Iran's Role in Middle East Conflicts and the Oslo Peace Process from the 1990s

The Atlantic reported that Iran engaged in a largely undeclared conflict against regional peace agreements more than 30 years ago. This struggle involved support for groups that opposed normalization between Israel and its neighbors. The current Middle East conflict stems from this historical legacy.

In the 1990s, secret talks in Oslo led to agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization, which had previously been designated a terrorist organization. Israel also normalized relations with parts of the Arab world, resulting in a peace agreement with Jordan. These developments occurred during a period of hope for the peace process.

the Peace Process Actions that disrupted the peace process followed these agreements.

In 1994, an Israeli far-right extremist killed dozens of Palestinian worshippers at the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron. Terror attacks targeting Israelis were carried out by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad, introducing suicide bombings as a tactic.

The Atlantic stated that Iran supported these Palestinian groups, along with Hezbollah, in efforts to prevent normalization of Israel's relations with neighbors.

Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, referred to Yasser Arafat, an architect of the Oslo Accords, as both a traitor and a fool. Funding, training, and planning came from Iran. The attacks intensified resistance to the Oslo Accords within Israel.

Public opinion shifted due to a loss of personal security, with buses exploding shortly after agreements were signed with a former terrorist organization. Benjamin Netanyahu, then opposition leader, saw his political fortunes rise amid criticism of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.

November 1995, Yitzhak Rabin was shot by a Jewish right-wing extremist during a rally in Tel Aviv supporting the peace process.

The assassin aimed to sabotage the talks. Shimon Peres, Rabin's successor, continued the negotiations, and public opinion in Israel largely supported them at the time. In Palestinian society, only a minority opposed the Oslo Accords initially.

However, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad continued suicide attacks, leading to Israeli responses including checkpoints and closures. These measures restricted Palestinian access to jobs in Israel, reducing support for the agreements among Palestinians.

Hassan Salameh, a senior Hamas commander convicted of planning attacks that killed dozens of Israelis in 1996, received weapons training in Iran.

The Atlantic described this support as part of a broader strategy against peace efforts. The legacy of these events influences ongoing regional dynamics, affecting Israelis, Palestinians, and neighboring states.