1989 - 1993
May 1989 - Israeli Prime Minister Shamir announces a Four Point Peace Plan with transitional implementations for the West Bank and the Gaza.
November 1989 - Syria reestablishes relations with Egypt, which had remained broken since the 1978 Camp David Conference. US Secretary of State
August 2, 1990 - Iraq invades and occupies Kuwait. The Gulf War victory of the US and its allies opens a "window of opportunity" for resolution of the Arab / Israeli conflict. The Persian Gulf states cut off PLO funding because of Arafat's support for Saddam Hussein. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are foced out of the Gulf states. US President Bush suspends dialogue with the PLO because of the organization's failure to condemn an act of terroism committed by a faction of theirs against Israel.
October 30, 1991 - Middle East Peace Conference is conducted in Madrid to achieve "real peace" (Bush). The conference is initiated by US Presidnet Bush and Soviet President Gorbachev. Palestinians attend in a joint delegation with Jordan. Syria and Lebanon attend as well. Direct bilateral talks begin.
January 28-29, 1992 - The organizational meeting for multilateral talks on regional issues such as arms control, refugees and the environment is held in Moscow. Rounds 1, 2 and 3 convene in 1992 in Lisbon and London.
March 4, 1992 - The 4th round of bilateral talks ends in Washington. Working group meetings are set to convene in Belgium on economic development; in Japan on the environment; in Washington on arms control and regional safety; in Canada on refugees; and in Turkey or Austria on water resources.
October 21, 1992 - In round 7 of direct bilateral talks, Israel reiterates its willingness to talk about pulling out of some of the Golan Heights, but not all of the area. Palestinians call for similar Israeli commitment to yield ground in the West Bank, Gaza and Jerusalem.
December 7, 1992 - Slaying of 6 Israeli soldiers by Palestian extremists results in an Israeli crackdown and the mass expulsion of more than 400 Palestinians as well as an increase in tension in the region.
January 19, 1993 - The Israeli parliament lifts its 1986 ban on contacts with the PLO.
August 31, 1993 - Eleventh round of bilateral negociations opens with the Israelis' announcement on secret talks with the PLO in Oslo and an initialed accord on self-rule for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and Jericho.
September 9, 1993 - Israel and the PLO agree to recognize each other after 45 years of conflict, building on a pact already initialed on Palestinian self-rule in the Israeli-occupied Gaza Strip and in Jericho. PLO leader Yasser Arafat signs a letter recognizing Israel and renouncing violence.
September 10, 1993 - Arafat's letter is hand-carried to Israel by Norwegian Foreign Minister Johan Joergen Holst, whose country brokered the PLO-Israel pact. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin signs a document recognizing the PLO, and opens the way to a signing ceremony August 13 in Washington. US President Cliton calls the Oslo agreement "a shining moment of hope," pledging the continued direct engagement of the US in the peace process. Belgian Foreign Minister Willy Claes, the European Communitiy's (EC) President, promises to work to intensify the Community's contribution to the Middle East peace process. The EC is already the largest donor of aid to the Palestinians.
September 13, 1993 - History is made in the Middle East's legacy as Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat meet and watch Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO Executive Council Member Abou Abbas sign the agreement at the Whitehouse. US President Bill Clinton, former presidents George Bush and Jimmy Carter, and 3,000 dignitaries witness the signing -- on the same desk used in the signing of the Camp David accords 15 years earlier.
September 14, 1993 - The Israel / Jordan Common Agenda is agreed in Washington, DC, marking the end of the state of war between the two nations and paving the way for talks leading to a formal peace treaty.