It was a politically difficult time. In the one hand Israel could not annex the "West Bank" and Gaza because of international pressure, but the offers to return them to Jordanian and Egyptian sovereignty in exchange for peace had been rejected.
Nonetheless, there were no
1/
Nonetheless, there were no
1/
checkpoints or security barriers, and one could take a cab from Ramallah to Gaza City without a problem.
Ironically, terrorism actually increased after the Oslo Accords were signed, though the narrative was that the P.A. had nothing to do with it, and that these were
2/
Ironically, terrorism actually increased after the Oslo Accords were signed, though the narrative was that the P.A. had nothing to do with it, and that these were
2/
people trying to derail the peace process.
All that changed with the intifada (launched by Arafat after he rejected Israeli proposals at Camp David). Almost weekly suicide bombings and ongoing riots tend to change things.
That is when the security barriers went up, and
3/
All that changed with the intifada (launched by Arafat after he rejected Israeli proposals at Camp David). Almost weekly suicide bombings and ongoing riots tend to change things.
That is when the security barriers went up, and
3/
when checkpoints became ubiquitous.
Even before then, the lines were primarily one way, with the primary flow of people coming from outside of Israel heading in, while Jewish presence in the territories was not particularly welcome.
It wasn't perfect then, but it wasn't
4/
Even before then, the lines were primarily one way, with the primary flow of people coming from outside of Israel heading in, while Jewish presence in the territories was not particularly welcome.
It wasn't perfect then, but it wasn't
4/
all by Israel's choice.
Israel was stuck between a rock and a hard place, as it were. Could not move forward, but could definitely not move backwards either.
Even so, it was marked by an improvement in the general welfare of the people of the region (with marked
5/
Israel was stuck between a rock and a hard place, as it were. Could not move forward, but could definitely not move backwards either.
Even so, it was marked by an improvement in the general welfare of the people of the region (with marked
5/
improvements in infant mortality and life expectancy).
It could have been far better, but there needed to be an Arab partner for such a thing to have happened.
Sadly there was none.
6/6
It could have been far better, but there needed to be an Arab partner for such a thing to have happened.
Sadly there was none.
6/6
