Sharon Elected Prime Minister
In the only instance in Israel’s history, a direct election is held for Prime Minister without a simultaneous election for the Knesset.
Taba Summit Concludes
A week of discussions between Israeli and Palestinian leaders concludes in the Egyptian resort town of Taba. The talks at Taba take place during the height of the second “Intifada.”
Barak Resigns as Prime Minister
Israel’s 10th prime minister resigns and calls a special election in a failed attempt to win a popular mandate for his peace policies.
Shepherdstown Peace Talks With Syria Conclude
Seven days of peace talks between Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Syrian Foreign Minister Farouk al-Shara in Shepherdstown, West Virginia close without any resolution.
American Venture Capitalists Purchase Stake in Israeli Water Company
Aqua International Partners, a San Francisco-based venture fund, purchases a 25% stake in Israeli bottled water company Mayanot Eden (Eden Springs).
Jordan’s King Hussein Dies
Jordan’s King Hussein, who in 1994 became the second leader of an Arab state to make peace with Israel, dies of complications related to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Wye River Memorandum Signed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat and U.S. President Bill Clinton sign a memorandum recommitting to the Oslo II agreement of September 1995 after nine days of negotiations at the Wye River Plantation in eastern Maryland.
106 Lebanese Civilians Killed at Qana
April 18, 1996 Israeli artillery fire strikes a U.N. compound where at least 800 Lebanese civilians are sheltering in the village of Qana in southern Lebanon. At least 13 shells hit the compound, killing 106…
Suicide Bomber Strikes Dizengoff Center on Eve of Purim
March 4, 1996 Abdel-Rahim Ishaq, 24, a Palestinian resident of Ramallah, detonates a 45-pound bomb packed with nails outside the Dizengoff Center in Tel Aviv, killing himself and 13 Israelis. Later identified by a caller…
King Hussein Makes First Public Trip to Tel Aviv
January 10, 1996 Jordan’s King Hussein makes his much-anticipated first public visit to Israel, almost 15 months after the two countries signed a peace treaty. The king co-pilots a Jordanian army helicopter to the Sde…
Yitzhak Rabin Is Assassinated
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, a prominent actor in virtually all of Israel’s modern history, is assassinated by Yigal Amir at a peace rally in Tel Aviv.
Rabin, Arafat Sign Oslo II Agreement
Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat sign the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement, sometimes referred to as Oslo II, in a ceremony at the White House.
Aharon Barak Is Appointed Israel’s Supreme Court President
During his term as President, Barak is instrumental in expanding the court’s power, especially in the area of protecting civil liberties and personal freedoms, often from government rulings or military actions.
Israel and Jordan Sign Peace Treaty
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Jordanian King Hussein sign a peace treaty at the Wadi Arava Border Crossing between Eilat, Israel and Aqaba, Jordan.
Rabin and Peres Awarded Nobel Peace Prize
Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres are awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. At the time, Rabin is Prime Minister of Israel and Peres is Foreign Minister.
Agreement on the Gaza Strip and Jericho Area Is Signed
The Agreement on the Gaza Strip and Jericho Area, the first of its kind to grant Palestinians a measure of autonomy, is signed by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat in a ceremony in Cairo.
Israel and PLO Sign Second Agreement
Five months after the signing of the Declaration of Principles (DOP) on the White House lawn, Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat sign an agreement in Cairo.
Oslo Accords Signed
September 13, 1993 U.S. President Bill Clinton holds a White House signing ceremony for the Oslo Accords, a set of agreements between the Israelis and Palestinians, at the conclusion of which Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak…
PLO and Israel Recognize Each Other’s Existence
After nine months of secret contacts mediated by Norwegian diplomats, the PLO and Israel recognize each other’s existence.
Ezer Weizman Is Elected Israel’s 7th President
Ezer Weizman is elected President by the Knesset on the second ballot in a narrow vote of 66 to 53.
Mubarak Chastises Arab States for Not Negotiating With Israel
Delivering a Labor Day speech in Cairo that is broadcast on Egyptian radio, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak discusses issues relating to the peace process.
Madrid Middle East Peace Conference Convenes
The Soviet Union and the United States convene the Madrid Middle East Peace Conference, based on a two-track approach for bi-lateral as well as multi-lateral talks.
Israel, Soviet Union Resume Diplomatic Relations
Relations between Israel and the USSR began to improve under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev. In 1987, the two countries established consular ties which coincided with the Soviet Union’s easing of restrictions on Jewish life and eventually opening the gates of immigration to Israel.
Shamir Fires Weizman Over PLO Contact
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir dismisses Science Minister Ezer Weizman as a consequence of his contact with the PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization).
