The late 20th century saw a dramatic shift in the Israel-Palestine conflict — not just on the battlefield, but in the streets and negotiation rooms. From the explosive Palestinian uprisings (Intifadas) to the historic Oslo Accords, this era was filled with hope, pain, and ultimately, disappointment.
The First Intifada (1987–1993): An Uprising from the Ground Up
In December 1987, a wave of unrest began in the Gaza Strip and soon engulfed the West Bank, marking the start of the First Intifada, a widespread Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation.
Triggered by the killing of four Palestinian laborers by an Israeli vehicle, the uprising was fueled by two decades of Israeli occupation, land confiscations, settlement expansion, and daily humiliations at checkpoints.
Key Characteristics:
- Mostly non-lethal resistance: stone-throwing, boycotts, and protests.
- Organized by local committees and not political parties.
- Israel responded with military crackdowns, mass arrests, and curfews.
By the early 1990s, the death toll had reached over 1,000 Palestinians and 100 Israelis, and the world began to pay closer attention.
The Oslo Accords (1993–1995): A Glimmer of Peace
The First Intifada led to secret negotiations between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). In 1993, these talks culminated in the signing of the Oslo Accords, with a historic handshake between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat on the White House lawn.
What Oslo Promised:
- Mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO.
- Establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) to govern parts of the West Bank and Gaza.
- A five-year timeline for final-status negotiations on borders, refugees, Jerusalem, and settlements.
The world cheered. The Nobel Peace Prize was awarded. Palestinians hoped for statehood. Israelis hoped for security.
The Collapse of Oslo: Hopes Turn to Disillusion
But peace was not to be.
- Extremists on both sides sabotaged progress. In 1995, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated by a right-wing Israeli extremist opposed to the peace process.
- Hamas and Islamic Jihad carried out suicide bombings in Israeli cities.
- Israel continued expanding settlements in the West Bank, undermining the trust and principles laid out in the Oslo Accords.
- Final status talks were endlessly delayed, with no resolution on refugees, Jerusalem, or borders.
By 2000, frustration had reached a boiling point.
The Second Intifada (2000–2005): Rage, Retaliation, and Ruin
In September 2000, Ariel Sharon’s visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound ignited widespread anger and became the flashpoint for renewed unrest. What followed was the Second Intifada — far deadlier than the first.
Key Differences:
- Far more violent and militarized.
- Suicide bombings and armed confrontations became common.
- Israel responded with full-scale military operations, airstrikes, and invasions of Palestinian towns.
Over 4,000 people were killed, most of them Palestinians. The peace process was in ruins.
Aftermath: A Wall and a Wound
- Israel began constructing the West Bank Barrier — part wall, part fence — cutting deep into Palestinian territory.
- The Palestinian Authority weakened, and internal divisions grew, especially between Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza.
- Mutual trust between Israelis and Palestinians collapsed to its lowest point.
The failure of the Oslo process left many Palestinians believing that negotiations were a dead end, while many Israelis felt that peace only brought more attacks.
Conclusion: Broken Dreams and Bitter Realities
The Intifadas and the Oslo Accords marked a critical turning point:
- Palestinians moved from armed resistance to diplomacy — and back again.
- The world saw tangible peace efforts, only to witness their collapse.
- Today’s deep-seated mistrust, division, and stagnation are rooted in the wreckage of this era.
