Israel and the Palestinians: Chronology of a Two-State Solution

Israel and the Palestinians: Chronology of a Two-State Solution

Updated June 30, 2020
Israel and the Palestinians: Chronology of a Two-State Solution
The idea of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
1979 Israel-Egypt peace treaty
conflict developed gradually in the years after Israel
captured the West Bank and Gaza Strip in the 1967 Arab-
1981 Israel unilaterally applies civilian law to the Golan
Israeli war. This product highlights the evolution of this
Heights, effectively annexing it; U.N. Security Council
idea. In 2002, U.S. policy became explicitly supportive of
Resolution 297 holds Israeli action to be invalid
creating a Palestinian state alongside Israel. Since then,
1982 Israel finalizes return of Sinai Peninsula to Egypt
unsuccessful negotiating efforts and other developments
have led many observers to doubt the viability of a two-
1987 First Palestinian intifada begins
state solution. Analysts debate whether the Trump
Administration’s 2020 release of the Administration’s
1988 PLO under Yasser Arafat agrees to consider a
Vision for Peace will help or hinder the parties in resolving
solution focused on Palestinian claims to the West
core issues of dispute (security, borders, settlements,
Bank and Gaza, not all of historic Palestine; Jordan
Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees). The plan sets some
gives up its claims to the West Bank to the PLO
arguably difficult preconditions for a future Palestinian
1991 Fol owing the Gulf War, the United States helps start
state, and could permit Israeli annexation of some West
Arab-Israeli (including Israeli-Palestinian) peace talks at
Bank areas—primarily Israeli settlements and the Jordan
the Madrid Conference
Valley.
1993 Israel-PLO Declaration of Principles (Oslo Accord)
From U.N. Security Council Resolution
signed in Washington, DC
242 to Oslo Process (1967-1995)
1994 Palestinian Authority (PA) created via Gaza-Jericho
Shortly after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, the U.N. Security
Agreement signed by Israel and the PLO in Egypt
Council adopted Resolution 242, which supported future
negotiations involving the Israeli return of captured
Israel-Jordan peace treaty
territories in exchange for peace with Arab states (the
1995 Israel-PLO Interim Agreement on the West Bank and
“land-for-peace” principle). The U.S.-brokered 1978 Camp
Gaza Strip (Oslo II) signed in Egypt to formalize areas
David Accords between Israel and Egypt had provisions
of limited PA rule; final-status negotiating period
addressing Palestinian aspirations for self-rule. The
begins
Accords anticipated transitional Palestinian autonomy in the
Assassination of Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin
West Bank and Gaza accompanied by Israeli-Palestinian
peace negotiations.
Negotiations Amid Changing Political
Initially, the prevailing U.S. and Israeli view was that
Realities (1995-2014)
autonomy would not necessarily lead to statehood. Yet,
After the initial Oslo process ended in 2000 without a peace
U.S. officials began more seriously contemplating that
agreement, Israeli public opinion grew wary of diplomatic
peace talks could lead to a Palestinian state after Yasser
compromise, especially with a second intifada and attacks
Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signaled
inside Israel from the West Bank and Gaza. Israel’s
its willingness to negotiate with Israel in the late 1980s and
emphasis on security measures grew—focused both on
early 1990s. That timeframe coincided with the first
protection (building walls and fences) and prevention
Palestinian intifada (or uprising), which raised widespread
(expanding Israeli military and intelligence operations in
concern in Israel that political control over the West Bank
the West Bank and around Gaza)—and contributed to
and Gaza was unsustainable. Political space opened for a
Palestinian economic difficulties. Additionally, the numbers
diplomatic process anticipating territorially contiguous
of Israeli settlers in the West Bank and East Jerusalem had
Israeli and Palestinian states that would share close
steadily increased over time, making the prospect of cleanly
commercial ties, opening the way to the Oslo agreements of
separating Israeli and Palestinian populations more
1993-1995 (see timeline below) and the accompanying
complicated and politically charged.
peace process.
The principle of a two-state solution mediated by the
1967 Arab-Israeli War: Israel captures West Bank (including
United States and supported by neighboring Arab states was
East Jerusalem) from Jordan, Golan Heights from
the basis for subsequent rounds of Israeli-Palestinian
Syria, and Gaza Strip and Sinai Peninsula from Egypt
negotiations in 2007-2008 and 2013-2014. This was the
case despite the post-2000 changes mentioned above, the
U.N. Security Council Resolution 242
emergence of other global and regional powers, and
1978 Camp David Accords
heightened political unrest in surrounding Arab states. Both
rounds of negotiations ended without an agreement, leading
Israel and the Palestinians to pursue leverage over each
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Israel and the Palestinians: Chronology of a Two-State Solution
other on the ground (sometimes violently) and through
then using those improved ties to encourage Arab states to
international politics and trade. Meanwhile, domestic
persuade the Palestinians to accept less domestically
pressure mounted on Israeli and Palestinian leaders to
popular outcomes.
consider alternatives to a negotiated solution. Some Israelis
have advocated partial annexation of Israeli-controlled
The Trump Administration has taken a number of actions
areas in the West Bank, and some Palestinians have sought
that the PLO strongly opposes, including the release of its
one state with equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians.
Vision for Peace (see timeline below). In response to U.S.
Some observers have contemplated that a conflict-ending
actions and in anticipation of possible Israeli annexation of
agreement might not happen, thus leaving the parties
West Bank areas, the PLO/Palestinian Authority (PA) has
stalemated and the Palestinians with few political rights.
ceased diplomatic contacts with the United States,
denounced U.S.-Israeli moves as violating the Oslo
2000
Camp David summit fails to reach Israel-PLO final-
agreements, sought help from other international actors on
status agreement
the peace process, ended most security coordination with
Israel in the West Bank, and warned of disbanding the PA.
Second Palestinian intifada begins
President Bil Clinton issues parameters for bridging
2015
Congress enacts Bipartisan Congressional Trade
gaps in Israel-PLO final-status positions
Priorities and Accountability Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-
2002
Saudi Arabia proposes Arab Peace Initiative, setting
26), which contains a provision seeking to protect
conditions for Arab-Israeli peace related to territory,
Israel from punitive economic measures, including in
Palestinian statehood, Jerusalem, and Palestinian
settlements; State Department issues statement
refugees; Arab League adopts it
saying that the provision’s application to settlements
President George W. Bush makes a two-state
runs counter to long-standing U.S. policy
solution official U.S. policy in connection with efforts
2016
Congress enacts Trade Facilitation and Trade
to end Israeli-Palestinian violence and promote PA
Enforcement Act of 2015 (P.L. 114-125), with a
reform efforts through Roadmap for Peace
provision similar to the one enacted in P.L. 114-26;
2004
President Bush sends letter to Israeli Prime Minister
President Obama issues a signing statement saying
Ariel Sharon implying that Israel would probably keep
that the provision’s application to settlements is not
some West Bank settlements in a peace agreement
in line with U.S. policy
PLO Chairman/PA President Yasser Arafat dies and
United States abstains in vote on U.N. Security
Mahmoud Abbas succeeds him
Council Resolution 2334, which holds that Israeli
settlements are contrary to international law
2005
Israel withdraws troops and settlers from Gaza Strip
Secretary of State John Kerry proposes six principles
2006
Hamas wins PA legislative elections held in West
for future negotiations toward a two-state solution
Bank and Gaza, and forms PA cabinet; U.S. support
2017
President Trump recognizes Jerusalem as Israel’s
for PA limited to President Mahmoud Abbas
capital; PLO/PA cuts off diplomatic contacts with
2007
After armed clash with PA/Fatah forces, Hamas gains
United States
control of Gaza Strip; Abbas appoints new PA cabinet
2018
United States opens embassy to Israel in Jerusalem,
for West Bank
substantially reduces bilateral aid for the Palestinians,
2007-
Bush Administration facilitates the Annapolis talks
ends contributions for U.N. Relief and Works
2008
between Israel and the PLO; no agreement reached
Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East
(UNRWA), and mandates the closure of the PLO
2009
Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu states
office in Washington, DC
conditional wil ingness to accept a Palestinian state
2019
President Trump recognizes Golan Heights as a part
2011
Unrest breaks out across Arab world, including Syria
of Israel
Palestinians unsuccessful y apply for U.N.
Secretary of State Michael Pompeo announces, as a
membership; successful y join U.N. Educational,
contrast with some past Administrations’ statements
Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
or legal findings, that Israeli West Bank settlements
are “not per se inconsistent with international law”
2013-
Obama Administration facilitates Israel-PLO talks; no
2014
agreement reached
2020
President Trump releases plan entitled Vision for
Peace, featuring terms generally viewed as favorable
Challenges to the Peace Process (2014-
for Israel; the PLO/PA rejects the plan
Present)
New Netanyahu-led government in Israel has a
In this environment, the United States and a number of
mandate to annex some parts of the West Bank after
international actors apparently downgraded their goal from
July 1 in coordination with U.S. officials
reaching a peace agreement imminently to preserving the

peace process until conditions for talks were more
favorable. Reflecting this objective, U.S. officials focused
on bringing Israel closer to Arab states because of their
Jim Zanotti, Specialist in Middle Eastern Affairs
common concerns about Iranian regional influence, and
IF11237
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Israel and the Palestinians: Chronology of a Two-State Solution

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