Ehud Barak Biography and Timeline

Foreign Secretary of Israel

Acting Prime Minister Shimon Peres appoints Ehud Barak, a popular general, to the post of Foreign Minister

Election

Israel elects Labor party leader and Former General Ehud Barak as Prime Minister in a landslide, Barak promises rapid progress toward peace

Oslo Process

Barak becomes Prime Minister promising to advance negotiations with the Palestinians

Role range: 1999-2001

Sharm el Sheikh Memorandum

Signs a memorandum with Arafat to revive delayed Oslo implementation.

Role range: 1999-2001

Prime Minister of Israel

Appointed Prime Minister of Israel

Permanent Status Talks

Barak prepares for negotiations on final status questions left unresolved by Oslo

Role range: 1999-2001

Hafez Assad

Israelin peace negotiations fail when Hafez Assad rejects an Israeli offer relayed by US President Clinton in Geneva

Peace Negotiations

Israelin peace negotiations fail when Hafez Assad rejects an Israeli offer relayed by US President Clinton in Geneva

Camp David Summit

Opens final-status talks with Arafat under US mediation.

Role range: 1999-2001

Demonstrations

Palestinians initiate riots after Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visits the Temple Mount, which is also the location of the Haram as Sharif holy to Muslims

Haram as Sharif

Palestinians initiate riots after Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visits the Temple Mount, which is also the location of the Haram as Sharif holy to Muslims

Demonstrations

Palestinians initiate riots after Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visits the Temple Mount, which is also the location of the Haram as Sharif holy to Muslims

Haram as Sharif

Palestinians initiate riots after Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visits the Temple Mount, which is also the location of the Haram as Sharif holy to Muslims

Intifada, 2nd

Faces spreading clashes after the Temple Mount visit and the collapse of peace talks.

Role range: 2000-2005 – 1999-2001

Haram al-Sharif Clashes

Barak's government confronts rapidly escalating clashes in Jerusalem one day after Ariel Sharon's controversial visit to the holy-site compound.

Role range: 2000-2005 – 1999-2001

October 2000 Protests

Barak faces major protests among Palestinian citizens of Israel as police and demonstrators clash during the opening days of the uprising.

Role range: 2000-2005 – 1999-2001

Ramallah Lynching Crisis

Barak orders a military response after two Israeli reservists are killed by a Palestinian crowd at a Ramallah police station.

Role range: 2000-2005 – 1999-2001

Initial Barrier Planning Approved

Barak approves planning and financing for a barrier section intended to restrict vehicle crossings from parts of the West Bank into Israel.

Role range: 2000-2005 – 1999-2001

Election

Right-wing Likud leader Ariel Sharon elected Prime Minister in Israel replacing Ehud Barak and promising "peace and security."

Hamas

Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak states that this will be a "war to the bitter end," while Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwant declares Hamas would "fight until the last breath."

Invasion of Gaza

Israeli defense minister Ehud Barak states that this will be a "war to the bitter end," while Hamas spokesman Ismail Radwant declares Hamas would "fight until the last breath."

Invasion of Gaza

The United Nations declares a suspension of aid in Gaza after one driver was killed and two others wounded in stray gunfire

Invasion of Gaza

Despite a call from the United Nations for cease-fire, fighting continues in Gaza. An airstrike from Israel hits the United Nations Relief and Works Agency building in Gaza, injuring at least three people

United Nations

An airstrike from Israel hits the United Nations Relief and Works Agency building in Gaza, injuring at least three people

Invasion of Gaza

An airstrike from Israel hits the United Nations Relief and Works Agency building in Gaza, injuring at least three people

Invasion of Gaza

At least 1,200 Palestinians and 13 Israelis have been killed during the conflict