US President Bill Clinton stands between PLO leader Yasser Arafat (R) and Israeli PM Yitzahk Rabin as they shake hands for the first time after signing the Oslo Accords. AFP
US President Bill Clinton stands between PLO leader Yasser Arafat (R) and Israeli PM Yitzahk Rabin as they shake hands for the first time after signing the Oslo Accords. AFP

1993 - The Oslo Accords and the broken promises of peace

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Updated 19 April 2025
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1993 - The Oslo Accords and the broken promises of peace

1993 - The Oslo Accords and the broken promises of peace
  • The interim agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization aimed to establish a framework for peaceful coexistence but were derailed by extremist violence

CHICAGO: As a Palestinian, I grew up in the shadow of the pain and suffering of the Arab-Israeli conflict. 

Israeli violence during the 1947 and 1948 war forced my father’s family to flee their homes in West Jerusalem and live for more than two years in the squalor of a refugee camp in Jordan, until my father could bring them to the US in 1951. 

My mother and her family in Bethlehem were forced to suffer through constant Israeli military assaults after the war, even though they lived under Jordanian control. They were uncertain whether they could survive, so eventually they fled to the welcoming arms and sanctuary of the diaspora, settling in Colombia and Venezuela. 

But they lost so much. To this day, more than 10 acres of my family land, on my mother’s side, adjacent to the Israel settlement of Gilo, remains under Israeli control and outside our reach, simply because we are Christian Palestinians and not Jews. 

This cumulative weight of suffering was lifted from me as I sat and watched my hero, Palestine Liberation Organization leader Yasser Arafat, shake the hand of our oppressor, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, during the signing of the Oslo Accords peace agreement at the White House on Sept. 13, 1993. 

Rabin was a monster to Palestinians. In January 1988, as a general, he ordered his soldiers to “break the bones” of Palestinian civilians identified as “inciters” during protests against Israeli policies. Rabin was never charged over this but his lower-ranking officers faced a public outcry that was covered up by the Israeli government and the pro-Israel news media. 

How we wrote it




Arab News marked the Oslo Accords signing with a 3-page special, prematurely declaring “Pact heralds dawn of peace in Mideast.”

Yet we were willing to set all of that aside for an Israeli who was willing, for the first time, to recognize Palestinians as a people; a people that had been denied recognition by all of his predecessors, including Golda Meir, a Milwaukee schoolteacher who became an immigrant prime minister and once cruelly declared that the Palestinians “did not exist.” 

On Sept. 13, 1993, we set aside the pain of the past and hoped to move forward thanks to a new beginning on “a great occasion of history and hope,” as President Bill Clinton declared at the beginning of the momentous event. 

I remember grabbing a chunk of grass from the White House lawn in front of the stage as a souvenir and placing it between the pages of the program that was distributed to Palestinian and Israeli guests at the signing. We all sat near each other, in different groups and sections, Jews and Arabs, and greeted the start of the ceremony with relief. 

The peace documents were actually signed by Israel’s foreign minister, Shimon Peres, and the PLO’s Mahmoud Abbas, with Rabin, Arafat and Clinton looking on. 

Then, with Rabin to his right and Arafat to his left, Clinton nudged the two leaders together and they shook hands. 

The Oslo Peace Accords included recognition of certain rights on both sides. The Palestinians openly recognized Israel’s “right to exist,” considered a major concession at the time, while Israel recognized only that Palestinians would be granted a process leading to limited self-rule. Israel did not agree to recognize Palestinian statehood under the accords, instead committing only to a vaguely defined system of Palestinian self-government in the occupied territories, and to withdrawing its armed forces from much, but not all, of the West Bank. 

It was to be the foundation for a promise of a process that would lead to the creation of a Palestinian state within five years. But this was never written down or documented. It was only interpreted. 

Key Dates

  • 1

    At the Madrid Peace Conference, US Secretary of State James Baker invites Israeli officials to meet representatives of several Arab countries to pursue peace and establish self-rule for Palestinians. Israel objects to direct talks with the PLO. Palestinians from the occupied West Bank partner with Jordanian delegation to explore peace prospects.

    Timeline Image Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 1991

  • 2

    Yitzhak Rabin is elected prime minister, vowing to make progress in peace negotiations and the establishment of Palestinian self-rule. He enters into secret, direct talks with the PLO in Norway.

    Timeline Image July 13, 1992

  • 3

    US President Bill Clinton hosts the signing ceremony of the Oslo Accords. Rabin and PLO leader Yasser Arafat sign the Declaration of Principles, marking a historic step towards peace in the Middle East. The agreement recognizes the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people, with the PLO renouncing terrorism and recognizing Israel’s right to exist.

    Timeline Image Sept. 13, 1993

  • 4

    US-born Benjamin “Baruch” Goldstein, wearing an Israeli military uniform and carrying an automatic weapon, enters Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron and massacres 29 Muslims as they pray, wounding 125.

  • 5

    On Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day, a Hamas suicide bomber kills eight Israelis and injures 55 others.

  • 6

    The Nobel Committee awards Nobel Peace Prize to Arafat, Rabin and Israel’s foreign minister, Shimon Peres for the Oslo Accords.

    Timeline Image Oct. 14, 1994

  • 7

    Progress with Palestinians opens door to a peace agreement between Israel and Jordan, signed during a ceremony in the Arava Valley, north of Eilat in Israel and close to the Jordanian border.

  • 8

    Rabin shot by an Israeli extremist and dies the following morning. Rabin’s family claim killer supported right-wing extremist politics of Ariel Sharon and Benjamin Netanyahu.

    Timeline Image Nov. 4, 1995

And yet, even as limited as it was, the agreement was an overwhelming relief to many, including my family. My wife is Jewish, and we subsequently traveled through Israel and Palestine, in 1994 and 1995. Although the agreement did not spell out the granting of true freedom, it did create an atmosphere of hope. Palestinians and Israelis, for the first time, got the chance to know each other as potential friends, not enemies. 

But the hopes for peace promised by the Oslo Accords were quickly cut short, in a large part because of the violence committed by Israeli fanatics, which provoked Palestinian outrage and sparked counterviolence. 

After shaking Arafat’s hand, Rabin declared: “We who have fought against you, the Palestinians, we say to you today, in a loud and a clear voice, enough of blood and tears. Enough!” 

He should have directed his words toward his own people, too. On Feb. 25, 1994, just five months after the signing of the Oslo Accords, an American-Israeli doctor, wearing an Israeli military uniform and carrying an automatic weapon, entered the Ibrahimi Mosque in Hebron. He massacred 29 Muslims as they prayed, and wounded 125. 

This massacre, carried out by Benjamin “Baruch” Goldstein, a far-right ultra-Zionist who was overpowered and killed by survivors, prompted a retaliatory wave of suicide bombings by Hamas militants opposed to the peace process. 

They began with an attack at a bus stop in Afula on April 6, 1994, Israel’s Holocaust Memorial Day, in which eight Israelis were killed and 55 injured. It was considered the first suicide attack, although there had been three others, one during the Intifada, on July 6, 1989, the others in April and October 1993. 

On Nov. 4, 1995, a 27-year-old disciple of Benjamin Netanyahu, Yigal Amir, a far-right Israeli religious extremist, assassinated Rabin, shooting him in the arm and back following a peace rally. 

Amir confessed that he killed the Israeli leader because Rabin wanted “to give our country to the Arabs.” Rabin’s widow blamed Netanyahu and Israeli extremists for influencing Amir’s actions. 

And so the peace quickly unraveled. Israeli and Palestinian extremists, both of whom opposed any form of compromise, escalated their violence. Eventually, Ariel Sharon and Netanyahu took control in Israel and quickly peeled back the Oslo promises. 




Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres (C) signs the historic Israel-PLO Oslo Accords on Palestinian autonomy in the occupied territories on September 13, 1993 in a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C. AFP

But I will never forget one memory from the time before the hopes were dashed. I was driving with my wife through the Jordan Valley in the summer of 1995 when we arrived at an Israeli checkpoint. The soldiers there handed us a flower and were curious about the idea that a Palestinian and a Jew would marry. 

“You’re the future,” one soldier said to us with a smile. 

It was one of the last smiles I would see on the face of an Israeli soldier.

  • Ray Hanania is an award-winning former Chicago City Hall political reporter. He is a columnist for Arab News and hosts the Ray Hanania Radio Show. 


TNFS 2025: Saudi Arabia to host region’s first summit on smoking reduction

TNFS 2025: Saudi Arabia to host region’s first summit on smoking reduction
Updated 10 min 18 sec ago
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TNFS 2025: Saudi Arabia to host region’s first summit on smoking reduction

TNFS 2025: Saudi Arabia to host region’s first summit on smoking reduction

In a significant move that signals a shift in how the region tackles public health challenges, Riyadh is set to host the TNFS Summit 2025 — the first high-level regional summit focused on reducing smoking prevalence and addressing tobacco-related harm. This event will bring together organizations, health leaders, and policymakers from the region and around the globe.

The summit will take place on May 29 at the Four Seasons Hotel — Kingdom Centre, coinciding with “World No Tobacco Day.” It is supported by strategic partners, including the Quality-of-Life Program (Part of one of the realization programs of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030), Badael Company, and Smart Health as the scientific partner. The TNFS Summit will serve as a multilateral platform to encourage regional and international collaboration in tackling one of the most pressing public health challenges in the Arab world.

The summit is expected to culminate in the adoption of a regional charter for tobacco harm reduction and the signing of strategic cooperation agreements among participating entities, aimed at strengthening public health systems and enhancing regional regulatory frameworks.

TNFS Summit 2025 invites policymakers, public health experts, and civil society to unite around a shared vision: a healthier Middle East with lower tobacco dependence. This summit marks a clear commitment to science-based, prevention-first policies built on regional and international partnerships.

More than 100 local and international experts from leading institutions — including specialists from the UK, Sweden, and Saudi Arabia — will participate in the summit. They will discuss the latest research, exchange insights, and explore scalable, evidence-based policy solutions.

The agenda will focus on key strategic themes, including:

  • correcting public misconceptions about nicotine and tobacco harm reduction products
  • designing preventive policies grounded in scientific evidence
  • showcasing successful international regulatory frameworks that can be adapted to regional contexts
  • mobilizing community awareness and fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors

Badael Company, the summit’s strategic partner, stated that TNFS 2025 addresses an urgent regional need for data-driven dialogue and multilateral coordination to reflect the scale of tobacco-related harm in our societies. The summit is envisioned as a launchpad for the region’s healthier and more sustainable future.


Inter to wear gold for Champions League final against PSG

Inter to wear gold for Champions League final against PSG
Updated 8 min 35 sec ago
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Inter to wear gold for Champions League final against PSG

Inter to wear gold for Champions League final against PSG
  • Inter have played in six Champions League/European Cup finals to date
  • The Parisians are designated as the home team in the final

MILAN: Inter Milan will dress for the occasion by wearing their third, golden yellow kit in Saturday’s Champions League final when they face Paris St. Germain in Munich in the first official meeting between the sides.

Inter have played in six Champions League/European Cup finals to date, the first in 1964, and have never used their third kit in the showpiece match so far.

Since the Parisians are designated as the home team in the final, they will wear their first-choice kit — navy blue shorts and shirts with a white and red stripe in the center — so Inter cannot play in their classic black and blue striped jerseys.

The Italians, however, did not opt for their second strip -white shirts with blue details — choosing to wear the third kit instead, a golden yellow shirt with black details and black shorts.

There may be superstition involved as Simone Inzaghi’s side won both of their games in Europe’s elite club competition when playing in yellow this term, January’s 1-0 win at Sparta Prague and a 2-0 last-16 first-leg victory at Feyenoord in March.

Their only defeat in this season’s Champions League, meanwhile, came at Bayer Leverkusen when they wore white shirts in December.


Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season

Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season
Updated 25 min 33 sec ago
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Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season

Al-Ittihad fans attain record-breaking attendance for Roshn Saudi League season
  • Al-Ahli fans came in second with 354,019 attendees
  • This year’s champions had their fans passing the half-a-million attendance mark

RIYADH: Al-Ittihad supporters have emerged as the most dedicated fans throughout the Roshn Saudi League 2024/2025 season with a total number of 594,326 attendees.

Al-Ahli fans came in second with 354,019 attendees, according to official data released on Wednesday via Saudi Pro League’s Arabic handle on X.

This year’s champions, Al-Ittihad, were the only club where fans passed the half-a-million attendance mark, out of a total number of 2.5 million supporters who attended the whole RSL.

Meanwhile, Al-Hilal secured third place with 302,028 attendees while Al-Nassr ranked fourth with a total of 277,821attendees.

In a notable rise, newly promoted Al-Qadsiah, returning from the Yelo League (First Division), claimed fifth spot with 168,331 fans.

Rounding out the list were Al-Fateh in sixth, followed by Al-Ettifaq, Al-Shabab, Al-Taawoun, Damac, Al-Khaleej, Al-Raed, Al-Wehda, Al-Kholood, Al-Orobah, Al-Riyadh, Al-Okhdood and Al-Fayha.


OPEC+ moves to set 2027 production baselines

OPEC+ moves to set 2027 production baselines
Updated 32 min 12 sec ago
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OPEC+ moves to set 2027 production baselines

OPEC+ moves to set 2027 production baselines

RIYADH: OPEC+ announced on Wednesday that it will establish a framework to determine new oil production baselines for 2027, marking a significant step in its long-term planning, said an official statement.

The alliance — comprising the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and partners including Russia—has been negotiating revised production baselines for several years. These baselines serve as reference points from which member states adjust their output levels.

According to the statement issued following the group’s meeting, said it had tasked the OPEC Secretariat with developing a mechanism to assess each country’s maximum production capacity. These assessments will form the basis for 2027 production targets across all member nations.

Since 2022, the group has implemented three tiers of output cuts. Two remain in place through the end of 2026, while the third is being gradually phased out by eight participating countries. No changes were made to the group’s current production policy at Wednesday’s session.

Due to the sensitive nature of the discussions, all sources spoke on condition of anonymity.

The 2027 baselines, once finalized, are expected to guide production policy after the current round of cuts expires.

Oil prices, which dipped below $60 per barrel in April—the lowest level in four years—following OPEC+’s decision to accelerate May output and amid trade tensions triggered by US tariffs, have since rebounded to around $65.


Extremist violence and coups test West Africa ECOWAS bloc at 50

Extremist violence and coups test West Africa ECOWAS bloc at 50
Updated 39 min 5 sec ago
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Extremist violence and coups test West Africa ECOWAS bloc at 50

Extremist violence and coups test West Africa ECOWAS bloc at 50
  • Extremist violence has surged this year in Nigeria and the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — nations that have recently seceded from ECOWAS
  • Established on May 28, 1975, ECOWAS aimed to promote regional economic integration, security cooperation, human rights, and democratic governance

LAGOS: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) faces growing threats of terrorism, climate change, military coups, and poverty, its most senior official said on Wednesday as leaders marked 50 years since the bloc’s formation in Nigeria.

Extremist violence has surged this year in Nigeria and the Sahel region, including Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — nations that have recently seceded from ECOWAS in protest over sanctions following military coups.

“We are confronting the greatest challenges we face today, terrorism, climate change and unconstitutional change of government, poverty and economic disparities,” ECOWAS Commission President Omar Alieu Touray said, expressing confidence in overcoming the challenges.

Established on May 28, 1975, ECOWAS aimed to promote regional economic integration, security cooperation, human rights, and democratic governance.

However, five decades later, military juntas in founding member states Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger have disassociated from the bloc, saying it no longer serves their interests.

The countries have formed their own Alliance of Sahel States and a confederation, cut military and diplomatic ties with Western powers and sought closer cooperation with Russia.

Touray said ECOWAS would continue trying to cooperate with the three countries.

Security and political analysts said curbing insecurity was crucial for ECOWAS to fulfill its promise of prosperity and lift millions from poverty.

Beverly Ochieng, senior analyst at Control Risk in Dakar, Senegal, said: “If you don’t have security, then of course it means that you cannot guarantee a robust economy in the region.”

Analysts also criticized ECOWAS for its silence when leaders controversially amend constitutions to extend their rule, leading to citizens applauding military coups.

They cited the recent example of Togo’s leader Faure Gnassingbe, who was granted the influential new role of President of the Council of Ministers with no fixed term limit — a move opposition parties labelled a constitutional coup potentially extending his rule indefinitely.