Oslo Accords

13 September 1993 · Signed in Washington, D.C.; negotiated in Oslo

Middle East

Background

Secret talks in Norway led to the Declaration of Principles, signed at the White House with the famous Rabin–Arafat handshake. Oslo II (1995) divided the West Bank into Areas A, B and C. Final issues such as Jerusalem, refugees and borders were never settled.

Signed by

Israel (Yitzhak Rabin) and the PLO (Yasser Arafat)

Why it matters

Mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO, and creation of the Palestinian Authority with limited self-rule in Gaza and parts of the West Bank.