Intifadah

The second intifada also known as the al-Aqsa, is the second Palestinian uprising. This uprising began in September of 2000. Most people believe that Ariel Sharon's (former Israeli Prime Minister) visit to the Temple Mount on September 28, 2000, was the event that triggered the uprising.

Prior to the second intifada, Israel and Palestine signed the Oslo Accord which was an agreement between Israel and Palestine that was a five year interim agreement made until permanent negotiations could be made. The Oslo Accords were a framework for the future relations between the two parties. The Accords provided for the creation of a Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian Authority had responsibility for the administration of the territory under its control. It also called for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank. This was the beginning of what was hoped to be a peace process between Palestine and Israel who have a historic history of violence. In the initial five years following the signing of the Oslo Accord more Palestinians and Israelis died than in the first Intifada.

In July of 2000, The Middle East Peace Summit at Camp David took place between President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat. It was an unsuccessful attempt to negotiate a final settlement to the Israeli-Palestine conflict. There were four principle obstacles to this agreement: Territory, Jerusalem and the Temple Mount, Refugees and the "right of return", and Israeli security concerns. Some believe that Arafat planned the Second Intifada shortly after returning from Camp David.

In May of 2000, Hezbollah soldiers were able to completely push Israel out of Lebanon. This was seen as an example for the Palestinians. They believed that they could regain their rights in the same way the Hezbollah did. Starting in September of 2000, Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement carried out a number of attacks on Israeli military and civilian targets.

Hamas (Islamic Resistance Movement) plays a big role in the Intifada. The Hamas calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and its replacement with a Palestinian Islamic State in the Area that is now Israel. The Hamas are responsible for a good majority of the attacks on Israelis'. In that, they are some what equivalent to Hezbollah in Lebanon. In January of 2006, Hamas won a surprise victory in the Palestinian parliamentary elections, taking 76 of the 132 seats in the chamber, while the ruling Fatah party took 43.

Overall from my research, I have found that the still ongoing Intifada is basically over religion and territory. In my opinion, to solve the problems between Israel and Palestine you would have to completely change the way the people in these countries think and live. They are just not willing to coexist. They have been this way for centuries and I think that we as westerners just don't understand there way of life enough to offer suggestions on there issues.

2000

Ð'* 28 September: Ariel Sharon's visit to Temple Mount (Ignites a cycle of Violence)

Ð'* 30 September: 12 year old boy is killed in the Gaza strip during a gun battle between Israeli troops and Palestinians

Ð'* 17 October: The Sharm al-Sheik agreement, brokered by President Clinton, aims to end the violence but breaks down almost immediately.

2001

Ð'* 6