CHRONTICLE # 5 (Article/Notes 41, Chronology #22): THE OSLO PEACE PROCESS LABOURS ON, INCREASED VIOLENCE FROM THOSE OPPOSED TO ANY PEACE PROCESS (1995-1998)

NOTE 1: This was a period during which the Oslo peace process went forward while at the same time the wars between IL and Hamas and Islamic Jihad and Hizbollah widened and became more deadly as those organizations, all put on terrorist lists by the Western world countries, stepped up their campaigns to destroy Oslo. The Oslo process and accords are highlighted in the next Article.

NOTE 2: 1994-96 was the heyday of the suicide bombers.P IJ usually targeted the IDF, while Hamas treated all Israelis as the enemy. Israel retaliated with border closures, mass roundups of suspects. And with the increase in suicide bombings, the Israeli right wing became more vocal and hostile to the peace camp and its leaders, Rabin and Peres, calling them traitors.

Aug-Sept 1995 Palestinian support for the peace process reached 71% of those polled. Opposition dropped to 24%.

Oct, 1995 Knesset approves Oslo II (Taba talks), 62-59 vote Oct, 1995 . Mossad assassinates head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ).

NOTE 3 The PIJ was formed as an offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood and was influenced ideologically in its formation by the Islamic Revolution in Iran. It became a member of the Alliance of Palestinian Forces, which rejected the Oslo Accords and whose objective is the establishment of a sovereign Islamic Palestinian state. It called for the destruction of IL and rejected a two-state solution.

Nov 4, 1995 Rabin assassinated by a Jewish Israeli right wing extremist. who was tried and sentenced to life in prison.

NOTE 4: Rabin’s assassination may have played a major role in leaving the Oslo process somewhat eviscerated from lack of effort on IL’s part, especially when the Labour government was replaced by Netanyahu and Likud too over the next spring when the IL public took an electoral swing to the right as a result of ongoing attacks by the Palestinians determined to thwart all attempts at peace. Arafat’s comment when told of Rabin’s murder was apparently “today the peace process has died”.d

Oct- Dec, 1995 IL evacuated major Palestinians areas, Nablus, Ramallah & Bethlehem in Area A as per Oslo Accords.

1996

Jan, 1996 Elections for the 88 member Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) and for President held. Hamas and other opposition boycotted elections. Fatah wins 57% of the vote and all its major players voted in.

Jan, 1996 IL kills Hamas bomb maker and mastermind of most bombings by Hamas, Yahya Ayyash

Feb, 1996 Hamas kills 60 Israelis in bombings over 8 days. IL seals off Gaza and the West Bank.

NOTE 5: IL’s closing of those borders caused huge financial loses to the Palestinians as thousands were working in IL. It also has a significant impact on moving IL population to the right politically with Arabs beaten up in IL. It altered results of the May Israeli election.

Mar, 1996, Palestinian student elections sees a coalition of Hamas and PIJ win a plurality of seats, and more than Fatah representatives.

Apr11-27,1996 IDF carried out Operation Grapes of Wrath, a massive bombardment of Hizbollah centres and Shi’ite villages in Lebanon; blockaded Lebanese coastline and destroyed some Lebanese infrastructure including main roads and power stations. 400,000 Lebanese fled to Beirut and Sidon. In response Hizbollah launched hundreds of rocket attacks by mobile teams on IL settlements and towns. IL hits a UN post and kills perhaps as many as 108 Lebanese in a shelter and seriously injures many more.

April24, !996 PNC votes to remove from the PLO covenant articles calling for the elimination of IL

Apr 26, 1996 US brokers a agreement between IL and Hizbollah, with each agreeing not to attack civilians or their settlements and infrastructure, but HIZ still free to hit IL targets abroad or IL military inside the security zone.

May29, 1996 IL election, Labour (Peres) is defeated, Netanyahu took command

June19, 1996 Netanyahu and Likud formulate ‘Basic Guidelines”.

NOTE 6: The Basic Guidelines promised to work towards peace with its neighbours but no mention was made of implementing Oslo II , they talked only of “autonomy”; the Golan Heights were not up for negotiation. There was consolidation and further development of the settlement project in the WB. Opposition was expressed to an independent Palestinian State;.It confirmed that there was no right of return for Palestinians “west of the Jordan”. They proclaimed a united Jerusalem to be the capital of IL forever.. Netanyahu stated there was no green line in Israel, and lauded settlers for their pioneering spirit

Sept25, 1996 Serious violence erupts in Jerusalem and West Bank, particularly Ramallah, Nablus and Bethlehem over Haram al Sharif archaeological excavations, which included opening up an exit in East Jerusalem.

NOTE 7: Arab Muslims believed this efforts by IL was not only to “Judaize” East Jerusalem, but also an attempt to collapse the Dome of the Rock and pave way for creation of the 3rd Temple. IL employed tanks and helicopters, 44 Palestinians were killed as were 7 Israeli soldiers

Nov 1996 The protocol relating to Hebron in the Accords, which gave Israeli settlers 20% of Hebron and put their sector under IL control, although in area A , obliged the IDF to withdraw from the rest of the Hebron area with the PA police taking over. This protocol was negotiated and approved by the Knesset and the PA. It met with resistance from Islamists and right wing Israelis

NOTE 8: As Arafat consolidated his hold over West Bank and Gaza after returning in 1994, corruption, nepotism, violent intimidation and gaoling of opponents became endemic. Arafat and the PA were accused of running ‘a ramshackle, nepotistic, racketeering, and naked extortion’ , enriching the leadership and impoverishing society. The economic situation worsened for Palestinians as wages dropped and travel with security restrictions became more difficult. Some wondered if an independent Palestinian state was worth all the bloodshed and turmoil if it gave rise to this kind of governance. Countries that pledged billions only paid out a small portion. Arafat had terrorists arrested, but usually quickly released. He felt he needed to appease Hamas and PIJ to appear tough on IL, while appeasing IL by appearing tough on Hamas and the PIJ. Arafat’s supports dwindled rapidly and thus he became tougher in his dealings with IL.

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1997

Jan17, 1997, withdrawal from Hebron pursuant to the protocol occurs

Feb, 1997 IL approves 6,500 housing units in area C of the WB for 10,000 Jews. Area gets sealed off after construction begins. PA breaks off contacts with IL. IL raids Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem.

July30, 1997 Palestinian suicide bombers kill 13 in West Jerusalem, IL suspends talks and closes borders

Sept4, 1997 Triple suicide bombings by Palestinians kill 5 and injure 150 in IL

1997 No progress on the continuing peace talks under Oslo as Netanyahu’s government opposed further withdrawals after Hebron, and withdrawals were at the heart of the movement towards total peace. IL refused to negotiate while suicide bombings occurring.

1998

1998 relative calm returned with cooperation between the PA security forces and IL intelligence services to curtail bombings and stabbings. PA had increased its security forces significantly.

NOTE 9: IL would not sign on to the second withdrawal, nor release more prisoners, nor allow Gaza seaports and airports to open, nor inaugurate safe passage for Palestinians between the WB or Gaza as stipulated in the Oslo Accords.

May, 1998, Netanyahu secretly agreed to a 13% withdrawal from the WB under pressure from the US, his own cabinet, Jordan and Egypt. Arafat threatened to unilaterally declare statehood.

The PA did not issue a new “National Covenant” revoking it’s intention to eliminate IL, nor did it attempt to crush Hamas or end terrorism originating in its WB cities.

NOTE 10: Serious discussions in IL about IL unilaterally withdrawing from the Security Zone in southern Lebanon because of continuing harassment of IDF by Hezbollah and a helicopter crash that killed 76 IDF soldiers on their way home from the Zone. The decision would be unilateral, as Syria refused to let Lebanon negotiate anything with IL until IL agreed to remove itself from the Golan Heights. But any unilateral withdrawal was ultimately vetoed by the IL cabinet as it would not do so unless there was an agreement with Syria about security on IL’s border with Lebanon.

Nov, 1998 The Wye River agreements reached, covering further IL withdrawal, land transfers from area C to A, release by IL of hundreds of prisoners and removal from the PLO charter of offensive clauses about Israel. Greeted with shocked disbelief by the Israeli right.

Nov20, 1998, IL starts withdrawal from small section of the WB, Gaza airport opens and IL releases 250 prisoners

Dec14, 1998, PNC reiterates nullification of sections calling for IL’s destruction.

Dec, 1998 Netanyahu refused to implement Wye agreement withdrawals from the WB to occur in Jan/Feb of 1999 claiming failure by the PA to collect illegal arms, arrest wanted terrorists and end anti IL incitement.

Dec21, 1998 Netanyahu along with the Knesset votes to dissolve government and call an election in May, 1999. Wye a dead letter for the time being.

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