Jennifer Miller

POLI388

The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: 2000-2005

Executive Summary

For my research project, I will be examining the Israeli-Palestinian conflict right before and during the Second Intifada, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada. The Second Intifada took place beginning in September of 2000 until around 2005. However, because the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is an enduring conflict, the exact ending is somewhat unclear. Additionally, the result of events that took place during the Al-Aqsa Intifada was indecisive in terms victory or defeat. This event in Middle East history has had many repercussions in terms of not only the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but also in relation to the rest of the Middle East and the rest of the world. The Palestinians’ uprising at the start of this Al-Aqsa Intifada showed that the Israeli-Palestinian conflict seemingly has no end. The Intifada saw the rise of a sense of urgency regarding jihad as well as a more aggressive military and foreign policy by Israel. This enduring conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians exemplifies topics learned in class, such as surprise, deception, strategic moves, and the last clear chance to avoid mutual destruction. Additionally, this conflict demonstrates the effect of pre-play communications, especially when considering the time period before the “start” of the Second Intifada (July 2000), when Israeli and Palestinian leaders met with President Bill Clinton of the United States at the Middle East Peace Summit at Camp David. In my research paper, I will further present an evaluation of the tactics used by Israel, Palestine, and the rest of the international community in order to attempt to put a stop to this enduring conflict.