Second Intifada

Second Intifada. The Second Intifada was a major Palestinian uprising against Israeli rule that began in late September 2000 and lasted until early 2005. It is also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada, following a controversial visit by Ariel Sharon to the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. The period was marked by intense violence, including widespread suicide bombings by Palestinian factions and large-scale military operations by the Israel Defense Forces.

Background and causes

The collapse of the Camp David 2000 Summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat in July 2000 created deep disillusionment among Palestinians. Long-standing grievances over the continuation of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, economic hardship, and the perceived failure of the Oslo Accords to deliver a sovereign State of Palestine fueled popular anger. The immediate trigger was the provocative visit by opposition leader Ariel Sharon, guarded by hundreds of Israel Police officers, to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, a site sacred to both Islam and Judaism.

Major events and timeline

The initial phase involved mass demonstrations and clashes, most notably at the Netzarim Junction in Gaza, where Muhammad al-Durrah was filmed being killed. Violence quickly escalated with the Lynching in Ramallah of two Israel Defense Forces reservists. By 2001, Palestinian militant groups like Hamas, Palestinian Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades launched a campaign of suicide attacks inside Israel, targeting buses, restaurants, and hotels. Major Israeli military responses included Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, reoccupying West Bank cities like Jenin and Nablus, and the Battle of Jenin. Other significant events included the Siege of the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem and the construction of the Israeli West Bank barrier.

Israeli and Palestinian strategies

The Israel Defense Forces adopted aggressive counter-insurgency tactics, including targeted killings of militant leaders such as Ahmed Yassin of Hamas, widespread arrests, curfews, and home demolitions. The Shin Bet intelligence agency played a crucial role. The Palestinian strategy, fragmented among various factions, centered on armed resistance and suicide bombings within Israel and against settlers. While the Palestinian National Authority, led by Yasser Arafat's Fatah, was officially involved, its control over groups like the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades was often ambiguous. Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, rejecting the Oslo Accords, operated independently.

Casualties and impact

Approximately 3,000 Palestinians and 1,000 Israelis were killed during the uprising. Palestinian casualties included both combatants and civilians, while Israeli casualties were predominantly civilians killed in suicide attacks. The economic impact was severe, particularly on the Palestinian territories, due to prolonged closures, curfews, and the barrier's disruption. The violence deeply traumatized both societies, hardening public opinion and eroding trust. It also led to significant international diplomatic efforts, including the Road map for peace proposed by the Quartet on the Middle East.

Aftermath and legacy

The uprising effectively ended with the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit of 2005 and a tacit ceasefire declaration by Mahmoud Abbas, who succeeded Yasser Arafat. It left a transformed political landscape: Ariel Sharon initiated the Israeli disengagement from Gaza in 2005, while Hamas's political strength grew, leading to its victory in the 2006 Palestinian legislative election. The Second Intifada discredited the Oslo Accords framework for many on both sides and led to a more entrenched Israeli security posture. Its legacy continues to influence the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, from the subsequent Gaza Wars to the ongoing stalemate in peace negotiations.

Category:Israeli–Palestinian conflict Category:Wars involving Israel Category:History of Palestine