Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline: Encyclopedia II - Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Recent Developments

Israeli-Palestinian conflict timeline - Recent Developments

US President George W. Bush calls for an independent Palestinian state living in peace with Israel.

IDF kills Salah Shahade, the leader of Hamas's "military wing", the Izz ad-Din el-Qasam Brigades

Marwan Barghouti, captured April 15, was indicted by a civilian Israeli court for murdering civilians and membership in a terrorist organisation.

Rachel Corrie, an American member of the International Solidarity Movement is crushed by an Israel Defence Forces bulldozer, becoming the first ISM member to die in the conflict. Eyewitnesses allege murder, while Israel calls it a "regrettable accident".

Mahmoud Abbas appointed Prime Minister.

Hilltop 26, an illegal Israeli settlement near the city of Hebron, is peacefully dismantled by the Israel Defence Force.

The details of the Road map for peace are released.

Ariel Sharon states that the "occupation" of Palestinian territories "can't continue endlessly."

A two-day summit is held in Egypt. Arab leaders announce their support for the road map and promised to work on cutting off funding to terrorist groups.

Hamas, Islamic Jihad and Fatah agree to a three-month cease-fire.

Islamic Jihad and Hamas claim joint responsibility for a suicide bombing that kills twenty Israelis. Mahmoud Abbas pledges a crackdown on militants.

Mahmoud Abbas resigns from the post of Prime Minister.

Israel officially ended a 17-day military operation, named Operation Days of Penitence, in the northern Gaza Strip. The operation was launched in response to a Qassam rocket that killed two children in Sderot. About 108-133 Palestinians were killed during the operation, of whom one third were civilians. Among the dead was 13 year old Iman al-Hams who was shot repeatedly by an IDF soldier.

Yasser Arafat dies at the age of 75 in a hospital near Paris, after undergoing urgent medical treatment (since October 29, 2004).

Israel removes all Jewish settlements and military equipment from the disputed territory of the Gaza Strip, ending its "occupation" of the area which began after 1967. Disengagement from Gaza Strip is followed by increase in Palestinian terrorist activity, including an increase in Hamas activities.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Recent Developments", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki