Attempting to reach a peace settlement has been difficult. DEPTH STUDY G: ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS SINCE 1945

Mark scheme

Marking points from the official mark scheme (Oct/Nov 2023). The mark or mark type is shown in brackets.

1. [1-4] 'It was an uprising by Palestinians.'
2. [1-4] 'It started in 1987 and went on until 1993.'
3. [1-4] 'It began in a refugee camp when an Israeli army truck killed four Palestinians.'
4. [1-4] 'The aim of the uprising was to drive Israel out of the territories of the West Bank, Golan Heights and Gaza.'
5. [1-4] 'Palestinians refused to pay taxes or go to work in the Israeli settlements.'
6. [1-4] 'It was led by the PLO and community councils.'
7. [1-4] 'It wanted to end the imposition of curfews and checkpoints by Israel.'
8. [1-4] 'Over 1 000 Palestinians were killed.'
9. [1-4] 'If Israel caught those who were involved, they were deported.'
10. [2-3] 'The PLO was recognised as the representative of the Palestinians by the Israeli Prime Minister for the first time.'
11. [2-3] 'Yasser Arafat renounced terrorism.'
12. [2-3] 'Talks were held in secret.'
13. [2-3] 'Both sides were concerned about the escalation of violence in the region.'
14. [2-3] 'An agreement in principle was reached and signed by both sides.'
15. [4-5] 'One reason the Oslo Accords were agreed was that Yasser Arafat renounced terrorism and was prepared to recognise the existence of the state of Israel. This meant that it was possible for the Israeli Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin, to recognise the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people. This made discussions between the two possible.'
16. [6] Level 4 Explains TWO reasons (e.g., PLO recognition of Israel and mutual desire to end violence).
17. [2-3] 'In 1995 Rabin signed the Middle East Accord with Yasser Arafat.'
18. [2-3] 'Some Israelis did not support this and Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir.'
19. [2-3] 'Netanyahu did not want to give concessions to the Palestinians.'
20. [2-3] 'Hamas and the PLO have not agreed a way forward.'
21. [2-3] 'Hamas rejected peace with Israel.'
22. [2-3] 'The PLO has lost influence in the Palestinian parliament.'
23. [2-3] 'The expansion of the Jewish settlements has prevented the emergence of a Palestinian state.'
24. [4-6] 'Divisions between the Palestinians have hindered the peace movement. Hamas was formed in 1987 and emerged as a rival to the PLO. It offered an Islamist-nationalist alternative and the leader of the movement rejected peace with Israel and argued that the destruction of Israel is the only way forward for Palestine. Under Yasser Arafat, the PLO had worked to establish the Palestine Authority by negotiating with Israel. However, in 2006, after Arafat had died, Hamas won the majority of seats in the Palestinian parliament.'
25. [4-6] 'However, it is also the case that divisions between Israeli politicians have hindered progress towards a peace settlement. Labour and Likud, Israel's major political parties, took opposing views on how Palestine and the Palestinians should be treated. For instance, Likud disagreed with Rabin's concessions in the Middle East Peace Accords and supported continued Jewish expansion in the occupied territories. Their opposition was illustrated when Rabin was assassinated by Yigal Amir, an Israeli student.'
26. [7-9] Level 4 Explanation of both sides (A L4 answer will have a minimum of three explanations (2 on one side; 1 on the other). Fuller explanation of one issue to be given two marks. An answer which only has one explanation on one side of the argument cannot be awarded more than 8.)
27. [10] Level 5 Explains with evaluation of 'how far' (As Level 4 plus evaluation.)