 
I remember the excitement on September 13th 1993, when seeing these pictures. The Oslo accords true moment of history. The 2 leaders that fought each other for so many years signed an agreement and shook hands. It was amazing especially when a only a short while before that, there was a law in Israel, forbidding meetings with PLO members.
That opened a very very optimistic period. I was in my teens then and the future looked so bright. Peace negotiations were going on throughout the 90s. A peace treaty with Jordan was signed in 1994. Limited relations with other Arab countries began. The detailed agreement with the Palestinians was signed in May 1994, and another stage was signed in September 1995. In the meantime, the Israeli economy was prospering: Growth rate was around 7% (anualy) and unemployment fell from 11% down to around 5%. On the other hand, there were many terrorist attacks at that time. Suicide bombing began at that era. Many protests cam from the right wing parties and movements. It was very controversial.
November 4th 1995: PM Yitzhak Rabin was murdered. I was there, at was is called now Rabin Square for a big peace rally in support of the government. It came after months of protests and violence from right wing movements. That shock ended my youth and my optimism. I was drafted to the army a few weeks later and everything seemed gloomy. Rabin, the veteran general was gone. He had the trust needed to push such a brave peace process forward.
The following years saw a change of government. Netanyahu’s government kept the peace process alive but slowed down the pace. After that, in 1999Â Barak brought new hope. He dragged everyone to Camp David 6 summers ago, but couldn’t reach an agreement. So many words have been spilled on what has happened there. Then the Intifada broke out and this terrible state of conflict has been going on since then. Sharon’s disengagement plan from Gaza that finished just one year and one day ago, brought some hope, but as time passed by, it’s achievements have quite disappeared. Our boys are back in town.
Where are all the leaders now? Rabin was murdered. Stubborn Araft has died in 2004, but his successors aren’t so promising. Clinton has stepped down and gave way to this ignorant, stupid, harmful, miserable failure called Bush. No true leaders are seen around.
But maybe after the war, with a correlation to it or without, the current leaders, inspite being politically weak, can do something. All I am saying, is give peace a chance.
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