What happened on October 23 1998?
On October 23 in 1998 The Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signed an agreement called the ‘Wye River Memorandum’ during a ceremony in the White house located in Washington. This agreement consisted of three phases to facilitate and resolve the Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza strip of September 28, 1995, also called the Oslo II Accord. This Interim agreement aimed to expand Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank. This allowed the Palestinians to manage their own internal affairs and 23 October marked a new era of cooperation between two country rivals. Furthermore the cooperation would involve security arrangements, elections, economic affairs, the release of Palestinian prisoners etc.
Why is the conflict still nog solved?
The ongoing Israel-Palestine conflict remains unresolved and has escalated due to several key factors. The conflict revolves around differing priorities for the two parties involved. For Israel, the conflict is deeply rooted in religious significance, while for Palestine, it primarily centers around land ownership and the desire for Palestinians to reclaim their former homes. The situation was further complicated when Israel gained control over the West Bank and Gaza Strip during the Six Day War in 1967. Negotiations have been based on the understanding that Israel would eventually withdraw from these occupied territories in exchange for a comprehensive peace agreement and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. However, attempts at reaching settlements since 1998 have repeatedly failed, largely due to the fundamental disagreement between the two sides, as both hold the view that the other should be eradicated. This lack of mutual agreement has hindered progress in resolving the conflict.
What is happening today, 25 years after the contract?
Today marks the 25th anniversary of the Wye River Memorandum, and it’s interesting to see what’s happening on this same date, a quarter of a century later. According to live updates on The Guardian, there are some significant events unfolding today. Firstly, leaders from the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Canada, Germany, and Italy are collectively urging Israel to abide by international law and protect civilians while also acknowledging Israel’s right to defend itself against terrorism. Secondly, the White House has committed to continuing its assistance to Gaza, even as Israel continues its attacks on the region. The Israeli Defense Forces report over 320 targets struck in the last 24 hours, with a focus on taking out terrorist infrastructure and military objectives. Unfortunately, the toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza has now surpassed 4,651 Palestinian lives lost. When it comes to negotiating an agreement, we are no closer to achieving peace between these two nations than we were 25 years ago.
“There’s no doubt in my mind, sadly, that it will get worse before it gets better.”
– Yossi Mekelberg
