Attempting Peace:
CLASS 16 | The Oslow Accords
ISRAEL INSIDE/OUT
CLASS 16
Attempting Peace:
The Oslo Accords
Goals (students will be able to):
• Know facts and figures of the Oslo Peace Accords
• Identify the commitments made by both parties at Oslo
• Identify the PLO’s long-term goals for peace negotiations
• Examine Israel’s compliance with its commitments
Intro
(1 minute)
In previous classes we identified the points of controversy between the Palestinians and
Israelis, and the demands each brings to negotiations. In today’s class we will discuss the first official attempts at peace talks originating in Oslo, Norway. We will identify commitments
made by Israel and the Palestinians, and examine the degree to which Israel kept its side of
the bargain. In the next class we will look at the degree to which the Palestinians kept their
side of the bargain
Give “Handout I – Oslo Report Card” to the students, to be filled out after the film.
In this and the next class, we will be learning about the Oslo peace negotiations
between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The films list their commitments. We will use report
cards to grade the Israelis and Palestinians on how well these commitments were fulfilled.
Play “Oslo Accords”
Discussion
(9 minutes)
(10 minutes)
Question: If you had to make a motto for Oslo, what would it be? What was the basic principle of the Oslo Peace Accords?
Answer: Land for Peace .
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ISRAEL INSIDE/OUT
CLASS 16
Question: What was the goal of the Oslo Peace Process?
Answer: Too many complicated issues existed that could not be resolved without
first reaching some level of trust. The goal of the Oslo Peace process was for both
sides to make a five-year commitment to build an atmosphere of trust and improve
relations, so that after five years , a permanent peace deal could be made .
Question: What were the PLO’s long-term goals for Israeli-Palestinian peace negotiations?
(See page 2 1 of the “Israel 1 0 1” booklet)
• Independent Palestinian State
• Jerusalem divided to include a Palestinian capital
• Return of Palestinian refugees to Israel
Possible
Answers
• Removal of all Israeli settlements in disputed territories
Activity
(5 minutes)
Ask the students to fill out their report cards with the commitments made by the Palestinians and Israelis during the Oslo Peace Accords. Allow them to discuss the answers quietly
among themselves, if needed.
APPENDIX I contains the answers to the student handout. The Answer Key should not be
given to the students, but it can be used by the teacher to assist the students.
AFTER watching the videos that describe how each side complied, the students will use the
report card to grade Israeli and Palestinian fulfillment of their commitments. They will grade
Israel in this class and the Palestinians in the following class.
Discussion: Does the agreement seem like a fair deal? Why or why not?
Discussion: Are all the commitments feasible?
Discussion: Would you have included anything else?
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ISRAEL INSIDE/OUT
CLASS 16
The film we are about to watch outlines the Israeli fulfillment of their commitments,
and we will use the report card to grade their efforts.
Play “Oslo Accords: Israeli Commitments”
Discussion
(7 minutes)
(8 minutes)
Ask the students to return to their report cards and take 3 minutes to grade Israeli fulfillment of their Oslo commitments. Scores are on a scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being the least
possible fulfillment and 5 the best possible fulfillment. Students should circle the score they
feel reflects the degree to which Israel met each commitment.
Discussion: How did Israel do? What grades did you give to Israel and why?
Review the main points as you go along:
• Transfer Land: Israel relinquished 42% of the West Bank and over
90% of Gaza, with 98% of the population in those areas now
under PA authority. Transfer of land delayed in response to PA
noncompliance
• Recognize PA: Done
• Educate for Peace: Campaign to educate for peace integrated into
schools at all levels
• Allow PA police: Allowed the creation of PA police and left land
under PA police authority
• Supply Arms: Supplied PA police with thousands of arms
Note: The Palestinians criticized Israel for expanding settlements, stating this
was not in the “spirit” of the peace agreement. Be that as it may, and contrar y
to popular understanding, Israeli settlements were not addressed in the Oslo
Peace Agreements and, therefore, there were no limitations on Israeli or
Palestinian settlement building.
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ISRAEL INSIDE/OUT
CLASS 16
If time allows, read the quote below to the class.
“Peace does not lie in char ters and covenants alone . It lies in the hear ts and minds of the
people .”
- John F. Kennedy
Discussion: How does this quote relate to the Oslo Peace Accords and why it was so important that both the Israelis and Palestinians commit to educate their people for peace?
Collect students’ report cards to be used for the following class.
Quiz
(10 minutes)
Give “Handout II – Oslo Facts and FIGURES” to the students.
Allow them 5 minutes to write the answers, and then go over each question one by one,
asking students to show hands for the answers they chose.
APPENDIX II contains the answers to the student handout. The Answer Key should not be
given to the students, but it can be used by the teacher to assist the students. Explain why the
answers are correct or incorrect. It is important to review each possible answer, as students
can learn as much from an incorrect answer as from a correct one.
‘
Resources:
1) Declaration of Principles (The Oslo Accords) - http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/
pages/declaration%20of%20principles.aspx
2) Renew Talks with the PLO: Ask PLO Ratification of Oslo Accords, by David Bedein http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/renew-talks-with-the-plo-ask-plo-ratification-of-oslo-accords/
3) Yasser Arafat Biography - http://www.pbs.org/newshour/biography_pages/arafat/biography.html
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ISRAEL INSIDE/OUT
CLASS 16
Handout I
Oslo Report Card
Name
5
ISRAEL’S
GRADE
COMMITMENTS
1- 5
PALESTINIAN
COMMITMENTS
GRADE
1- 5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
1
2
3
4
5
TOTAL
TOTAL
GRADE
GRADE
ISRAEL INSIDE/OUT
CLASS 16
Handout II
Oslo Facts and Figures
1 ) Which of the following statements about the Oslo Accords is TRUE?
a) They were the first direct peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.
b) The negotiations took place in Oslo, Norway.
c) The agreement intentionally side-stepped many major issues.
d) All of the Above.
2) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a) The PLO, as a terror organization, was not initially recognized as a legitimate political organization.
b) The PLO became the Palestinian Authority, also known as the PA.
c) The PLO was always recognized by Israel and the USA.
d) The PLO was not recognized as a legal negotiating partner by Israel law until
Oslo.
3) Which leaders signed the Oslo Peace Agreements (“Declaration
of Principles”)?
a) Yitzchak Rabin, Anwar Sadat, and George Bush
b) Yitzchak Rabin, Yasser Arafat, and Bill Clinton
c) Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, and Barack Obama
d) Ehud Olmert, Yasser Arafat, and Hillary Clinton.
4) Which of the following commitments were shared by the Palestinians and
Israelis?
a) Educate for peace and destroy terror groups.
b) Educate for peace and recognize PLO/Israel’s right to exist.
c) Recognize PLO/ Israel’s right to exist and destroy terror groups.
d) All of the above.
5) Which areas did Israel relinquish in the Oslo Peace Ag reements?
a) 42% of the West Bank and more than 90% of Gaza, land which included 98%
of the Palestinian population in the territories.
b) 50% of the West Bank and 50% of Gaza, land which included 50% of the
Palestinian population in the territories.
c) 20% of the West Bank and less than 30% of Gaza, land which then included 65% of the Palestinian population in the territories.
d) Nothing. Israel permanently delayed their commitment to transfer land.
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ISRAEL INSIDE/OUT
CLASS 16
Appendix I
Oslo Report Card
Name
ISRAEL’S
GRADE
COMMITMENTS
1- 5
End Terror/Solve
GRADE
1- 5
1
2
3
4
5
Destroy Terror Groups
1
2
3
4
5
5
Amend Charter
1
2
3
4
5
4
5
Protect Jewish Holy
Sites
1
2
3
4
5
4
5
Educate for Peace
1
2
3
4
5
Transfer Land
1
2
3
4
5
Recognize the PA*
1
2
3
4
5
Educate for Peace
1
2
3
4
Allow PA* Police
1
2
3
Supply Arms to PA*
1
2
3
Problems Peacefully
TOTAL
TOTAL
GRADE
GRADE
* Palestinian Authority
7
PALESTINIAN
COMMITMENTS
ISRAEL INSIDE/OUT
CLASS 16
Appendix II
Oslo Facts and Figures
1) Which of the following statements about the Oslo Accords is TRUE?
a) They were the first direct official peace negotiations between the Palestinians and Israelis.
b) The negotiations took place in Oslo, Norway.
c) The agreement intentionally side-stepped many major issues.
d) All of the Above.
2) Which of the following statements is FALSE?
a) The PLO, as a terror organization, was not initially recognized as a legitimate
political organization.
b) The PLO became the Palestinian Authority, also known as the PA.
c) The PLO was always recognized by Israel and the USA.
d) The PLO was not recognized as a legal negotiating partner by Israel law until
Oslo.
3) Which leaders signed the Oslo Peace Agreements (“Declaration
of Principles”)?
a) Yitzchak Rabin, Anwar Sadat, and George Bush
b) Yitzchak Rabin, Yasser Arafat, and Bill Clinton
c) Benjamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas, and Barack Obama
d) Ehud Olmert, Yasser Arafat, and Hillary Clinton.
4) Which of the following commitments were shared by the Palestinians and
Israelis?
a) Educate for peace and destroy terror groups.
b) Educate for peace and recognize PLO/Israel’s right to exist.
c) Recognize PLO/ Israel’s right to exist and destroy terror groups.
d) All of the above.
5) Which areas did Israel relinquish in the Oslo Peace Ag reements?
a) 42% of the West Bank and more than 90% of Gaza, land which
included 98% of the Palestinian population in the territories.
b) 50% of the West Bank and 50% of Gaza, land which included 50% of the
Palestinian population in the territories.
c) 20% of the West Bank and less than 30% of Gaza, land which then included 65% of the Palestinian population in the territories.
d) Nothing. Israel permanently delayed their commitment to transfer land.
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