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uprising resulted in mass injuries and loss of life. A Peace Conference on the Middle East was
convened in Madrid on 30 October 1991, with the aim of achieving a comprehensive peace settlement
through direct negotiations along 2 tracks : between Israel and the Arab States, and between Israel and
the Palestinians, based on Security Council resolutions 242 & 338 (1973) (the “land for peace”
formula). A series of subsequent negotiations between the Government of the State of Israel and the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), led to several other positive developments, such as the partial
withdrawal of Israeli forces, the elections to the Palestinian Council and the Presidency of the
Palestinian Authority, the partial release of prisoners and the establishment of a functioning
administration in the areas under Palestinian self-rule. After the controversial visit by Ariel Sharon of
the Likud to Al-Haram Al-Sharif (Temple Mount) in 2000 was followed by the outbreak of the second
intifada. Israel began the construction of a West Bank separation wall, located within the Occupied
Palestinian Territory, which was ruled illegal by the International Court of Justice.
Conclusion—In 2002, the Security Council adopted resolution affirming a vision of two States,
Israel and Palestine, living side by side within secure boundaries. In 2005, Israel withdrew its settlers
and troops from the Gaza Strip as part of its “Disengagement Plan,” while retaining effective control
over its borders, seashore, and airspace. Following the Palestinian Legislative Council elections of
2006, the Quartet concluded that future assistance to the Palestinian Authority would be reviewed by
donors against the new Government’s commitment to non-violence, recognition of Israel, and
acceptance of previous agreements.
Problem of Gaza Strip
Introduction—The Gaza strip is one of the most densely populated places on earth, almost half of
the population are children aged 14 or younger. Following its victory in the 2006 municipal legislative
elections and the military conflict between Fatah and Hamas, Hamas assumed administrative control,
and Israel and Egypt sealed their border crossings with Gaza and imposed a blockade on the territory,
prohibiting all exports and allowing only enough goods to avert a humanitarian or health crisis.
Body—In response to the blockade, hundreds of underground tunnels between Egypt and Israel
were developed. Egyptian claimed that these tunnels were mainly employed to import food; the IDF
(ISRAEL DEFENCE FORCES) said that these tunnels were indeed used for weapons smuggling.
Hamas and other Palestinian paramilitaries increased the number of rockets fired from the Gaza strip
into Southern Israel. Israel conducted airstrikes on Gaza during 2007 and 2008, against Hamas. On June
19, 2008, an Egyptian-brokered pause in hostilities between Israel and Hamas consisting of a six-month
‘lull’. The June 19 agreement required Hamas to end rocket attacks upon Israel in exchange for an end
of the blockade and for commerce in Gaza to be restored. Israel accused Hamas of continuing the
smuggling of weapons into the Gaza strip via tunnels to Egypt, pointing out that the rocket attacks had
not completely ceased, Hamas criticized Israel for maintaining the Blockade of the Gaza Strip. On
December 20 Hamas officially announced that they would not be extending the cease-fire, blaming
Israel saying it had not respected its terms, including the lifting of the blockade. On December 26, 2008,
Israel reopened five crossings between Israel and Gaza for humanitarian supplies. At the same time,
militants fired about a dozen rockets and mortrar shells from Gaza at Israel. Israel launched its military
operation, Operation Cast Lead, at 11 : 30 a.m., on December 27, when more than 50 fighter jets and
attack helicopters entered Gazan airspace, killing 225–292 Palestinians and wounding more than 1,000.
Conclusion—On 17 January, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared a unilateral ceasefire.
The unilateral ceasefire consists of two phases : “First a ceasefire is declared. If Hamas stops firing
rockets then Israel pulls its forces out of the Gaza Strip. If rocket fire resumes then the IDF goes back
in, this time with the international backing gained by having tried a truce.” On 17th Jan afternoon,
Hamas, Islamic Jihad and other paramilitaries stated they would stop launching rockets into Israel for
one week, on condition that Israel would withdraw its military within this period.
Special Economic Zone
Introduction—Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a geographical region that has economic laws that
are more liberal than a country’s typical economic laws. The category ‘SEZ’ covers : Free Trade Zones