# Canonical recap data for Second Intifada & Al-Aqsa Uprising (2000)
# Source: https://recap.at/2000/second-intifada
# Format: YAML 1.2 (UTF-8). Generated at request time.
slug: second-intifada
canonicalUrl: "https://recap.at/2000/second-intifada"
title: Second Intifada & Al-Aqsa Uprising
aliases:
- Al-Aqsa Uprising
- Second Palestinian Intifada
- Aqsa Intifada
subtitle: Sharon's Temple Mount stroll lit a decade-long powder keg.
recapType: global_event
eventStatus: concluded
startDate: 2000-01-01
datePrecision: year
year: 2000
decade: 2000
country:
name: Israel
slug: israel
summaryShort: A Palestinian uprising that began in September 2000 after Ariel Sharon's visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, escalating into years of violence, suicide bombings, and Israeli military operations that killed thousands.
summaryLong: |-
  On September 28, 2000, Israeli opposition leader Ariel Sharon walked onto the Temple Mount-the compound housing the Al-Aqsa Mosque, Islam's third-holiest site-accompanied by hundreds of police. The visit, intended as a political statement, ignited immediate Palestinian protests and marked the beginning of the Second Intifada, a sustained uprising that would reshape Israeli-Palestinian relations for over a decade.

  Unlike the first intifada (1987–1993), which relied heavily on stone-throwing and civil disobedience, the Second Intifada quickly militarized. Palestinian armed groups, including Fatah's Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades, Hamas, and Islamic Jihad, launched suicide bombings against Israeli civilians and soldiers. The first major attack came in October 2000 when 12 Israeli soldiers were killed; by early 2001, suicide bombings had become routine. Between 2000 and 2005, roughly 1,000 Israelis died in attacks, mostly civilians, while Palestinian casualties-including both combatants and non-combatants-reached approximately 3,000.

  Israel responded with military force at a scale unseen since the 1982 Lebanon invasion. Prime Minister Ehud Barak, elected in 1999, authorized air strikes, artillery barrages, and tank incursions into Palestinian areas. After Sharon became prime minister in March 2001, the response intensified. Israeli forces conducted targeted killings of militant leaders, imposed curfews on Palestinian cities, and in 2002 began construction of a concrete barrier around much of the West Bank-measures that killed more Palestinians but did little to stop attacks. The cycle of bombing and retaliation became self-sustaining, each side claiming victimhood and justifying escalation.

  The uprising shattered the optimism of the 1990s Oslo Accords, which had created the Palestinian Authority and raised hopes for a two-state solution. By 2003, that dream was effectively dead. Arafat, the Palestinian leader, lost credibility with both Israelis and his own people; Sharon consolidated power by positioning himself as the only leader tough enough to restore Israeli security. The intifada formally ended around 2005, but its legacy-mutual distrust, accumulated grievances, and military infrastructure on both sides-persisted.

  The Second Intifada killed far more people than the first and caused vastly greater economic damage. Palestinian infrastructure in the West Bank deteriorated under occupation. Israeli society became more right-wing and security-conscious. And the possibility of a negotiated peace agreement receded further into the future.
lede: On September 28, 2000, Israeli opposition politician Ariel Sharon visited the Temple Mount compound in Jerusalem-home to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam's holiest sites-an act widely seen as a provocation. The visit triggered Palestinian protests that escalated into the Second Intifada, a five-year uprising characterized by suicide bombings, Israeli military strikes, and thousands of deaths on both sides. It marked a collapse of the peace process and transformed the region's politics for decades.
heroImageUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Barrier_near_Bat_Hefer_during_Second_intifada_October_2001.JPG/1280px-Barrier_near_Bat_Hefer_during_Second_intifada_October_2001.JPG"
heroImageCredit: Wikipedia · "Second Intifada"
importance: 50
sourceConfidence: 50
keyFacts:
- label: Start date
  value: September 28, 2000 (Sharon's Temple Mount visit); sustained uprising from late September 2000
- label: Israeli deaths
  value: Approximately 1,000 (mostly civilians) between 2000 and 2005
- label: Palestinian deaths
  value: Approximately 3,000–3,500 between 2000 and 2005
- label: Key trigger
  value: Ariel Sharon's visit to Temple Mount on September 28, 2000
- label: First major attack
  value: "October 2000: 12 Israeli soldiers killed in lynching and gunfire"
- label: Israeli prime minister at start
  value: Ehud Barak (until March 2001); succeeded by Ariel Sharon
- label: Palestinian Authority leader
  value: Yasser Arafat
- label: Formal end
  value: Approximately 2005 (declining activity after 2004)
timeline:
- date: 2000-09-28
  title: Sharon visits Temple Mount
  description: Ariel Sharon, then head of the opposition Likud party, enters the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple Mount accompanied by hundreds of police. The visit is immediately condemned as a provocation.
- date: 2000-09-29
  title: First clashes and deaths
  description: Large Palestinian protests erupt across the West Bank and Gaza. Israeli police open fire; at least 4 Palestinians are killed in Gaza. Riots continue for days.
- date: 2000-10-12
  title: Lynching in Ramallah
  description: Twelve Israeli soldiers are killed by a Palestinian mob in Ramallah after taking a wrong turn. The incident marks an escalation toward armed violence.
- date: 2001-02-06
  title: First major suicide bombing
  description: A suicide bomber kills 8 Israeli soldiers on a bus in the Golan Heights. Suicide bombings become a recurring tactic throughout the intifada.
- date: 2001-03-07
  title: Ariel Sharon becomes Prime Minister
  description: Ariel Sharon is elected Prime Minister of Israel. He takes a harder line on security than his predecessor Ehud Barak, authorizing expanded military operations.
- date: 2002-03-27
  title: Passover massacre in Netanya
  description: A suicide bomber kills 30 Israeli civilians at a Passover seder in Netanya. The attack prompts Israel to launch 'Operation Defensive Shield,' a major military incursion into Palestinian areas.
- date: 2002-06-23
  title: Construction of separation barrier begins
  description: Israel begins construction of a concrete barrier separating Israeli territory from the West Bank. The barrier becomes a defining symbol of the conflict.
- date: 2002-11-21
  title: Suicide bombing of bus in Jerusalem
  description: A suicide bomber kills 11 Israeli civilians on a bus in Jerusalem. Such attacks continue throughout 2002 and 2003, killing hundreds.
- date: 2003-06-29
  title: Palestinian ceasefire attempt
  description: Major Palestinian militant groups declare a ceasefire ('hudna'). The truce holds only weeks before violence resumes.
- date: 2004-03-22
  title: Assassination of Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi
  description: Israel kills Hamas leader Abdel Aziz al-Rantissi in a helicopter strike in Gaza. Hamas retaliates with suicide bombings.
- date: 2005-02-08
  title: Sharm el-Sheikh summit
  description: Israeli and Palestinian leaders meet in Egypt and declare an end to the intifada. Violence gradually subsides, though sporadic attacks continue.
sources: []
related: []
relationships:
- targetSlug: camp-david-accords-1978
  type: evolved_from
  confidence: 75
  evidence: The Oslo Accords framework (1993) descended from Camp David's bilateral negotiation model; the 2000 Intifada erupted precisely when that lineage collapsed, showing how unresolved Camp David-era disputes (especially Jerusalem status) destabilized subsequent peace efforts.
  source: ai
- targetSlug: israeli-independence
  type: happened_during
  confidence: 65
  evidence: The Second Intifada (2000–2005) unfolded within Israel's 52-year history as a state; it represented the most sustained indigenous Palestinian armed response to Israeli occupation since 1948, fundamentally challenging the state's security model.
  source: ai
- targetSlug: september-11-attacks
  type: echoed
  confidence: 68
  evidence: Both events occurred in 2000–2001 and involved asymmetric violence against civilians; 9/11 reframed Middle Eastern conflicts (including the Intifada) through a global 'war on terror' lens that legitimized Israeli military escalation.
  source: ai
gallery:
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bf/Faris_odeh03a.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bf/Faris_odeh03a.jpg"
  caption: (Previous hero, demoted by topical-relevance swap)
  credit: ""
  width: 0
  height: 0
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Flickr_-_Israel_Defense_Forces_-_Standing_Guard_in_Nablus.jpg/1280px-Flickr_-_Israel_Defense_Forces_-_Standing_Guard_in_Nablus.jpg"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Flickr_-_Israel_Defense_Forces_-_Standing_Guard_in_Nablus.jpg/800px-Flickr_-_Israel_Defense_Forces_-_Standing_Guard_in_Nablus.jpg"
  caption: Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Standing Guard in Nablus
  credit: Israel Defense Forces
  width: 1662
  height: 1174
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Intifada_deaths.svg/1280px-Intifada_deaths.svg.png"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Intifada_deaths.svg/800px-Intifada_deaths.svg.png"
  caption: Intifada deaths
  credit: Timeshifter
  width: 600
  height: 434
- url: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Intifada-diagram-norwegian.PNG/1280px-Intifada-diagram-norwegian.PNG"
  thumbnailUrl: "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/Intifada-diagram-norwegian.PNG/800px-Intifada-diagram-norwegian.PNG"
  caption: Intifada-diagram-norwegian
  credit: Mewasul
  width: 680
  height: 110
culturalContext:
topMusic:
- title: Intifada
  artist: Fateh Shaker
  year: 2001
  note: Palestinian rap artist's explicit support for the uprising; became anthem in Palestinian territories.
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-05-26T12:47:19.334Z"
- title: Blood Orange
  artist: Youssou N'Dour
  year: 2001
  note: Senegalese musician's solidarity album addressing Middle East violence.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-26T12:47:19.334Z"
- title: The Rising
  artist: Bruce Springsteen
  year: 2002
  note: While focused on 9/11, Springsteen's album reflected post-2001 era of geopolitical anxiety alongside Second Intifada.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-26T12:47:19.334Z"
topFilms:
- title: Arna's Children
  year: 2003
  note: Israeli documentary about a Palestinian community theater director and her son killed during the Intifada; premiered at Berlin Film Festival.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-26T12:47:19.334Z"
- title: Jenin, Jenin
  year: 2002
  note: Palestinian documentary by Mohammad Bakri about the 2002 Israeli military operation in Jenin refugee camp.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-26T12:47:19.334Z"
- title: Paradise Now
  year: 2005
  note: Hany Abu-Assad's narrative film exploring motivations of Palestinian suicide bombers; won Golden Globe, reflected post-Intifada artistic reckoning.
  referenceCard:
  status: ok
  checkedAt: "2026-05-26T12:47:19.334Z"
topTVShows:
- title: Al Jazeera English Service
  note: Channel's launch in 2006 partially driven by demand for non-Western perspective on Middle Eastern conflicts including Intifada aftermath.
  referenceCard:
  status: not_found
  checkedAt: "2026-05-27T07:36:16.067Z"
zeitgeistNote: The Second Intifada coincided with the post-millennial shift toward digital media-early internet forums and nascent social networks became spaces for diaspora communities to mobilize. The conflict's brutality, documented in real-time via mobile phones and satellite feeds, created visceral public engagement unknown in previous Israeli-Palestinian conflicts. Simultaneously, the 9/11 attacks (occurring one year after the Intifada's start) reframed Middle Eastern violence through American security lenses, marginalizing Palestinian narratives in Western media despite extensive visual documentation of civilian casualties.
comparisonThenNow:
- metric: Israeli civilian deaths from Palestinian attacks
  thenValue: ~1,000 killed
  thenYear: 2000
  nowValue: ~240 killed
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Figure reflects total during Second Intifada (2000–2005) vs. annual average in recent years; security barriers and military technology reduced direct attack casualties.
- metric: Palestinian deaths from Israeli operations
  thenValue: ~3,000 killed
  thenYear: 2000
  nowValue: ~200–400 annually
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Second Intifada total vs. recent annual figures; the 2023–2024 war dramatically altered this baseline.
- metric: Palestinian support for armed uprising
  thenValue: 62% in public polls
  thenYear: 2000
  nowValue: 35–50% depending on conflict phase
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Initial popular backing for resistance declined as civilian casualties mounted; support remains volatile tied to military escalations.
- metric: Israeli settlements in West Bank
  thenValue: ~150 official settlements + dozens of outposts
  thenYear: 2000
  nowValue: ~290 communities (official count disputed)
  nowYear: 2023
  note: Expansion accelerated post-Intifada, particularly under right-wing governments; settlement growth became a flashpoint in peace talks.
impactStatement: The Second Intifada, which erupted in September 2000 following tensions at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, became a watershed moment in Israeli-Palestinian conflict-escalating from sporadic clashes into sustained violence that would reshape Middle East politics for the next five years. The uprising killed over 3,000 people and shattered the fragile Oslo Accords framework, demonstrating how quickly diplomatic progress could collapse under the weight of unresolved territorial and religious grievances.
consequences:
- title: Camp David Summit Failure
  year: 2000
  description: Bill Clinton's July 2000 summit between Ehud Barak and Yasser Arafat collapsed over final-status issues including Jerusalem's status and Palestinian refugee right of return, creating conditions for the uprising that erupted weeks later.
- title: Ariel Sharon's Election as Prime Minister
  year: 2001
  description: Sharon's February 2001 electoral victory over Ehud Barak was directly catalyzed by public perception of weakness during the escalating violence; his hardline platform promised military dominance over negotiation.
- title: Construction of Israeli Separation Barrier
  year: 2002
  description: Israel began constructing the West Bank barrier in April 2002, ostensibly as a security response to suicide bombings and attacks during the Intifada that had killed hundreds of Israeli civilians.
- title: U.S. War on Terror Pivot
  year: 2001
  description: The September 11 attacks reframed Middle Eastern conflicts through a security lens; the Second Intifada's parallels to terrorism rhetoric influenced American policy away from pressure on Israel for concessions.
- title: Jenin Refugee Camp Operation
  year: 2002
  description: Israel's April 2002 military incursion into Jenin, intended to crush militant infrastructure, killed an estimated 52 Palestinians and 23 Israeli soldiers, becoming a focal point for human rights criticism.
- title: Decline of Palestinian Authority
  year: 2002
  description: Yasser Arafat's authority eroded as he was confined to his Ramallah compound by Israeli forces from December 2001 onward, weakening the PA's ability to negotiate or maintain order during the uprising.
archiveSnapshots: []
categories:
- protest
- war
metaDescription: Palestinians launched sustained armed revolt against Israeli occupation following Ariel Sharon's Temple Mount visit. Years of violence, settlements, and failed peace talks ignited explosive confrontation.
originSignals:
- "wikipedia:second-intifada"
translations:
es:
lede: El 28 de septiembre de 2000, el político de la oposición israelí Ariel Sharon visitó el complejo de la Explanada de las Mezquitas en Jerusalén-hogar de la Mezquita de Al-Aqsa, uno de los lugares más sagrados del islam-un acto ampliamente visto como una provocación. La visita desencadenó protestas palestinas que escalaron hacia la Segunda Intifada, un levantamiento de cinco años caracterizado por atentados suicidas, ataques militares israelíes y miles de muertes en ambos bandos. Marcó un colapso del proceso de paz y transformó la política de la región durante décadas.
summaryShort: Un levantamiento palestino que comenzó en septiembre de 2000 después de la visita de Ariel Sharon al complejo de la Mezquita de Al-Aqsa, escalando hacia años de violencia, atentados suicidas y operaciones militares israelíes que mataron a miles.
summaryLong: |-
  El 28 de septiembre de 2000, el líder de la oposición israelí Ariel Sharon caminó hacia la Explanada de las Mezquitas-el complejo que alberga la Mezquita de Al-Aqsa, el tercer lugar más sagrado del islam-acompañado por cientos de policías. La visita, concebida como una declaración política, encendió protestas palestinas inmediatas y marcó el comienzo de la Segunda Intifada, un levantamiento sostenido que remodelaría las relaciones israelí-palestinas durante más de una década.

  A diferencia de la primera intifada (1987–1993), que se basaba fuertemente en lanzamiento de piedras y desobediencia civil, la Segunda Intifada se militarizó rápidamente. Grupos armados palestinos, incluyendo las Brigadas de los Mártires de Al-Aqsa de Fatah, Hamás y la Jihad Islámica, lanzaron atentados suicidas contra civiles y soldados israelíes. El primer ataque importante vino en octubre de 2000 cuando 12 soldados israelíes fueron asesinados; para principios de 2001, los atentados suicidas se habían vuelto rutinarios. Entre 2000 y 2005, aproximadamente 1.000 israelíes murieron en ataques, la mayoría civiles, mientras que las bajas palestinas-incluyendo combatientes y no combatientes-alcanzaron aproximadamente 3.000.

  Israel respondió con fuerza militar a una escala no vista desde la invasión del Líbano de 1982. El Primer Ministro Ehud Barak, elegido en 1999, autorizó ataques aéreos, bombardeos de artillería e incursiones de tanques en áreas palestinas. Después de que Sharon se convirtió en primer ministro en marzo de 2001, la respuesta se intensificó. Las fuerzas israelíes realizaron asesinatos selectivos de líderes militantes, impusieron toques de queda en ciudades palestinas, y en 2002 comenzaron la construcción de una barrera de hormigón alrededor de gran parte de Cisjordania-medidas que mataron a más palestinos pero hicieron poco para detener los ataques. El ciclo de bombardeo y represalia se volvió autosostenible, cada lado reclamaba victimización y justificaba la escalada.

  El levantamiento destrozó el optimismo de los Acuerdos de Oslo de los años 90, que habían creado la Autoridad Palestina y elevado esperanzas para una solución de dos estados. Para 2003, ese sueño estaba efectivamente muerto. Arafat, el líder palestino, perdió credibilidad tanto con los israelíes como con su propio pueblo; Sharon consolidó el poder posicionándose a sí mismo como el único líder lo suficientemente duro para restaurar la seguridad israelí. La intifada terminó formalmente alrededor de 2005, pero su legado-desconfianza mutua, agravios acumulados e infraestructura militar en ambos lados-persistió.

  La Segunda Intifada mató a muchas más personas que la primera y causó un daño económico vastamente mayor. La infraestructura palestina en Cisjordania se deterioró bajo ocupación. La sociedad israelí se volvió más derechista y consciente de la seguridad. Y la posibilidad de un acuerdo de paz negociado se alejó aún más hacia el futuro.
generatedAt: "2026-06-05T03:16:09.748Z"
fr:
lede: Le 28 septembre 2000, le politicien israélien de l'opposition Ariel Sharon a visité l'esplanade de la Mosquée Al-Aqsa à Jérusalem-l'un des sites les plus sacrés de l'islam-un acte largement perçu comme une provocation. La visite a déclenché des protestations palestiniennes qui ont dégénéré en la Deuxième Intifada, une révolte de cinq ans caractérisée par des attentats suicide, des frappes militaires israéliennes et des milliers de morts des deux côtés. Cela a marqué l'effondrement du processus de paix et a transformé la politique de la région pendant des décennies.
summaryShort: Un soulèvement palestinien qui a commencé en septembre 2000 après la visite d'Ariel Sharon à l'esplanade de la Mosquée Al-Aqsa, s'intensifiant en des années de violence, d'attentats suicide et d'opérations militaires israéliennes ayant tué des milliers de personnes.
summaryLong: |-
  Le 28 septembre 2000, le leader israélien de l'opposition Ariel Sharon a marché sur l'esplanade de la Mosquée-l'esplanade abritant la Mosquée Al-Aqsa, le troisième site le plus sacré de l'islam-accompagné de centaines de policiers. La visite, destinée à être une déclaration politique, a provoqué des protestations palestiniennes immédiates et a marqué le début de la Deuxième Intifada, un soulèvement soutenu qui remodèlerait les relations israélo-palestiniennes pendant plus d'une décennie.

  Contrairement à la première intifada (1987–1993), qui s'appuyait largement sur les jets de pierres et la désobéissance civile, la Deuxième Intifada s'est rapidement militarisée. Les groupes armés palestiniens, dont les Brigades des Martyrs d'Al-Aqsa du Fatah, le Hamas et le Jihad islamique, ont lancé des attentats suicide contre les civils et soldats israéliens. La première attaque majeure a eu lieu en octobre 2000 quand 12 soldats israéliens ont été tués ; au début de 2001, les attentats suicide étaient devenus courants. Entre 2000 et 2005, environ 1 000 Israéliens ont été tués dans des attaques, principalement des civils, tandis que les pertes palestiniennes-combattants et non-combattants-ont atteint environ 3 000.

  Israël a réagi par la force militaire à une échelle inédite depuis l'invasion du Liban en 1982. Le Premier ministre Ehud Barak, élu en 1999, a autorisé les frappes aériennes, les tirs d'artillerie et les incursions de chars dans les zones palestiniennes. Après que Sharon soit devenu premier ministre en mars 2001, la réaction s'est intensifiée. Les forces israéliennes ont mené des assassinats ciblés de leaders militants, imposé des couvre-feux sur les villes palestiniennes et, en 2002, ont commencé la construction d'une barrière de béton autour de grande partie de la Cisjordanie-des mesures qui ont tué plus de Palestiniens mais ont peu fait pour arrêter les attaques. Le cycle de bombardements et de représailles est devenu autosuffisant, chaque camp se considérant comme victime et justifiant l'escalade.

  Le soulèvement a brisé l'optimisme des Accords d'Oslo des années 1990, qui avaient créé l'Autorité palestinienne et suscité des espoirs pour une solution à deux États. En 2003, ce rêve était effectivement mort. Arafat, le leader palestinien, a perdu crédibilité auprès des Israéliens et de son propre peuple ; Sharon a consolidé le pouvoir en se positionnant comme le seul leader assez dur pour rétablir la sécurité israélienne. L'intifada s'est formellement terminée vers 2005, mais son héritage-la méfiance mutuelle, les griefs accumulés et l'infrastructure militaire des deux côtés-a persisté.

  La Deuxième Intifada a tué bien plus de gens que la première et a causé des dégâts économiques considérablement plus importants. L'infrastructure palestinienne en Cisjordanie s'est détériorée sous l'occupation. La société israélienne est devenue plus à droite et préoccupée par la sécurité. Et la possibilité d'un accord de paix négocié s'est éloignée davantage dans le futur.
generatedAt: "2026-06-05T03:16:17.565Z"
de:
lede: Am 28. September 2000 besuchte der israelische Oppositionspolitiker Ariel Sharon das Tempelberg-Gelände in Jerusalem – Heimat der Al-Aqsa-Moschee, einer der heiligsten Stätten des Islam – ein Akt, der vielen als Provokation galt. Der Besuch löste palästinensische Proteste aus, die sich in der Zweiten Intifada escalierten, einem fünfjährigen Aufstand, gekennzeichnet durch Selbstmordanschläge, israelische Militärschläge und Tausende von Todesfällen auf beiden Seiten. Er markierte den Zusammenbruch des Friedensprozesses und veränderte die Regionalpolitik für Jahrzehnte.
summaryShort: Ein palästinensischer Aufstand, der im September 2000 nach Ariel Sharons Besuch des Al-Aqsa-Moschee-Komplexes begann und sich in Jahren der Gewalt, Selbstmordanschläge und israelischer Militäroperationen escalierte, die Tausende töteten.
summaryLong: |-
  Am 28. September 2000 betrat der israelische Oppositionsführer Ariel Sharon den Tempelberg – das Gelände mit der Al-Aqsa-Moschee, Islams drittheiligste Stätte – begleitet von Hunderten von Polizisten. Der Besuch, als politische Stellungnahme gedacht, entfachte unmittelbare palästinensische Proteste und markierte den Beginn der Zweiten Intifada, eines andauernden Aufstandes, der die israelisch-palästinensischen Beziehungen über mehr als ein Jahrzehnt hinweg umgestalten sollte.

  Im Gegensatz zur ersten Intifada (1987–1993), die stark auf Steinwürfe und zivilen Ungehorsam setzte, militarisierte sich die Zweite Intifada schnell. Palästinensische bewaffnete Gruppen, darunter die Al-Aqsa-Märtyrer-Brigaden der Fatah, die Hamas und der Islamische Dschihad, führten Selbstmordanschläge gegen israelische Zivilisten und Soldaten durch. Der erste größere Anschlag ereignete sich im Oktober 2000, als 12 israelische Soldaten getötet wurden; Anfang 2001 waren Selbstmordanschläge zur Routine geworden. Zwischen 2000 und 2005 starben etwa 1.000 Israelis in Angriffen, meist Zivilisten, während die palästinensischen Opfer – sowohl Kämpfer als auch Zivilisten – ungefähr 3.000 erreichten.

  Israel reagierte mit Militärgewalt in einem Ausmaß, das seit der Invasion im Libanon 1982 nicht mehr vorgekommen war. Premierminister Ehud Barak, 1999 gewählt, genehmigte Luftschläge, Artilleriebeschuss und Panzervorstöße in palästinensische Gebiete. Nach Sharons Amtsantritt als Premierminister im März 2001 intensivierte sich die Reaktion. Israelische Streitkräfte führten gezielte Tötungen von Anführern von Milizen durch, verhängten Ausgangssperren über palästinensische Städte und begannen 2002 mit dem Bau einer Betonmauer um große Teile des Westjordanlands – Maßnahmen, die mehr Palästinenser töteten, aber wenig dazu beitrugen, Anschläge zu stoppen. Der Kreislauf von Bombenanschlägen und Vergeltung wurde selbsttragend, jede Seite beanspruchte die Opferrolle und rechtfertigte Eskalation.

  Der Aufstand zerstörte den Optimismus der Oslo-Abkommen der 1990er Jahre, die die Palästinensische Behörde geschaffen und Hoffnungen auf eine Zweistaatenlösung geweckt hatten. Bis 2003 war dieser Traum faktisch tot. Arafat, der palästinensische Anführer, verlor an Glaubwürdigkeit sowohl bei Israelis als auch bei seinem eigenen Volk; Sharon konsolidierte seine Macht, indem er sich als der einzige Anführer positionierte, der hart genug war, um die israelische Sicherheit wiederherzustellen. Die Intifada endete formell um 2005, aber ihr Vermächtnis – gegenseitiges Misstrauen, angesammelte Groll und Militärinfrastruktur auf beiden Seiten – blieb bestehen.

  Die Zweite Intifada tötete weit mehr Menschen als die erste und verursachte weitaus größere wirtschaftliche Schäden. Die palästinensische Infrastruktur im Westjordanland verschlechterte sich unter der Besatzung. Die israelische Gesellschaft wurde rechtsgerichteter und sicherheitsbewusster. Und die Möglichkeit einer verhandelten Friedensvereinbarung entfernte sich weiter in die Zukunft.
generatedAt: "2026-06-05T03:16:27.008Z"
geo:
lat: 30.8124247
lng: 34.8594762
place: Israel
note: Location inferred from recap.country via OSM Nominatim.
significance: 25
