On This Day – September 13th

On 13th September 1993 The Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzhak Rabin, and the PLO leader, Yasser Arafat, shoook hands before cheering crowds on the White House lawn in Washington.

The handshake – the first ever in public between the two former arch enemies – marked the signing of a Declaration of Principles for peace between the Arabs and Israelis.

Under the terms of the deal Israel agreed to withdraw its troops from Gaza Strip and West Bank by April 1994. Elections would be held in the territories to allow the Palestinians some form of self-government.

The deal was made possible by talks brokered by the Norwegians earlier in the year – and by the election of Mr Rabin's Labour government which includes the pro-peace campaigners Shimon Peres and Yossi Beilin.

President Bill Clinton introduced the two leaders to the crowd of invited guests in front of the White House. By his side were former Presidents Jimmy Carter and George Bush who had both campaigned for peace during their terms in office.

Mr Clinton said: "The peace of the brave is within our reach. Throughout the Middle East there is a great yearning for the quiet miracle of a normal life.

"We know a difficult road lies ahead. Every peace has its enemies."

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