Revisiting Oslo: How Extremists Sabotaged the Road Map to Peace

On March 3, the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University hosted an in-depth discussion of how extremists and terror groups, both Jewish and Palestinian, conducted acts of violence in the wake of the signing of the Oslo Accords. These acts of violence ultimately sabotaged the path to peace between Israel and the Palestinian people, while undermining the newly established Palestinian Authority, all of which led to the escalation of violence and further terrorist attacks.

In order to discuss these matters, the Program on Extremism was honored to host:

• Amos Guiora, Professor of Law, S.J. Quinney College of Law;
• Lara Burns, Head of Terrorism Research, the Program on Extremism at GWU.

The event was moderated by Program on Extremism Senior Fellow David Zimmermann.

On March 3, 2025, the Program on Extremism (PoE) at The George Washington University hosted an event titled “Revisiting Oslo: How Extremists Sabotaged the Roadmap to Peace.” Panelists Amos Guiora, Professor of Law at S.J. College of Law, and Lara Burns, Head of Terrorism Research at PoE, joined PoE Senior Fellow David Zimmermann to discuss how extremists and terrorist groups, both Jewish and Palestinian, carried out acts of violence in the wake of the Oslo Accords.

Amos Guiora, the only child of two Holocaust survivors, shared his experiences in the Israeli Defense Forces Judge Advocate General Corps as an implementer of the Oslo Accords. 

Guiora emphasized Hamas’s unwavering commitment to its cause, highlighting that its members were not simply blind followers. He outlined how Hamas’s violent actions targeted both Israelis and Palestinians, spanning from membership in the organization to direct acts of terrorism.

As an implementer, Guiora recounted his experience in Gaza during the announcement of the Oslo Accords. He described the initial hope that accompanied the agreement but also noted how Hamas reacted with fury, seeing the accords as a betrayal of their mission to destroy Israel. Hamas was particularly angered by the Palestinian Authority’s (PA) role in the agreement, as it challenged their control over the liberation movement. The group actively sought to derail the peace process and viewed stability as a threat to its own power.

Guiora also addressed Jewish extremism, particularly the 1994 Ibrahimi Mosque massacre, and how Hamas used this event as justification for its subsequent suicide bombing campaign. He also explained the assassination of former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, particularly how the failure to prosecute rabbis inciting violence contributed to the erosion of peace efforts. 

Lara Burns shared her expertise, drawing on her two decades at the FBI, where she focused on counterterrorism with a particular emphasis on Hamas. She discussed her role in the prosecution of the Holy Land Foundation and provided insights into Hamas’s strategies in the U.S. and the Middle East.

Burns explained how after the signing of the Oslo Accords, Hamas’s leadership in the U.S. recognized that the group would soon be designated a terrorist organization. To continue their support, they shifted tactics, operating under the guise of charities, civil rights groups, and humanitarian organizations. She outlined the 1993 emergency meeting in Philadelphia that revealed that Hamas’s U.S. supporters were actively working to derail the accords and continue jihad efforts.

Burns further described how Hamas weaponized acts of violence to further its cause. Suicide bombings, particularly between 1994 and1996, were strategically used to destabilize the peace process. She emphasized that Hamas relied on violent retaliation and used figures like Yahya Ayyash, a top Hamas bombmaker, as martyrs to recruit new members.