5 times peace talks between Israel and Palestinians broke down

By Samantha Kamman, Christian Post Reporter Thursday, June 13, 2024

Former U.S. President Bill Clinton speaks during the second night at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. July 26, 2016. | (Photo: REUTERS/Mark Kauzlarich)

Camp David Summit (2000)

U.S. President Bill Clinton hosted former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat at Camp David in 2000. The meeting's purpose was to produce a final agreement between the two leaders, an effort that ultimately failed.

The Jewish advocacy group Anti-Defamation League cited reports from first-hand accounts claiming that Barak offered an Israeli redeployment from at least 95% of the West Bank and 100% of the Gaza Strip, as well as the creation of a Palestinian state in these areas.

In addition, Barak offered "religious sovereignty" over the Temple Mount and for the Palestinians to have control over parts of Jerusalem.

"In return, Barak wanted the final status agreement to include an "end of conflict" clause under which the parties would pledge that all issues between them were now resolved and further claims would not be made at a future date," the ADL stated.

The ADL reported that, according to participants, Arafat refused Israel's offer and "clung to maximalist positions." The group noted that the Palestinian delegation did not offer any counter-proposals.

Palestinians argued that the failure of Camp David was due to Barak's "take-it-or-leave-it" stance, ADF reports that high-level Israeli and American officials contend that Camp David showed that Arafat and the Palestinian leadership had "unrealistic expectations."