The short answer

The Oslo Accords are two agreements between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) in the 1990s—Oslo I (1993) and Oslo II (1995). They set up an interim path toward peace and limited Palestinian self-rule, with the idea of negotiating the toughest questions later. (Wikipedia)

What was agreed first (Oslo I, 1993)?

In September 1993, Israel and the PLO exchanged letters recognizing one another and committing to peaceful negotiations. Days later they signed the “Declaration of Principles” (Oslo I) at the White House. This created a framework for a temporary Palestinian self-government and for step-by-step negotiations. Think of it as agreeing on the rules of the game before playing the hardest rounds. (Wikipedia)

Key ideas in Oslo I

• Mutual recognition (Israel ↔ PLO)
• A phased approach: transfer some responsibilities to a new Palestinian Authority (PA)
• Final-status talks to decide issues like borders and Jerusalem within about five years (United Nations)

What followed (1994–1995)?

1. Gaza–Jericho Agreement (1994): Detailed the first handover of responsibilities and formally created the Palestinian Authority, with limited self-rule in parts of Gaza and around Jericho. It also included economic arrangements (the “Paris Protocol”) and a civil police force. (Wikipedia)
2. Oslo II (1995): Expanded the framework to more of the West Bank and set out how elections, civil affairs, and security coordination would work during the interim period. (Office of the Historian)

How the West Bank was divided (Areas A, B, and C)

Oslo II split the West Bank into three administrative areas designed to be temporary:

• Area A: Palestinian Authority handles both civil affairs and internal security (major Palestinian cities).
• Area B: PA manages civil affairs; security is shared with Israel (many towns and villages).
• Area C: Under full Israeli civil and security control (settlements, strategic areas, most open land).

As a rough guide, Area A is around 18%, Area B about 22%, and Area C about 60% of the West Bank (percentages vary by method and period). A and B are scattered enclaves; Area C is largely contiguous. (Wikipedia)

Everyday example:
A traffic accident in Ramallah (Area A) would be handled by PA police, but building a new road connecting several villages might require Israeli approvals if it crosses Area C. (Anera)

The big questions left for “final status”

Oslo intentionally postponed the hardest issues:

• Jerusalem
• Borders and settlements
• Refugees
• Security arrangements and water
  These were to be negotiated by the end of the interim period but were not resolved. (Wikipedia)

Did the Accords work?

They changed the landscape by creating the Palestinian Authority, launching security coordination, and enabling limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank and Gaza. They also provided a recognized negotiation channel that many international actors supported. (Wikipedia)

But a final peace treaty didn’t materialize. Violence, political shifts, settlement dynamics, and deep disagreements over the deferred issues all undermined trust. The interim divisions (Areas A/B/C) meant to be short-term have largely persisted, and final-status questions remain unsettled. (Anera)

Bottom line

The Oslo Accords were a process rather than a single peace deal. They opened the door to Palestinian self-governance and set rules for negotiations, but left the toughest choices for later—choices that, to this day, have not been fully agreed. (Wikipedia)