Israeli negotiator Gilead Sher (L) with Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat during the Taba Summit in Taba, Egypt, January 23, 2001.
Jan. 21-27, 2001
Taba, Egypt
Players: Israel Foreign Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami and Palestinian chief negotiator Saeeb Erekat
Agenda: The six days of talks, which followed frenetic negotiations in Washington and Cairo — and occurred amidst the escalating violence of the intifadah — were aimed at bridging the gap between the two sides revealed at Camp David, largely through a series of compromise proposals developed by President Clinton.
Outcome: Although Taba came closer to agreeing on terms for a final settlement than any previous summits — negotiators from both sides said they were weeks away from reaching a deal — the Oslo process had run out of time. The summit ended only days before the Israeli election, which Barak lost to Ariel Sharon. The new prime minister was a staunch opponent of Oslo who had campaigned on promises to deal harshly with Palestinian violence. He made clear that the final-status talks that had begun at Camp David were now moot.
—Katie Rooney