THE OSLO PROCESS

I. Background

September 1993, many believed mutual denial had made way for mutual recognition and that by implementing practical negotiations, an end to the conflict may be achieved.

Four major catalysts led to the Oslo Accords.

1. The Fall of the Soviet Union and the End of the Cold War

The Arab-Israeli conflict is a regional conflict. Nevertheless, since the 1950’s, the echoes of the Cold War reverberated in the Middle East. A close tie was forged between the nationalistic Arabs (led by Gamal Abdul Nasser in Egypt) and the Soviet block. This relationship included strategic, economic, diplomatic and ideological ties, which resulted in a dramatic change in the balance of power following Israel’s War of Independence

2. The Intifada

The Intifada (Arabic for “uprising”), which took not only Israel by surprise, but even more so, the PLO-Tunis cadre, demonstrated that the Palestinians living in the Territories were not prepared to stay under Israeli rule indefinitely. This heightened international recognition that a lasting Middle East peace would require not only a resolution of the territorial and political disputes between Israel and its Arab neighbors, but, just as importantly, a satisfactory settlement of the Palestinian issue. At the focal point of this issue lies the future status of the West Bank and Gaza.

3. The Gulf War

The results of the Allied Coalition’s campaign generated pressures for a new initiative to resolve the Arab-Israeli conflict and enhanced the chances for the success of such an initiative.

4. Change of the guard in Israel

The Labor government’s rapprochement with the PLO-Tunis (concocted in Oslo) was a revolutionary turn of events. It was a 180-degree departure from a traditional policy, exercised by both Labor and Likud governments, of official opposition to any recognition or negotiation with the PLO- legally proscribed in Israel as a terrorist organization. Until 1993, contact with the PLO was a punishable violation of the law.