One problem was some extremists were still part of the PLO and wanted the whole of Israel back for themselves and rejected the idea of a mini state.
Next in 1977 President Sadat of Egypt surprised the world saying that he wanted to make peace with Israel. Even more surprising is he went to Israel to discuss peace, even though most Arab leaders refuse to acknowledge Israel’s existence. On the 20th of December Sadat spoke to the Israeli government. The following month Israeli Prime Minister, Menachem Begin, went to Egypt and peace talks were started. When the Peace Talks slowed down The U.S president Carter invited the two leaders to Camp David to talk about peace.
The whole Middle East conflict was discussed at Camp David and this treaty was made:
- Egypt to regain all of Sinai within three years
- Israeli forces to be withdrawn from Sinai
- Israeli shipping will have free passage through the Suez Canal and the Straits of Tiran.
This Problem made a great Breakthrough in Arab-Israeli relations but the Palestinians were still at the heart of the Conflict in the Middle East.
In 1993 the Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement was made.
This all started when in 1988 Arafat publicly rejected terrorism, now the United states were openly willing to negotiate with the PLO and put pressure on the Israelis to open peace talks with the Palestinians.
In October 1991, the US government persuaded the Israelis to have face-to-face talks with Palestinian leaders. These talks were held in Madrid. Little progress was made in the talks while extremists on both sides attempted to disrupt the discussions by acts of violence. In 1993 discussions started up again and finally in September after 8 months of Secret talks a breakthrough was made. Yasser Arafat and the Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin exchanged letter.
In Arafat’s letter he rejected the use of terrorism, called for the end of the Intifada and recognized the right of Israel to exist in peace and security.
In Rabin’s letter it said, he recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people.
On the 13th September 1993, the two leaders signed an agreement and shook hands publicly in front of the world’s cameras.
This was agreed:
- Israeli troops would be withdrawn from the Gaza Strip and the city of Jericho on the West Bank.
- Elections would be held for a Palestinian council to run the West Bank and Gaza for five years
- During these five years a final settlement would be discussed.
Within a year Israeli troops were removed from Gaza and Jericho and elections were held where the PLO won the majority of seats.
These Peace agreements went some way to keep the peace between Arabs and Israelis but there were still some problems that still exist, that can cause conflict.
One problem was the future of Jerusalem. Both Israelis and Palestinians want it as their capital. The Israelis were determined to ensure they controlled the city and that it remained their Capital.
By the late 1990s East Jerusalem that was mostly Arabs was encircled by Israeli settlements containing 150,000 Israelis.
Another Problem was the refugees who left Israel and fled to neighboring Arab countries during the fighting. Most Israelis believe that the refugees should not be able to return. This is because the Israelis don’t want to feel swamped by Palestinians, and for them to form the majority of the Population.
Another problem that exists is the Israeli settlements on the West Bank. Should these settlements be given up or should they continue to guard the settlement and protect the Jewish Israelis.
The last Problem is about the Independent Palestinian state. This is because many Palestinians want the whole of Palestine back and not just a small mini state. They also believe that the mini state wouldn’t be there own independent state as there would always be Israeli troops would still be stationed in parts of the West Bank.
These 4 points show the problems that need to be overcome before a peace agreement can be finally agreed.
