‘the actions of the extremists, on both the Israeli and the Palestinian sides, were the main
reason for the breakdown of the peace process from 1995 onwards’. How far do you agree?
[25 marker]
Whilst the actions of extremists contributed to the breakdown of the peace process, the real
issue was the built-up of frustrations, from the inability for Palestinians and Israelis to agree
with one another. This essay will focus on Hamas's impact on the Oslo agreements, the
assassination of Rabin and the second intifada.
Firstly, the actions of extremists such as Hamas severely undermined the peace agreements
made in Oslo. As a consequence of the Oslo peace agreement moving at a slow pace, many
Palestinians switched their support from the PLO to more militant Palestinian groups such as
HAMAS. This led to a campaign of suicide bombings. In response, the Israeli government
took a harder line. They blamed Arafat and the Palestinian Authority for not controlling the
militants, and Israeli troops moved back into Gaza and the west bank. The actions of the
extremists led to curfews being imposed in towns, as well as the Israelis closing the border
crossing between Israel and the occupied territories to seal their borders and prevent suicide
bombers from slipping through. Demonstrating how the extremists had a direct impact in
preventing peace; instead, they drove the Palestinians and Israelis further away from each
other. However, despite these extremists' setbacks, talks between the Israeli government and
the Palestinian party were still held. Agreements were made to withdraw Israeli troops from
more Palestinian towns and cities on the west bank and Gaza. In return, Arafat agreed to
arrest Hamas militants. Demonstrating how peace was maintained despite the extremists
attempting to break it down. Therefore, the actions of extremists were not the main reason for
the breakdown of the peace process from 1995 onwards.
Secondly, the assassination of Rabin by extremists significantly broke down the peace
process. At a peace rally, a young Israeli, Yigal Amir, stepped up and shot Rabin, who died.
The assassin was a member of an Israeli group that opposed the peace with the Palestinian
peace. In their view, Rabin had been prepared to give away parts of the sacred land of Israel
and was an enemy of the Jewish people. In this way, extremists significantly contributed to
the breakdown of the peace process. As a consequence of this, a series of Palestinian suicide
bombings emerged on crowded buses in Israeli towns. Ultimately causing the new
reason for the breakdown of the peace process from 1995 onwards’. How far do you agree?
[25 marker]
Whilst the actions of extremists contributed to the breakdown of the peace process, the real
issue was the built-up of frustrations, from the inability for Palestinians and Israelis to agree
with one another. This essay will focus on Hamas's impact on the Oslo agreements, the
assassination of Rabin and the second intifada.
Firstly, the actions of extremists such as Hamas severely undermined the peace agreements
made in Oslo. As a consequence of the Oslo peace agreement moving at a slow pace, many
Palestinians switched their support from the PLO to more militant Palestinian groups such as
HAMAS. This led to a campaign of suicide bombings. In response, the Israeli government
took a harder line. They blamed Arafat and the Palestinian Authority for not controlling the
militants, and Israeli troops moved back into Gaza and the west bank. The actions of the
extremists led to curfews being imposed in towns, as well as the Israelis closing the border
crossing between Israel and the occupied territories to seal their borders and prevent suicide
bombers from slipping through. Demonstrating how the extremists had a direct impact in
preventing peace; instead, they drove the Palestinians and Israelis further away from each
other. However, despite these extremists' setbacks, talks between the Israeli government and
the Palestinian party were still held. Agreements were made to withdraw Israeli troops from
more Palestinian towns and cities on the west bank and Gaza. In return, Arafat agreed to
arrest Hamas militants. Demonstrating how peace was maintained despite the extremists
attempting to break it down. Therefore, the actions of extremists were not the main reason for
the breakdown of the peace process from 1995 onwards.
Secondly, the assassination of Rabin by extremists significantly broke down the peace
process. At a peace rally, a young Israeli, Yigal Amir, stepped up and shot Rabin, who died.
The assassin was a member of an Israeli group that opposed the peace with the Palestinian
peace. In their view, Rabin had been prepared to give away parts of the sacred land of Israel
and was an enemy of the Jewish people. In this way, extremists significantly contributed to
the breakdown of the peace process. As a consequence of this, a series of Palestinian suicide
bombings emerged on crowded buses in Israeli towns. Ultimately causing the new
