Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
25 Years Later, Oslo Accords Fail to Deliver for Palestinians
GV-Wire-1
By gvwire
Published 7 years ago on
September 13, 2018

Share

Twenty-five years ago, the Oslo accords heralded a promising new era in the long quest for peace between Israelis and Palestinians.
The agreements, signed on the White House lawn on September 13, 1993, “culminated in mutual recognition between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, which Israel had long banned as a terrorist organization, and the first formal agreements in a phased effort to resolve the century-old conflict,” notes a detailed article in Wednesday’s (Sept. 12)  New York Times.

“What they got was poorly negotiated.”Daniel Kurtzer, Former U.S. Ambassador
“Today, however, the Oslo process is moribund, having produced neither a peace agreement nor a Palestinian state,” the article continues.

Fragile Agreements

While actions on both sides ultimately derailed the accords, experts say the agreements themselves were fragile from the start. Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Daniel Kurtzer says the Palestinians gave away too much for too little in return.
“What they got was poorly negotiated,” he says.
Analysts say the Palestinians settled for little more than Israeli recognition of the Palestinian Liberation Organization as a legitimate governing body while deferring resolution of critical issues, such as borders and settlements, until later.

Watch Retired FBI Legal Attaché Explain Barriers to Peace

Jobs But Little Else

Still, with political legitimacy comes about $500 million in foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority, which helps provide jobs to about a quarter of the population.
“If we’re talking about the P.A. as a step toward statehood, then it’s failed miserably,” said Alaa Tartir, a program adviser to Al Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network. “As a step toward self-determination, or toward realization of the Palestinians’ political and human rights, then it’s failed again. But if we’re talking about providing jobs as a bureaucracy, then it’s worked.”

“The Palestinians are not free. We cannot open our wings and fly unless we are blind to reality.” — Jamal Rajoub, deputy governor of Jerico
Employment aside, many Palestinians complain about corruption and nepotism within the Palestinian Authority. In a recent survey, half of the Palestinians polled viewed the authority negatively. And those aged 18-22 said they are more supportive of a one-state outcome rather than a two-state solution. Many older Palestinians seem to share the sentiment.
“They promised us a state,” said Firial Qarawil, 53. “Where is the state? All the agreements and all the authorities, including ours, have taken us back more than 60 years.”

Israeli Domination Unchanged

But officials with the Palestinian Authority push back, saying in the absence of full implementation of the Oslo accords, Israeli still dominates life in the territories.
“The Israeli occupation controls the air we breathe in the West Bank or Gaza,” said Jamal Rajoub, the deputy governor of the city of Jericho. “The P.A. wants to improve the lives of the people, but everything is tied up with the Israeli occupation. The Palestinians are not free. We cannot open our wings and fly unless we are blind to reality.”
You can read the full story, 25 Years After Oslo Accords, Mideast Peace Seems Remote as Ever, at the New York Times.

DON'T MISS

What Are Fresno Real Estate Experts Predicting for 2025 and Beyond?

DON'T MISS

First California EV Mandates Hit Automakers This Year. Most Are Not Even Close

DON'T MISS

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

DON'T MISS

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

DON'T MISS

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

DON'T MISS

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

DON'T MISS

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

DON'T MISS

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

DON'T MISS

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

DON'T MISS

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

DON'T MISS

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

DON'T MISS

Derek Carr Explains Mysterious Retirement. He Didn’t Want to ‘Just Take the Saints’ Money’

UP NEXT

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

UP NEXT

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

UP NEXT

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

UP NEXT

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

UP NEXT

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

UP NEXT

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

UP NEXT

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

UP NEXT

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

UP NEXT

Derek Carr Explains Mysterious Retirement. He Didn’t Want to ‘Just Take the Saints’ Money’

UP NEXT

What Do Valley Leaders Say About Trump’s Threat to Yank High-Speed Rail Funding?

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

41 minutes ago

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

2 hours ago

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

2 hours ago

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

2 hours ago

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

2 hours ago

Fresno Police Want Your Tips to Solve Taylor Washington Homicide

3 hours ago

Derek Carr Explains Mysterious Retirement. He Didn’t Want to ‘Just Take the Saints’ Money’

5 hours ago

What Do Valley Leaders Say About Trump’s Threat to Yank High-Speed Rail Funding?

5 hours ago

Were Cuts in Rooftop Solar Payments Legal? CA Supreme Court Hears Arguments

5 hours ago

Fresno Rainbow Pride Marks 35th Year with Saturday Parade and Festival

6 hours ago

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

As Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz, sat beside him watching in silence, President Donald Trump compared Russia and Ukraine to two...

30 minutes ago

30 minutes ago

Trump Compares Russia and Ukraine to Children Fighting

37 minutes ago

Trump Administration Imposes Sanctions on Four ICC Judges in Unprecedented Move

41 minutes ago

SpaceX Will Decommission Dragon Spacecraft, Musk Says as Feud With Trump Escalates

41 minutes ago

Erika Sandoval Gets Life Sentence in Notorious Tulare County Murder

2 hours ago

Israeli Military Strikes Beirut’s Southern Suburbs

2 hours ago

We Are Being Governed by the Trump Organization Inc.

Webster, GV Wire's Adoptable Pet of the Week, June 5, 2025
2 hours ago

Wondrous Webster Has the Makings of a Wonderful Family Member

2 hours ago

Trump Threatens Musk’s Government Deals as Feud Explodes Over Tax-Cut Bill

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend