Rule of Gaza
Arafat returns to Gaza and begins building the Palestinian Authority
Role range: 1969-2004
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Yasser Arafat Biography and Timeline — Page 4
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
4 of 6Page
1994–1997Years on this page
1994
Rule of Jericho
The Palestinian Authority begins exercising limited self rule in Jericho under Oslo arrangements
Role range: 1969-2004
Meeting with Hamas Leaders
Arafat meets Hamas leaders at the Islamic University in Gaza while attempting to draw the movement into the emerging Palestinian political process.
Role range: 1994-2004
PNA
Israel & the PLO sign agreements to prop up the Palestinian National Authority
Role range: 1969-2004
Demonstrations
Arafats police fire on Islamic extremists prompting clashes in Gaza City, 14 dead
Role range: 1969-2004
Demonstrations
Arafats police fire on Islamic extremists prompting clashes in Gaza City, 14 dead
Role range: 1969-2004
Demonstrations
The PNA police kill 12 Palestinians protesting against further negotiations with Israel
Role range: 1969-2004
Nobel Prize
For efforts in trying to create peace in the Middle East
Role range: 1969-2004
1995
Oslo II
Signs the Interim Agreement expanding Palestinian Authority responsibilities.
Role range: 1994-2004
Oslo II
Signs the Interim Agreement, expanding Palestinian Authority responsibilities in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
Role range: 1994-2004
Palestinian Authority
Signs the Interim Agreement expanding Palestinian Authority powers and responsibilities in populated West Bank areas.
Role range: 1994-2004
Oslo Two
Arafat signs the Interim Agreement expanding the Oslo framework
Role range: 1969-2004
Rabin Assassination
Arafat condemns Rabin's assassination and continues dealing with the Israeli government
Role range: 1969-2004
Area A
Palestinian Authority responsibilities expand in major West Bank cities under Oslo Two
Role range: 1969-2004
Area B
Palestinian civil powers expand in Area B while Israel retains overriding security authority
Role range: 1969-2004
Palestinian Council
Oslo Two provides for elections to a Palestinian Council during the interim period
Role range: 1969-2004
Constitution of Palestine
Israel and the PLO sign a second peace agreement, establishinng an elected 88-member Palestinian National Council, which holds its inaugural session in Gaza in March 1996
Role range: 1969-2004
Independence of Palestine
Israel and the PLO sign a second peace agreement, establishinng an elected 88-member Palestinian National Council, which holds its inaugural session in Gaza in March 1996. An agreement calls for self-rule for all Arab cities and villages in the West Bank
Role range: 1969-2004
PNA
The PNA, led by Yasser Arafat, chosee Gaza as its first provincial headquarters. Israel and the PLO sign a second peace agreement extending the Palestinian Authority to most West Bank towns
Role range: 1969-2004
PNA
Israel and the PLO sign a second peace agreement, establishinng an elected 88-member Palestinian National Council, which holds its inaugural session in Gaza in March 1996
Role range: 1969-2004
PNC
Israel and the PLO sign a second peace agreement, establishinng an elected 88-member Palestinian National Council, which holds its inaugural session in Gaza in March 1996
Role range: 1969-2004
Rule of Gaza
The PNA, led by Yasser Arafat, chosee Gaza as its first provincial headquarters
Role range: 1969-2004
1996
Election
Wins the first Palestinian presidential election.
Role range: 1994-2004
Palestinian Election
Palestinians vote for the Palestinian Authority presidency and council under Oslo arrangements
Role range: 1996-2004
Palestinian Election
Arafat is elected President of the Palestinian Authority in elections provided for by the Oslo framework
Role range: 1996-2004
Palestinian Authority
Wins the first Palestinian Authority presidential election as voters also choose the Palestinian Legislative Council.
Role range: 1994-2004
Constitution of Palestine
An 88-member legislative body, the Palestinian Legislative Council, is elected
Role range: 1996-2004
Election
Elected President of the Palestine Authority
Role range: 1996-2004
Election
Appointed President of the Palestine Authority
Role range: 1996-2004
Sharm el-Sheikh Peacemakers Summit
Arafat attends the international peacemakers summit convened after a wave of attacks threatens to derail the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Role range: 1994-2004
Palestinian Charter Amendment Vote
Arafat oversees a Palestine National Council vote cancelling charter provisions incompatible with the PLO's mutual-recognition commitments to Israel.
Role range: 1969-2004
First Official US Visit as Elected President
Arafat meets President Bill Clinton at the White House during his first official United States visit after winning the Palestinian presidential election.
Role range: 1994-2004
Exile of Yasser Arafat
Yasser Arafat returns to Gaza after 27 years
Role range: 1996-2004
First Meeting with Benjamin Netanyahu
Arafat meets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the first time and discusses implementation of existing interim agreements.
Role range: 1994-2004
Oslo Crisis
Palestinian protests and clashes create one of the first major security crises after Oslo Two
Role range: 1996-2004
Washington Emergency Peace Summit
Arafat joins Clinton, Netanyahu and King Hussein in Washington after deadly clashes threaten the peace process following the Western Wall tunnel crisis.
Role range: 1994-2004
Rule of Gaza
Israel and the PLO sign a second peace agreement, establishinng an elected 88-member Palestinian National Council, which holds its inaugural session in Gaza in March 1996
Role range: 1969-2004
Bombing of Israel
Bombing of Israeli buses
Role range: 1996-2004
1997
Hebron Protocol
Approves the Hebron redeployment agreement with Netanyahu after US mediation.
Role range: 1994-2004
Hebron Protocol
Signs the Hebron Protocol with Netanyahu after US mediation.
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.