The Conflict

After stalled peace negotiations, violence flared anew in Israel and the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza in late 2000. As tensions continued to escalate, Israel acknowledged exercising a policy of assassination against those it deemed to be Palestinian terrorists or organizers of terrorist acts. International attention was drawn to the matter as Palestinians, human rights groups, and foreign governments decried the policy. Israel, under the new leadership of hardliner Ariel Sharon, refused to back down.

Political

• Despite United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, which call for Israel's withdrawal from the occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza, Israel maintains a presence in the region.
• Palestinians insist upon autonomy in the West Bank, EastJerusalem, and Gaza and demand just settlement for Palestinian refugees.
• Peace negotiations have proven difficult, with hardliners in both...