The Oslo Peace Accords

The Oslo Accords were a set of agreements signed in 1993 between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization. For decades, Israelis and Palestinians had been in conflict over land and rights. Secret talks in Oslo, Norway, led to a historic agreement. Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat shook hands at the White House. It was a hopeful moment that showed even the most difficult conflicts can be discussed peacefully.

A Long Conflict

The conflict between Israelis and Palestinians goes back many decades. Both groups have deep connections to the same land. After the state of Israel was created in 1948, many Palestinians lost their homes. Fighting and tension continued for years. Many people on both sides suffered. By the early 1990s, some leaders on both sides decided it was time to try talking instead of fighting.

Hope for Peace

Secret meetings were held in Oslo, Norway. Israeli and Palestinian leaders talked for months. They agreed that Palestinians would govern some of their own areas and that both sides would work toward peace. The agreements were not perfect, and many challenges remained. Sadly, lasting peace has not yet been achieved. But the Oslo Accords showed that enemies can sit down and talk. They remain an important symbol of the hope for peace.

Fun Facts

• The talks were held in secret so that no one could try to stop them.
• Rabin, Arafat, and Israeli foreign minister Shimon Peres all won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994.
• The famous handshake at the White House was watched by millions of people around the world.

Did You Know?

The secret talks in Oslo were so private that even many top officials in Israel and Palestine did not know they were happening until the agreements were announced.