To Whom It May Concern:
I am writing this to express my concerns and knowledge regarding the Arab-Israeli conflict that has been going on for many years. I feel that it has the opportunity to end in the next few years and I think that you hope that is true.
The Middle East has always been known as the Holy Land. For centuries, prophets have walked there, nations have collided and conquerors have come and gone. While Jews claim a three thousand-year-old attachment to this ancient land, Arabs also stake their devotion. These two peoples, are constantly involved in a tragic conflict that has lasted more than half a century, saw the possibility of a new beginning.
The Oslo Accord transformed the political realities of the Middle East. Since the founding of Israel in 1948, there has been continuous conflict between Israel and the Arab states. Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories led to the uprising of Arab youth in the West Bank and Gaza, known as the Intifada.
Boycott Israel-poster
Map of Israel, the Palestinian territories (West B...
English: Map of Israel, the Palestinian territorie...For the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, the Intifada provided them with a new and assertive Palestinian identity. Israelis were also growing tired of their roles as occupiers, as soldiers trained to defend their country in war were finding themselves aiming their weapons at rock throwing teenagers. Many Israelis were disillusioned and desperately eager for a solution.
Talks took place between January and May of 1993. As talks continued, complications arose, notably Israel's insistence that it retain control of West Bank security. However, as trust grew, both sides compromised as they moved towards reconciliation and mutual recognition. After eight months of negotiations, an agreement of principles was signed secretly in Oslo. The Declaration of Principles bound Israel and the Palestinians to a five-year interim agreement. Power over Gaza and...