Peace
After an Arabi peace conference the PLO & Israel begin secret peace negotiations
Role range: 1969-2004
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Yasser Arafat Biography and Timeline — Page 3
Follow Yasser Arafat through 203 dated historical records for Palestine.
Yasser Arafat, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
203Distinct records
3 of 6Page
1991–1994Years on this page
1991
Rule of Lebanon
The Lebanese army, backed by Syria, forces the PLO to abandon its strongholds in southern Lebanon
Role range: 1969-2004
1992
Air Crash
Survives an aircrash in the Sahara
Role range: 1969-2004
1993
Secret Oslo Channel Authorized
Arafat authorizes confidential contacts that develop into the Oslo negotiating channel between PLO representatives and Israeli officials.
Role range: 1987-1993 – 1969-2004
Accords of Oslo
In order that the Palestinians should govern themselves according to democratic principles, free and general political elections would be held for the Council
Role range: 1969-2004
Accords of Oslo
The Israeli Government recognizes the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people while the PLO recognizes the right of the state of Israel to exist and renounces terrorism.
Role range: 1969-2004
Accords of Oslo
The Oslo Accords call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank and affirm the Palestinian right to self-Government within those areas through the creation of the Palestinian Authori.
Role range: 1969-2004
Accords of Oslo
Yasser Arafat & Yitzhak Rabin sign the Oslo Accords.
Role range: 1969-2004
Election
In order that the Palestinians should govern themselves according to democratic principles, free and general political elections would be held for the Council
Role range: 1969-2004
Independence of Palestine
The Oslo Accords call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank and affirm the Palestinian right to self-Government within those areas through the creation of the Palestinian Authori
Role range: 1969-2004
Rule of Gaza
The Oslo Accords call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank and affirm the Palestinian right to self-Government within those areas through the creation of the Palestinian Authority. Leaders of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) signed the Oslo Accords calling for Palestinian administration of the Gaza Strip, implemented in May 1994
Role range: 1969-2004
Rule of West Bank
The Oslo Accords call for the withdrawal of Israeli forces from parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank and affirm the Palestinian right to self-Government within those areas through the creation of the Palestinian Authori
Role range: 1969-2004
PLO Recognition Letter to Israel
Arafat signs a letter recognizing Israel's right to exist in peace and security and committing the PLO to negotiated conflict resolution.
Role range: 1987-1993 – 1969-2004
Oslo Accords
Arafat signs the Declaration of Principles in Washington, helping close the main phase of the First Intifada.
Role range: 1987-1993 – 1969-2004
Oslo Accords
Shakes hands with Rabin after signing the Declaration of Principles.
Role range: 1969-2004
Palestinian Authority
Accepts the Oslo framework under which an interim Palestinian Authority will administer parts of the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
Role range: 1969-2004
Declaration of Principles
Attends the White House ceremony and accepts the Declaration of Principles as the framework for Palestinian interim self-government.
Role range: 1969-2004
Palestinian Authority
The Oslo framework anticipates an elected Palestinian council and an interim self governing authority
Role range: 1969-2004
Accords of Oslo
Arafat signs the Declaration of Principles with Israel in Washington
Role range: 1969-2004
Gaza Jericho First
The PLO accepts Gaza and Jericho as the first areas for Palestinian self rule under the Oslo process
Role range: 1969-2004
Rabin Arafat Handshake
Arafat shakes hands with Rabin in a public symbol of the new peace process
Role range: 1969-2004
Accords of Oslo
Arafat approves the PLO negotiating track that produces mutual recognition with Israel
Role range: 1969-2004
Declaration of Principles
Under the Declaration of Principles the PLO recognizes the state of Israel. The Declaration of Principles backs Palestinian limited self-Government in the Gaza Strip. Arafat & Rabin conclude an agreement, known as the Declaration of Principles (DOP)
Role range: 1969-2004
PNA
Israel & the PLO agreed to the creation of the interim Palestinian National Authority
Role range: 1969-2004
Peace
The Declaration of Principles backs Palestinian limited self-Government in the West Bank. The Declaration of Principles backs Palestinian limited self-Government in the Gaza Strip
Role range: 1969-2004
Rule of Gaza
The Declaration of Principles backs Palestinian limited self-Government in the Gaza Strip
Role range: 1969-2004
Rule of West Bank
The Declaration of Principles backs Palestinian limited self-Government in the West Bank
Role range: 1969-2004
1994
Cairo Security Agreement Initialled
Arafat and Shimon Peres initial an agreement resolving key security issues needed to implement Palestinian self-rule in Gaza and Jericho.
Role range: 1969-2004
Hebron Massacre
Arafat faces Palestinian anger after the Hebron massacre while continuing negotiations with Israel
Role range: 1969-2004
Palestinian Authority
Signs the Gaza-Jericho self-rule accord with Rabin, setting out the first transfer of authority to Palestinian administration.
Role range: 1969-2004
Independence of Palestine
Israel & the PLO sign a deal on Palestinian self-rule in Jericho & the Gaza Strip
Role range: 1969-2004
PNA
The Palestinian National Authority is created to administer areas handed over to Palestinian rule
Role range: 1969-2004
Rule of Gaza
The Palestinian National Authority is created to administer areas handed over to Palestinian rule. Israel & the PLO sign a deal on Palestinian self-rule in Jericho & the Gaza Strip
Role range: 1969-2004
Rule of Jericho
Israel & the PLO sign a deal on Palestinian self-rule in Jericho & the Gaza Strip
Role range: 1969-2004
European Union Aid Agreements
Arafat signs European Union aid agreements supporting Palestinian police expenditure and preparations for elections in the self-rule areas.
Role range: 1969-2004
PECDAR Statutes Signed
Arafat signs statutes establishing the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction as a mechanism for managing international assistance.
Role range: 1969-2004
Independence of Palestine
The Israelis complete their withdrawal from the Gaza Strip
Role range: 1969-2004
Return to Gaza
Returns to Gaza after the Oslo process to lead the new Palestinian Authority.
Role range: 1994-2004
Palestinian Authority
Returns to Gaza after exile and convenes Palestinian Authority members as the new self-rule administration begins operating.
Role range: 1994-2004
Palestinian Authority
Arrives in Jericho as the Palestinian Authority extends its initial self-rule presence beyond Gaza.
Role range: 1994-2004
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.