Britannica
Sources used in this answer
- two-state solution - Implementation of a two-state solution
- Jerusalem - Modern Jerusalem
- two-state solution - Dissent and disruption
- Israel - The Declaration of Principles and Cairo Agreement
- Israel - Occupation of Arab territories
- West Bank: Top Questions
- intifada: Top Questions
- Oslo Accords: Top Questions
Which major issues were left unresolved by the Oslo Accords?
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The Oslo Accords established a framework for a five-year interim period of Palestinian self-government, but they explicitly deferred several of the most contentious "final status" issues to be negotiated at a later date. These unresolved issues included:12
- Jerusalem: The status of the city, which both Israelis and Palestinians claim as their capital, remained a central point of dispute.132
- Jewish settlements: The future of settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip was left to be determined through future bilateral negotiations.24
- Final borders: The permanent boundaries between Israel and a potential Palestinian state were not defined by the accords.12
- Palestinian refugees: The question regarding the return of Palestinian refugees was also reserved for final status talks.12
While the accords created the Palestinian Authority and initiated a phased withdrawal of Israeli forces from certain areas, the failure to reach a permanent agreement on these core issues contributed to ongoing tensions and the eventual stagnation of the peace process.124