Jan 18 (Reuters) - The United States has invited the quartet of Middle East peace negotiators to meet in Washington on Feb. 2, boosting efforts for wider international involvement in the stalled peace process between Israelis and Palestinians. Below are highlights of some major moves in Middle East peacemaking: 1991 - Israel holds peace talks with all frontline Arab neighbours, including the Palestinians, at Madrid conference. Sept. 13, 1993 - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin trade historic handshake, sealing outline for limited Palestinian self-rule. Nov. 4, 1995 - Rabin assassinated by ultra-nationalist Jew. Sept. 28, 2000 - Palestinian uprising breaks out months after the collapse of peace talks brokered by U.S. President Bill Clinton. April 30, 2003 - "Road map" for peace drafted by the Middle East Quartet -- the United States, the EU, the United Nations and Russia. It calls for confidence building measures by both sides. Nov. 11, 2004 - Arafat dies in Paris. Mahmoud Abbas takes over as head of Palestine Liberation Organisation and becomes Palestinian president after landslide election. Feb. 8, 2005 - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abbas declare ceasefire at summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. Sept. 12 - Israel completes pullout of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip after 38 years of occupation. Jan. 4, 2006 - Sharon suffers major stroke and Ehud Olmert succeeds the comatose leader, later winning elections. Jan. 25 - Islamist militant group Hamas defeats Abbas's Fatah in Palestinian parliamentary election. Hamas rejects Quartet calls to renounce violence and recognise Israel. Jun. 25 - Hamas's armed wing and two other factions tunnel out of Gaza and capture an Israeli soldier, demanding a prisoner exchange. Three days later, Israel launches offensive in Gaza. Nov 26 - Ceasefire takes hold in Gaza after militants agree to stop firing rockets and Israel promises to end military operations there. Nov. 27 - Olmert says he is reaching out for peace with the Palestinians and offers to free many prisoners if militants release the captured Israeli soldier. Nov. 30 - Visiting U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice pushes Abbas and Olmert to broaden a fragile ceasefire that took hold in the Gaza Strip just days before. Jan. 13, 2007 - Condoleezza Rice arrives in the Middle East in a fresh effort to revive Israeli-Palestinian peace talks but says she will not present any concrete new initiative.
