The peace agreement between Palestinians and Israelis, known as the Oslo Accords, was signed in 1993 in the Norwegian capital, Oslo. For this agreement, the then-leader of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), Yasser Arafat, and the then-Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
In the context of this agreement, the key understandings were as follows:
- Palestinians would gain partial autonomy and self-governance in specific areas, known as the Palestinian Authority (PA), which included parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
- Israel would initially withdraw its military from Jericho and the Gaza Strip.
- Israel would recognize the legitimacy of the Palestinian Authority.
However, despite the initial success and optimism surrounding the Oslo Accords, various issues were left unresolved, leading to decades of conflict. Some of the unresolved issues included:
- The status of Palestinian refugees.
- Whether Jewish settlements in the West Bank would remain or be removed.
- The question of whether Jerusalem would be shared or divided.
- Most importantly, whether a fully independent Palestinian state would be established alongside Israel.
It is important to note that, while the Oslo Accords marked a significant step towards peace, they did not result in a final resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Subsequent events and ongoing disputes have led to further violence and tensions between the two sides.
The agreement also faced opposition from various groups, including Hamas, which has since controlled the Gaza Strip and launched sporadic attacks against Israel. Despite the Oslo Accords, the conflict has persisted over the years, with both sides failing to reach a comprehensive resolution.
