followed by a three-year plan for Israeli withdrawal to the 1967 lines, on the condition of a settlement freeze and the release of the pending batch of prisoners.
– Was rejected by Israel and the US as being a unilateral initiative.
2015
January 02
Related Events
2 Jan.: Palestine accedes to the Rome Statute.
1 April: Palestine becomes the 123rd member of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
30 Sep.: Palestinian flag has for the first time been raised at the UN.
1 Oct.: President Abbas declares at the UNGA that the PA was no longer bound by the Oslo Peace Accords.
Oct.
Begin of the “Knife intifada” (“lone wolf” stabbing attacks focused on Jerusalem).
2016
June 03
FRENCH PEACE INITIATIVE
3 June 2016
– Renewal of international efforts upon French call to restart the peace process.
– Attended by 28 delegations, excluding Israel and Palestinians.
– Focus on parameters for core issues in line with a two-state solution.
July 01
Related Events
1 July: Middle East Quartet outlines key threats to the two-state solution and urges the parties to make progress.
8 Sep.: The Palestinian high court rules to postpone the Palestinian elections slated for 8 October due to disputes over party lists and other election irregularities.
23 Dec.: UN Resolution 2334 reiterates condemnation of Israeli settlements as “flagrant violation under international law and a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-State solution”.
2017
January 15
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
15 January 2017
– Followed June 2016 French Peace Initiative.
– Attended by over 40 foreign senior officials (but no Israelis nor Palestinians).
– Ended with a Joint Declaration reaffirming the two-state solution as the only way to achieve enduring peace.
January 20
Related Events
20 Jan.: Donald Trump is inaugurated as the 45th president of the US.
1 May: Hamas issues a new charter that provisionally accepts a Palestinian state based on the 1967 lines.
June: 50 Years of Occupation.
6 Dec.: Trump announces the US’s recognition of Jerusalem as the unified capital of Israel. PA cut ties with the Trump administration in protest.
2018
May 30
Related Events
30 March: Great Return March – Gaza border protests.
14 May: US Embassy move.
19 July: Israel’s Nation State Law enacted.
10 Sep.: After cutting aid to Palestinians, the Trump administration orders the PLO to close its diplomatic mission in the US.
29 Oct.: The PLO Central Committee votes to suspend recognition of Israel until Israel recognizes a Palestinian state and calls for an end to security coordination and all economic agreements with Israel (but leaves it to President Abbas and the PLO Executive Committee to decide if and when they want to implement the decision).
2019
April 13
Related Events
13 April: Mohammed Shtayyeh is sworn in as new Prime Minister.
26-27 June: The economic part of Trump’s “deal of the century” is revealed at a two-day conference, titled “Peace to Prosperity: The Economic Plan” in Bahrain.
June 22
TRUMP ECONOMIC PLAN – “PEACE TO PROSPERITY”,
22 June 2019
2020
January 28
TRUMP PLAN – “DEAL OF THE CENTURY”
28 January 2020
– Formally “Peace to Prosperity: A Vision to Improve the Lives of the Palestinian and Israeli People”.
– Israel to have sovereignty over all existing settlements.
– Annexation of up to 30% of the West Bank as part of a two-state solution, with Jerusalem as Israel’s capital only.
– Welcomed by Israel, firmly rejected by Palestinians.
– President Abbas halted almost all bilateral contacts with Israel in response.
February 14
Related Events
14-16 Feb.: During the Munich Security Conference, the foreign ministers of Egypt, France, Germany and Jordan (Munich Group) discuss peace efforts.
21 Feb.: COVID-19 pandemic arrives in the country.
15 Sep: Israel, the UAE & Bahrain sign the Abraham Accords.
24 Sep: Munich Group meeting in Jordan calls for resumption of negotiations towards a two-state solution.
23 Oct: Israel and Sudan agree to normalize relations.
3 Nov: Joe Biden wins US elections, defeating Donald Trump.
22 Dec: Israel and Morocco sign the Abraham Accords.
2021
January 06
Related Events
6 Jan: Israel and Sudan sign the Abraham Accords.
11 Jan: In Cairo, Munich Group discuss revival of peace talks.
19 Feb: At the Munich Security Conference, Munich Group condemns Israel’s settlement policy and Palestinian displacement.
11 March: Munich Group, EU and UN coordinators stress need for confidence-building measures to promote the two-state solution.
April: Palestinian protests erupt over looming eviction from Sheikh Jarrah.
29 April: Palestinian elections scheduled in May are indefinitely postponed.
10 May: Israeli raid of Al-Aqsa Mosque compound triggers clashes and 11 days of clashes and firing of rockets from/bombardment of Gaza.
13 June: PM Netanyahu ousted from power, replaced by Naftali Bennett’s and Yair Lapid’s centrist coalition.
2022
March 31
Related Events
31 March: Israeli “Operation Break the Wave” targets resistance groups in Jenin and Nablus. During one of the Israeli raids, journalist Shireen Abu Aqleh is killed on 11 May.
5-7 Aug.: Israeli “Operation Breaking Dawn” in Gaza.
22 Sep.: The Munich Group, the UN and EU call for a “just, comprehensive and lasting peace on the basis of the two-state solution.”
1 Nov.: Netanyahu wins Israeli elections, forms far-right coalition government.
14 Dec.: An EU parliament resolution urges, inter alia, to set up a European peace initiative with the end goal of a two-state solution.
2023
May 09
Related Events
9-13 May: Israeli “Operation Shield & Arrow” in Gaza
June-July: Israeli raids on Jenin leave at least 17 Palestinians dead.
26 June: Netanyahu tells MKs that Israel “needs the Palestinian Authority,” but also “needs to crush [the Palestinian] ambition” for an independent state.
7 Oct.: Hamas’ “Operation Al-Aqsa Flood” on Israeli locations along the Gaza border, killing around 1,200 people and taking over 240 hostages.
8 Oct.: Israel declares war on Hamas, begins war on Gaza with airstrikes.
27 Oct.: Israel begins ground invasion in Gaza.
24 Nov.: Temporary ceasefire – 102 Israeli hostages, 200 Palestinian prisoners released.
24 Nov.: South Africa files a complaint with the ICJ, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention.
2024
January 26
Related Events
26 Jan.: In response to the case brought by South Africa, the ICJ orders Israel to take specific measures to prevent the possibility of genocide in Gaza.
20 May: The ICC prosecutor seeks arrest warrants for Israeli PM Netanyahu, Defense Minister Gallant, and Hamas’ leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar.
24 May: The ICJ ordered Israel to immediately stop its military offensive in Rafah.
28 May: Spain, Ireland and Norway formally recognize a Palestinian state.
2025
January 01
BILATERAL AND MULTILATERAL TALKS
1992
– Numerous “official” meetings in Washington and elsewhere, discussing, for the first time, issues such as borders, refugees, and Jerusalem.
– Additional secret negotiation channels, including one in Oslo.
July 28
ANNAPOLIS CONFERENCE
27 November 2007
– To set up a timetable for future final status negotiations in line with the 2002/03 Road Map.
August 02
Related Events
25 Feb. 1994: Hebron Massacre
Main Agreement
Sub/Related Agreement
Related Event