Written by Jeremy Pressman, Director of Middle East Studies at the University of Connecticut, this lengthy article from The Journal of Conflict Studies outlines the background and causes that led to the outbreak of the Second Intifada. Moving away from the approaches that place blame on either Ariel Sharon or Yasser Arafat, Pressman analyzes the wider political and social conditions of the time, including the impact of the Oslo Peace Process, the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Palestinian discontent and resentment, the failure of the Camp David Summit, and the military preparations on both sides.