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A Palestinian youth holds up Molotov cocktail and stones during riots in Ramallah after Israeli right-wing opposition leader Ariel Sharon鈥檚 visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque. AFP
A Palestinian youth holds up Molotov cocktail and stones during riots in Ramallah after Israeli right-wing opposition leader Ariel Sharon鈥檚 visit to Al-Aqsa Mosque. AFP

2000 - The Second Intifada

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Updated 19 April 2025

2000 - The Second Intifada

2000 - The Second Intifada
  • The uprising reversed the gains of the grassroots First Intifada and relieved the international community of its obligations to help end the occupation of Palestine

AMMAN: The Second Palestinian Intifada, also known as the Al-Aqsa Intifada, began in late September 2000, following the collapse of the Camp David Summit and a controversial visit by Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon to the Haram Al-Sharif, the site of Al-Aqsa Mosque.聽

Unlike the largely nonviolent First Intifada, this uprising marked a significant turn toward militarization, resulting in mistakes and challenges that have profoundly shaped the Israeli-Palestinian conflict ever since.聽

During the First Intifada, Palestinians employed peaceful grassroots strategies that garnered global sympathy and put pressure on Israel diplomatically.聽

In contrast, the militarized tactics of the Second Intifada 鈥 including suicide bombings and attacks on Israeli civilians 鈥 alienated many international supporters and reinforced negative stereotypes of Palestinians as the perpetrators of violence.聽

This shift undermined the moral high ground previously held by Palestinians and allowed Israel to frame its own actions as acts of self-defense against terrorism, rather than as an occupying force suppressing a people鈥檚 right to self-determination.聽

Internal divisions within the Palestinian leadership compounded the challenges. The Palestinian Authority, under Yasser Arafat, struggled to maintain control as militant factions, including Hamas and Islamic Jihad, gained influence. These groups operated independently, often clashing with the PA鈥檚 objectives and undermining its authority.聽

How we wrote it




Arab News鈥 front page covered clashes erupting the day of Ariel Sharon鈥檚 Al-Aqsa visit, igniting the Second Intifada.

The lack of a unified strategy not only weakened the Palestinian cause but also emboldened Israel to exploit the divisions. The inability of the PA to present a cohesive front further eroded its legitimacy among Palestinians, many of whom felt betrayed by what they perceived as corruption and ineffectiveness within their own leadership. The popular support for armed attacks meant that even young activists from the more moderate centrist ruling party, Fatah, were motivated to carry out some assaults against Israeli soldiers.聽

Arafat鈥檚 ambiguous stance on armed resistance 鈥 neither fully endorsing nor condemning it 鈥 led to confusion and a lack of direction. This ambiguity allowed Israel to accuse the PA of complicity in the violence, and justify military operations that devastated Palestinian infrastructure and deepened the occupation.聽

The destruction of key public institutions, including schools, hospitals and police stations, left Palestinian society in disarray, with long-term repercussions still felt today.聽

It is estimated the violence resulted in the deaths of more than 6,000 Palestinian and more than 1,000 Israeli combatants and civilians. According to the Israeli human rights organization B鈥橳selem, of the 6,371 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces in the 10 years from 2000 to 2010, at least 2,996, including 1,317 minors, were noncombatants. Of the 1,083 Israelis killed, 741 were civilians.聽

From an economic perspective, the Second Intifada was a catastrophe. The Israeli military response included widespread closures and curfews, and the destruction of infrastructure, crippling the Palestinian economy. Unemployment and poverty rates soared, creating a humanitarian crisis that further fueled resentment and despair.聽

The economic devastation not only hurt Palestinian livelihoods but weakened the ability of the PA to govern effectively, as it became increasingly reliant on foreign aid to sustain basic services.聽

Key Dates

  • 1

    Camp David Summit brings together US President Bill Clinton, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat but ends without agreement. It was an attempt to continue negotiations on the Middle East peace process and end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

    Timeline Image July 11-25, 2000

  • 2

    Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon visits Al-Aqsa Mosque, triggering the Second Intifada. Israel reoccupies the Palestinian territories amid fighting between the Palestinian resistance and Israeli army.

  • 3

    Sharon takes office as prime minister.

  • 4

    Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz announces the Arab Peace Initiative, which calls for Israel to withdraw from occupied territories in return for Arab recognition of Israel鈥檚 right to exist. It is adopted by the Arab League.

    Timeline Image March 28, 2002

  • 5

    Israel begins construction of a wall to create a barrier separating the West Bank.

    Timeline Image June 16, 2002

  • 6

    Israeli parliament approves a Gaza disengagement plan proposed by Sharon.

  • 7

    Mahmoud Abbas secures landslide victory in Palestinian Authority presidential election after death of Arafat. He pledges to end the occupation and make peace.

  • 8

    Abbas meets Sharon, in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, for the first time since becoming president. They declare a truce.

    Timeline Image Feb. 8, 2005

  • 9

    Israeli military forces leave Gaza after 38 years of occupation. Two years later, Israel imposes a land, air and sea blockade that continues to this day.

While the First Intifada successfully leveraged media coverage to highlight the plight of Palestinians under occupation, the focus of the Second Intifada on violent resistance shifted the narrative. Western media often portrayed Palestinians as aggressors, overshadowing legitimate grievances about occupation, settlement expansions and human rights abuses. This hindered efforts to gain support for international pressure on Israel to change its policies.聽

The Second Intifada also highlighted a generational divide within Palestinian society. Younger Palestinians, disillusioned by the Oslo Accords and the lack of tangible progress, were more inclined toward armed resistance.聽

Meanwhile, illegal Jewish settlements in the West Bank proliferated during this period, a clear and highly visible sign that Israeli authorities had no intention of ever ending the occupation of Palestine.聽

In contrast, older generations who had witnessed the success of nonviolent strategies during the First Intifada were skeptical of a more militarized approach. This generational rift weakened the cohesion of the Palestinian struggle, making it more difficult to mobilize unified action.聽

The Second Intifada provided Israel with an opportunity to tighten its grip on the occupied territories. Under the guise of combating terrorism, Israeli authorities expanded settlements, constructed the 712-kilometer-long separation wall, and implemented policies that further fragmented Palestinian communities.聽

The wall, in particular, has had a lasting impact, serving to effectively annex large swaths of Palestinian land and render the prospect of a contiguous Palestinian state increasingly untenable. Coupled with checkpoints, the wall, which remains the single largest obstacle in the West Bank, restricts the movement of Palestinians, entrenches territorial and social fragmentation, undermines livelihoods, and hinders access to basic emergency, health and educational services.聽

These measures, justified as security necessities, served to entrench the occupation and made the goal of a two-state solution more elusive than ever.聽




Israeli policemen aim their guns at stone-throwing Palestinians in an east Jerusalem neighborhood during clashes. AFP

Such activities and restrictions have intensified since the Oct. 7 cross-border attacks by Hamas; Israeli authorities added 86 new obstacles to movement that affect the lives of 3.3 million Palestinians across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, according to 2024 data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.聽

There are now 793 obstacles to movement in the West Bank, including 89 round-the-clock checkpoints and 149 that operate part time, during the day. In addition, 150 communities own farmland from which they have been isolated by the wall. Previously they could access this land through 69 agricultural gates controlled by Israeli forces, but they have been barred from working the land since October 2023, resulting in significant losses of income, particularly from olive groves and other seasonal crops.聽

The Second Intifada also created a precedent for settler violence. Emboldened by the Israeli government鈥檚 harsh crackdown on Palestinians, settlers in the West Bank carried out attacks on Palestinian farmers, homes and villages, often with impunity.聽

The attacks continue to escalate. In 2024, UNOCHA recorded 1,420 attacks by Israeli settlers on Palestinians and their properties in the West Bank, the highest number since it began tracking the figures in 2006. During 2023 and 2024 alone, Israeli forces and settlers killed 1,003 Palestinians in the West Bank, according to UNOCHA. Settler violence is now a persistent feature of the conflict, further exacerbating tensions and deepening Palestinian mistrust of both the Israeli government and the international community.聽

The Second Intifada stands as a cautionary tale of the perils of militarization, internal divisions and the failure to adapt strategies to shifting realities. While the uprising underscored the depth of Palestinian frustration and the injustices of the occupation, its methods ultimately weakened the Palestinian cause and allowed Israel to solidify its control over the occupied territories.聽




Flanked by security, former Israeli PM Ariel Sharon visits the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem鈥檚 Old City, a site also revered by Jews as Temple Mount. The visit ignited the Second Intifada. AFP

Moving forward, Palestinians must reflect on the lessons of the Second Intifada, as well as the Oct. 7 attacks, to chart a more effective course. A renewed emphasis on nonviolent resistance, coupled with efforts to unify the Palestinian leadership and regain international support, could provide a path toward achieving their aspirations.聽

At the same time, the international community must recognize its role in perpetuating the status quo and take meaningful steps to address the root causes of the conflict. Without accountability and a genuine commitment to justice, the mistakes and challenges of the Second Intifada are doomed to be repeated, perpetuating a cycle of violence and suffering that benefits no one.聽

The Palestinian armed resistance is the product not only of the continuing Israeli occupation, but also the inaction of the international community and the absence of any political horizon. Without any hope for a better future, Palestinians mistakenly resorted to armed attacks, which delayed rather than accelerated the end of occupation.聽

The price of the armed struggle, whether the Second Intifada or the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, has been high, not only in terms of lives lost and the destruction of Palestinian livelihoods and property, but because it also relieved the international community of its obligation to work on efforts to end the Israeli occupation and allow Palestinians to exercise their inalienable political rights.聽

  • Daoud Kuttab is a columnist for Arab News, specializing in Middle Eastern, and more specifically, Palestinian affairs. He is the author of the book 鈥淪tate of Palestine NOW: Practical and logical arguments for the best way to bring peace to the Middle East.鈥


Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel and another for planning IS group sabotage

Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel and another for planning IS group sabotage
Updated 2 min 26 sec ago

Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel and another for planning IS group sabotage

Iran executes man accused of spying for Israel and another for planning IS group sabotage
  • Iran has executed two men in separate cases, accusing one of spying for Israel and another of being a member of the Daesh group. State media says the two men were hanged Wednesday

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates: Iran executed two men in separate cases Wednesday, accusing one of spying for Israel and another of being a member of the Daesh group, state media reported.
A report by the judiciary news website Mizanonline identified the alleged spy as Rouzbeh Vadi, who was accused of relaying classified information to Israel鈥檚 intelligence service, the Mossad.
Authorities said Vadi provided information about an Iranian nuclear scientist who was killed during Israel鈥檚 June airstrikes on Iran, according to the report, which did not identifying the scientist or the time and place of Vadi鈥檚 arrest.
Vadi met the Mossad officers five times in Vienna, Austria, the report said.
Israel鈥檚 ambassador to France, Joshua Zarka, said in June that Israel鈥檚 12-day war on Iran included targeted strikes that killed at least 14 physicists and engineers involved with Iran鈥檚 nuclear program.
Iran has hanged seven people for espionage during the conflict with Israel, sparking fears from activists that the government could conduct a wave of executions.
Iran separately hanged a member of Daesh group on Wednesday after he was convicted of plotting sabotage, Mizanonline reported.
Officials accused Mehdi Asgharzadeh of being a member of the Daesh group who participated in military training in Syria and Iraq before illegally entering Iran with a four-member team who were killed in a fight with Iranian security, the news site reported.
Authorities said Iran鈥檚 Supreme Court upheld the sentences of lower courts and followed full legal procedures before executing both men, Mizanonline reported.


End of era as Beirut renames Assad avenue after late music legend

End of era as Beirut renames Assad avenue after late music legend
Updated 2 min 50 sec ago

End of era as Beirut renames Assad avenue after late music legend

End of era as Beirut renames Assad avenue after late music legend
  • Lebanon has decided to rebaptise a thoroughfare named after former Syrian president Hafez Assad in favor of late Lebanese musician and playwright Ziad Rahbani

BEIRUT: Lebanon has decided to rebaptise a thoroughfare named after former Syrian president Hafez Assad in favor of late Lebanese musician and playwright Ziad Rahbani, a move many welcomed on Wednesday.
The decision marks the end of an era and a rupture with the authoritarian rule of former Syrian leaders Hafez Assad and his son Bashar 鈥 close allies of Lebanon鈥檚 Hezbollah militant group 鈥 who from Damascus held Lebanon in a stranglehold for almost three decades.
Islamist forces ousted Bashar Assad in December, ending five decades of one-family rule, further weakening Hezbollah after a war with Israel and helping to change the balance of power in Lebanon.
鈥淗afez Assad into the dustbin of history, Ziad Rahbani is the name of the airport road forever!鈥 independent lawmaker Mark Daou who opposes Hezbollah wrote on X.
The government on Tuesday announced the renaming of the avenue, which runs to the international airport through south Beirut, where Hezbollah enjoys strong support.
Lebanese actor Ziad Itani welcomed the move, telling AFP that the former Syrian leader was associated with 鈥渄ark periods in Lebanese history, marked by massacres, abuses and assassinations.鈥
The Syrian army entered Lebanon in 1976 as part of an Arab force that was supposed to put an end to the country鈥檚 civil war which began a year earlier.
Troops only withdrew in 2005 under enormous pressure after the assassination of Lebanese ex-prime minister Rafic Hariri, which was widely blamed on Syria and Hezbollah.
The Lebanese army dismantled a number of monuments paying homage to the Assad family following the pullout.
The government announced the street鈥檚 name change as it said it had tasked the army with developing a plan to disarm Hezbollah by the end of the year, an unprecedented step since civil war factions gave up their weapons decades ago.
The road鈥檚 renaming 鈥渋s the decision that made me the happiest,鈥 said Hassan Roumani near the avenue.
鈥淓ach time I passed along the Assad road, I felt like Hafez Assad and the Syrian army were still in Lebanon. Now psychologically I feel relieved 鈥 that period is over, and for the best,鈥 he told AFP.
Not all welcomed the renaming however, particularly Hezbollah supporters.
Faysal Abdelsater, an analyst close to the Iran-backed group, said the move was 鈥渢he result of political malice鈥 and urged the local council to reject it.
Rahbani, son of iconic singer Fairuz, died last month aged 69 after a decades-long career that revolutionized the country鈥檚 artistic scene.


Saudi POS transactions rise 31.5% to $4.16bn

Saudi POS transactions rise 31.5% to $4.16bn
Updated 1 min 2 sec ago

Saudi POS transactions rise 31.5% to $4.16bn

Saudi POS transactions rise 31.5% to $4.16bn
  • Food and beverage category remained the largest in value at SR2.34 billion
  • Spending at restaurants and cafes increased by 22.8% to SR1.90 billion

RIYADH: Point of sale transactions in 海角直播 reached SR15.6 billion ($4.16 billion) in the week ending Aug. 2, representing a 31.5 percent weekly rise, driven by increased spending across all sectors. 

According to the latest data released by the Saudi Central Bank, also known as SAMA, the number of transactions also witnessed a weekly increase of 18.2 percent to reach 244.03 million. 

The sustained spending momentum highlights consumer confidence and the ongoing digital transformation of payments, driven by initiatives under the Kingdom鈥檚 Vision 2030 strategy.

The food and beverage category remained the largest in value at SR2.34 billion, marking a significant 38.2 percent increase compared to the previous seven days.

Spending at restaurants and cafes also increased by 22.8 percent to SR1.90 billion. 

POS activity in the transportation sector saw a rise of 28.2 percent to reach SR1.21 billion, while spending on professional and business services grew by 28.6 percent to SR1.19 billion. 

The Saudi Central Bank data further revealed that spending on apparel, clothing, and accessories rose by 49.4 percent to reach SR1.11 billion. 

POS transactions in the Kingdom鈥檚 gas stations amounted to SR1.09 billion, followed by spending in the health care sector at SR1.02 billion. 

The increase marks a key milestone in the nation鈥檚 shift toward a cashless economy, aligning with one of the core objectives of the Financial Sector Development Program under Vision 2030.

In April, SAMA said the total number of non-cash retail transactions reached 12.6 billion in 2024, up from 10.8 billion in 2023, reflecting the continued growth and adoption of electronic payment systems across the country.

In its latest report, SAMA said that 海角直播鈥檚 capital city, Riyadh, dominated POS transactions, with a value amounting to SR5.08 billion, representing an increase of 17.3 percent. 

Jeddah followed with a 24.2 percent rise, reaching SR2.11 billion, while Dammam came third with transactions amounting to SR698 million. 

POS spending in Makkah rose 28.9 percent to reach SR646.01 million.
 
Transactions in Madinah amounted to SR632.36 million, marking a rise of 33.9 percent compared to the previous week. 

In Al-Khobar, POS transactions totaled SR399.83 million, followed by Buraidah at SR365.99 million, and Abha at SR301.68 million. 


Italy ministers accused over release of Libyan official

Italy ministers accused over release of Libyan official
Updated 22 min 25 sec ago

Italy ministers accused over release of Libyan official

Italy ministers accused over release of Libyan official
  • Najim, head of Libya鈥檚 judicial police, was arrested in the northern Italian city of Turin on January 19 on an ICC warrant, only to be released by Rome鈥檚 Court of Appeal two days later and immediately flown to Tripoli on an Italian air force plane

ROME: Judges have requested permission from Italy鈥檚 parliament to bring proceedings against two government ministers over the release of a Libyan wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), reports said Wednesday.
Justice Minister Carlo Nordio is accused of failing to perform his official duties and also, alongside Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi, of aiding and abetting Osama Almasri Najim鈥檚 return to Libya.
Najim, head of Libya鈥檚 judicial police, was arrested in the northern Italian city of Turin on January 19 on an ICC warrant, only to be released by Rome鈥檚 Court of Appeal two days later and immediately flown to Tripoli on an Italian air force plane.
He is accused of charges including murder, rape and torture relating to his management of Tripoli鈥檚 Mitiga detention center, and his release sparked a major political row in Italy.
Allegations that Meloni and her ministers acted improperly have been under consideration by a special court that deals with ministerial cases.
Meloni revealed on Monday she had been cleared of any wrongdoing.
But the court has now requested permission from parliament鈥檚 Chamber of Deputies to bring a case against her ministers 鈥 although this will almost certainly be denied, as Meloni鈥檚 coalition government has a majority.
According to Italian news agencies, Nordio is accused of failing to comply with ICC requests over the arrest of Najim, and effectively standing by when he could have intervened to keep the Libyan in prison.
Piantedosi and under-secretary Alfredo Mantovano, who is responsible for the intelligence service, are both also accused of aiding and abetting Najim鈥檚 release, and also of complicit embezzlement.
Piantedosi ordered the Libyan鈥檚 expulsion from Italy and Mantovano ordered the use of a state plane to send him home, despite, like Nordio, being fully aware of the requests for cooperation from the ICC, according to the court.
Meloni on Monday said the judges had cleared her, making what she called the 鈥渁bsurd鈥 conclusion that she was not informed about the decisions on Najim.
She defended the government鈥檚 actions, saying they were entirely focused on 鈥減rotecting the safety of Italians.鈥
Nordio has previously said the ICC warrant was badly drafted, while Piantedosi claimed that once Najim had been released from prison he was too dangerous to remain in Italy.
Piantedosi also denied allegations by some opposition politicians that the suspect was sent home to avoid jeopardizing relations with Libya.


Pakistan partners with DP World to open zero-cost export mart in Dubai

Pakistan partners with DP World to open zero-cost export mart in Dubai
Updated 40 min 35 sec ago

Pakistan partners with DP World to open zero-cost export mart in Dubai

Pakistan partners with DP World to open zero-cost export mart in Dubai
  • Pakistan Mart will be established at Jebel Ali with comprehensive backing from DP World
  • Jam Kamal says exporters will not be charged taxes at the facility until products are sold

ISLAMABAD: The government will establish Pakistan Mart, a commercial hub near Jebel Ali in the United Arab Emirates, to showcase made in Pakistan products to global buyers, the commerce ministry said on Wednesday, adding that DP World will build the facility at no construction cost to Pakistani stakeholders.

The development comes as Pakistan pushes for export-led growth after stabilizing its crisis-hit economy with assistance from the International Monetary Fund and financial support from friendly nations. The Gulf region, particularly the UAE, offers critical advantages such as proximity, low freight costs and established Pakistani trade networks, making it a natural launchpad for this initiative.

Pakistan Mart is expected to significantly support the exporters of the South Asian state by improving visibility, reducing logistical barriers and allowing direct market access in the region. The mart will also facilitate digital trade and is aimed at helping sectors like textiles, garments, surgical instruments, food, perishables and nutraceuticals.

鈥淲hen this facility will be established, more than 500 Pakistani retailers, shopkeepers and those who are going to use the warehousing facility will get a window, a platform,鈥 Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan said.

鈥淭hey will showcase their products for Dubai market, UAE market and Gulf market. They will be able to export their products in other regions as well.鈥

鈥淭he good thing about this project is that unless you sell the product, there will be no tax or fees imposed on you,鈥 he continued, adding 鈥渢here is a minimum rental for it.鈥

According to the statement issued by the ministry, the project was presented to the commerce minister by a delegation comprising officials from Pakistan鈥檚 National Logistics Cell (NLC) and DP World, led by NLC鈥檚 director general.

Kamal described the project as 鈥渢ransformational鈥 for Pakistani trade and directed all relevant agencies, including the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), to urgently coordinate with stakeholders and facilitate export-ready enterprises for tenancy at the new facility.

The delegation urged the ministry to take a lead role in tenant selection, awareness campaigns and ensuring that exporters are equipped to capitalize on the opportunity.

Pakistan Mart is expected to become a strategic platform for export diversification and economic diplomacy, reinforcing Pakistan鈥檚 presence in key international markets.

It is also expected to attract more Africans buyers to the Pakistani products.