The Second Intifada - a period of intensified Israeli-Palestinian violence - began in September 2000, with official Palestinian Authority media exhorting the Palestinians to violence. It erupted just as the most serious negotiations for a final status agreement between Israel and the Palestinians were being pursued. In the absence of any significant land barrier, Palestinian terrorists were able to cross easily from the West Bank into Israeli towns and communities where they staged murderous suicide bombings against civilians.

During this period, lasting until September 2005, Palestinian suicide bombers used increasingly powerful bombs to kill larger numbers of Israelis in their terror attacks. Over 1,000 Israelis were killed and thousands severely injured. Over 2,000 Palestinians were also killed during this period. The disproportionate number of Palestinian casualties was primarily a result of the number of Palestinians involved in violence. The unfortunate deaths of noncombatants was largely due to the practice of Palestinian terrorists using civilians as shields.

At the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit of February 2005, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and PA President Mahmoud Abbas agreed to stop all acts of violence and reaffirmed their commitment to the Roadmap for Peace.