The Israel-Palestine Handshake at the White House

13 September, 1993

13 September, 1993 was a memorable day for Israeli-Palestinian relations as Israeli leader Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Leader Yasser Arafat shook hands on the lawn of the White House. It marked the first time that both leaders had displayed such gestures in public, and it marked the agreement represented by the Declaration of Principles to promote peace and stability among Israelis and Arabs. This move came as a result of negotiations earlier in the year set forth by Norwegian officials. The agreement stated that Israel would withdraw its troops from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip by 1994.