Second Intifada: 26 Years Since Palestinian Uprising Sparked Wave of Terror Attacks

Twenty-six years ago, on September 28, 2000, Ariel Sharon, then leader of the Israeli opposition, visited the Temple Mount in Jerusalem, known to Muslims as the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. This highly symbolic visit, conducted under heavy police protection, was followed by violent clashes and is widely considered the immediate trigger for the Second Intifada, a Palestinian uprising. Palestinian leaders denounced Sharon's visit as a provocation, and clashes between Palestinian demonstrators and Israeli security forces erupted the following day. The violence quickly spread across Jerusalem, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and several Israeli cities.

However, Sharon's visit alone did not cause the uprising. It occurred amidst deep-seated tensions, just weeks after the failure of the Camp David summit between Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. The exact role of Sharon's visit remains debated: some believe it ignited the violence, while others see it as merely a pretext for a confrontation that was already being prepared.

Unlike the First Intifada, which was characterized by protests and stone-throwing, the Second Intifada rapidly became far more deadly. Palestinian militant groups, including Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and the Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades, carried out numerous suicide bombings, shootings, and attacks targeting civilians. Between 2000 and 2005, over 1,000 Israelis were killed and thousands more wounded. Thousands of Palestinians also died during Israeli military operations and clashes.

Restaurants, cafes, hotels, nightclubs, and public transportation became targets for attacks designed to maximize casualties. This period left a lasting scar on Israeli society, marked by a constant fear of bombings in public spaces. Notable attacks included the August 9, 2001, bombing at the Sbarro pizzeria in Jerusalem, which killed 15 people, including children, and injured over 100. Another suicide bombing outside the Dolphinarium nightclub in Tel Aviv on June 1, 2001, killed 21 people, mostly teenagers. On March 27, 2002, a suicide bomber attacked the Park Hotel in Netanya during a Passover Seder, killing 30 people and wounding over 140. Haifa also suffered attacks, including one at the Matza restaurant in March 2002 that killed 15, and a bus bombing that killed 17 in March 2003.

In response to the escalating violence and infiltrations, Israel began constructing a security barrier in 2002 along parts of the West Bank. Israeli authorities credit this barrier, along with enhanced security measures and counter-terrorism operations, with significantly reducing suicide attacks. While there is no universally agreed-upon end date for the Second Intifada, the Sharm el-Sheikh summit in February 2005, where then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas announced a cessation of violence, is generally considered its political conclusion. The Second Intifada remains one of the most traumatic periods in recent Israeli history, profoundly transforming the country's security policies and damaging trust between Israelis and Palestinians.