Updated Oct. 14, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.
Thirty years ago on this day, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres.
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Why were Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin, and Shimon Peres awarded the Nobel Peace Prize?
Yasser Arafat, Yitzhak Rabin, and Shimon Peres were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1994. They received the prize for their efforts to negotiate and reach a peace agreement known as the Oslo Accords, which aimed to bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and promote peace in the Middle East.
What were the Oslo Accords?
The Oslo Accords were a series of agreements signed between the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), represented by Yasser Arafat, and the State of Israel, represented by Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres. The initial agreement, known as the Oslo I Accord, was signed in 1993 in Oslo, Norway. It established a framework for Palestinian self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, the momentum for peace began to be reversed after the assassination of Rabin.
What was the reaction to the Nobel Peace Prize announcement?
The Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Arafat, Rabin, and Peres received mixed reactions. While it was celebrated by many as a symbol of hope for peace in the Middle East, it also faced criticism from those who believed the Oslo Accords did not go far enough in addressing the root causes of the conflict.