30 years later Oslo peace initiative on Palestine looks a lost cause
Experts say 30 years later, with a fragmented West Bank, a besieged Gaza Strip, Oslo accord looks like a lost cause
JERUSALEM, Palestine – The Oslo peace initiative, which ignited hope of settlement of Palestinian issue and peace in the region, has remained stagnant since it was signed 30 years ago.
On September 13, 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organisation leader Yasser Arafat met at the White House to endorse the deal.
Their groundbreaking handshake culminated in both leaders, along with Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres, receiving the Nobel Peace Prize a year later.
The first Oslo Accord, termed Oslo I, marked the first mutual recognition between the Israeli and Palestinian leaders, with both committing to end their prolonged conflict.
Oslo II, signed in 1995, elaborated on the intended structure of peace-promoting entities.
The aim was to ensure Palestinian self-determination with a state coexisting alongside Israel.
To realize this, steps such as the Israeli military’s phased withdrawal from the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967 were proposed.
As a result, the Palestinian Authority (PA) was formed, administering restricted governance in designated West Bank areas. However, the hoped-for finaltreaty never materialized.
Many right-wing Israelis, viewing the PLO as a “terrorist group,” rejected any concessions to the Palestinians. This strong opposition even led to the assassination of Rabin in 1995.
On the Palestinian side, factions like Hamas and Islamic Jihad believed the two-state solution would negate Palestinian refugees’ right to return to lands lost in 1948.
It got further derailed as Israel sustained its occupation, avoiding significant military withdrawal from the West Bank.
Many Palestinians opine that the Oslo Accords were exploited by Israel to amplify its illegal West Bank settlements.
Presently, Israel’s government, influenced by ultranationalist ideologies, continues to endorse further settlement expansions.
Experts say 30 years later, with a fragmented West Bank, a besieged Gaza Strip, and an unyielding stance on occupied East Jerusalem, the Oslo accord looks like a lost cause.
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