(Reuters) - The United States is hosting a peace conference in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday aimed at launching long-stalled talks on Palestinian statehood.
Here are some facts about previous efforts to make peace in the Middle East and where they faltered.
SEPTEMBER 1993, OSLO ACCORDS
- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin sign deal on limited Palestinian self-rule in the occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip, but delay talks about core issues of who controls Jerusalem, the drawing of borders and the possible return of Palestinian refugees.
- Arafat’s Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) recognises Israel’s right to exist and renounces violence. Israeli troops withdraw from some Palestinian areas.
JULY 2000, CAMP DAVID
- U.S. President Bill Clinton attempts to broker deal between Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
- Talks focus on proposals to create a state in just over 90 percent of the West Bank including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, with land swaps for Jewish West Bank settlements.
- Arafat rejects proposal, seeking Palestinian sovereignty over East Jerusalem including Muslim holy sites, and right of return for refugees who fled what is now Israel in 1948.
- Talks collapse and second Palestinian Intifida breaks out.
DECEMBER 2000, CLINTON’S PARAMETERS
Seeking to revive the peace process, Clinton asks both sides to accept a series of principles as basis for further talks.
These include:
- Palestinian state in Gaza and 94-96 percent of West Bank territory, plus 1-3 percent land swap and a “safe passage” link between the two areas.
- Palestinian sovereignty over Jerusalem’s Temple Mount, revered by Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif, with Israeli sovereignty over Jewish Western Wall.
- New state of Palestine should be home to refugees but Israel could accept some of them. Compensation proposed.
JANUARY 2001, TABA TALKS
- Barak launches last-ditch talks in Egyptian resort ahead of Israeli elections and on basis of Clinton proposals.
- Negotiators fail to broker agreement but say they have “never been closer” to a deal. Two sides vow to seek further talks but Barak is voted out of office.
Writing by Rebecca Harrison; Editing by Alison Williams
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