Key events from 2003

Over two years after the start of the second Palestinian intifada, BBC News Online examines the key events in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in 2003.

The Israelis held Parliamentary elections in January, click here for more media on that story.

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SEPTEMBER 2003

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Israel decides to expel Arafat
11 September

The international community warns Israel against expelling Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, after Israel vows to "remove" him from the area. The Israeli cabinet's decision follows two suicide bombings in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv which killed 15 people.

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Arafat nominee to be PM
10 September

Palestinian parliament speaker Ahmed Qurei confirms he will take over as prime minister following the resignation of Mahmoud Abbas. Mr Qurei, a leading member of Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction, helped negotiate the Oslo peace accords with Israel 10 years ago.

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Leadership crisis hits Palestinians
6 September

Mahmoud Abbas steps down as the Palestinian prime minister after just four months in the job. Mr Abbas - also known as Abu Mazen - resigns following a power struggle with Palestinian President Yasser Arafat over control of security forces.

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AUGUST 2003

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Palestinian fury after Gaza strike
21 August

Palestinian militants call off their truce and vow to take revenge for the killing by Israel of one of their leaders in Gaza. In a statement, Hamas' military wing urges its "fighters in Palestine to strike in every corner of the Jewish state" following the death of Ismail Abu Shanab and two of his bodyguards.

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Bus bomb carnage in Jerusalem
19 August

A suicide bomber wrecks a bus in Jerusalem, killing 20 people and injuring 100 others, in a serious blow to peace efforts. In response, Israel halts the handover of West Bank towns and cuts off contacts with Palestinians officials.

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JULY 2003

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Israel pulls out of Bethlehem
3 July

Palestinian security forces fan out through the West Bank town of Bethlehem after Israeli troops pull out and hand over control to them, following talks between Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.

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JUNE 2003

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Hamas leader signals truce
27 June

The spiritual leader of the Palestinian militant group Hamas says it has decided to suspend "fighting operations" against Israelis. Sheikh Ahmed Yassin says it is not yet a formal ceasefire, but Hamas is working with other Palestinian factions on a joint statement.

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Peace plan backed at Aqaba summit
4 June

A landmark summit in Jordan ends with pledges from Israel and the Palestinians to back the international peace plan known as the roadmap after talks attended by US President George W Bush.

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MAY 2003

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Sharon gets 'roadmap' backing
25 May

The Israeli cabinet approves the new roadmap to peace despite opposition from several far-right ministers and members of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's own Likud party.

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Suicide bombers mar peace talks
18 May

A suicide bomber kills seven people in an attack on a bus in Jerusalem just hours after the highest level talks between Israeli and Palestinian leaders in more than two years.

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APRIL 2003

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US Mid-East peace plan launched
30 April

International mediators present the long-awaited "roadmap" to peace in the Middle East International mediators have presented their long-awaited "roadmap" to peace in the Middle East to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, and his Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas.

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New Palestinian cabinet voted in
29 April

The Palestinian parliament approves a cabinet to be led by new Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas easing the way for the US to release their plan for peace.

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MARCH 2003

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US "to publish roadmap"
14 March

President George W Bush says the US will unveil the long-delayed road map for peace as soon as the Palestinian Authority appoints a prime minister "with real authority".

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JANUARY 2003

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Dual suicide bombs in Tel Aviv
5 January

A double suicide bombing in Tel Aviv kills 23 people and two bombers. The explosions - which happened about two minutes apart - devastated the old bus station area and a busy shopping mall, injuring dozens of people, many of them foreign workers.

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Israel increases pressure on Palestinians
6 January

Israel orders its military to step up what it calls targeted operations against Palestinian militants the latest suicide bombings. The Israeli cabinet also decided to stop senior Palestinian officials from travelling to London for talks on reforming the Palestinian Authority.

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Day of bloodshed
12 January

At least seven Palestinians and one Israeli are reported to have been killed in a day of widespread violence in the Palestinian territories and Israel. The incidents include an Israeli helicopter gunship attack which Palestinians say mistakenly killed two teenagers.

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