July 25 (Reuters) - Israel said it hoped a visit on Wednesday by Egyptian and Jordanian envoys would lead to the opening of diplomatic contacts with other Arab states over their land-for-peace plan. Here is a timeline of events in Middle East peacemaking: 1991 - Israel holds peace talks with all frontline Arab neighbours, including the Palestinians, at Madrid conference. September 13, 1993 - Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin trade historic handshake, sealing outline for limited Palestinian self-rule. November 4, 1995 - Rabin assassinated by ultra-nationalist Jew. July 25, 2000 - The Camp David peace summit, brokered by U.S. President Bill Clinton, breaks down after two weeks of negotiations between Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak. September 28, 2000 - Palestinian uprising breaks out after Israeli right-wing opposition leader, Ariel Sharon, visits Jerusalem's Temple Mount, revered by Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif. January 21, 2001 - In last-ditch effort to reach peace with Palestinians before February election, Barak launches talks at Egyptian Red Sea resort of Taba. Talks end six days later without agreement. April 30, 2003 - "Road map" for peace drafted by the Middle East Quartet -- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. It calls for confidence-building measures by both sides. November 11, 2004 - Arafat dies in Paris. Mahmoud Abbas takes over as head of Palestine Liberation Organisation and becomes Palestinian president after landslide election. February 8, 2005 - Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and Abbas declare ceasefire at summit in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt. September 12, 2005 - Israel completes pullout of troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip after 38 years of occupation. January 4, 2006 - Sharon suffers major stroke and Ehud Olmert succeeds the comatose leader, later winning elections. January 25, 2006 - Islamist militant group Hamas defeats Abbas's Fatah in Palestinian parliamentary election. Hamas rejects Quartet calls to renounce violence and recognise Israel. June 25, 2006 - Hamas militants capture Israeli conscript, Corporal Gilad Shalit. Three days later Israel invades Gaza. February 8, 2007 - Abbas and Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal sign a coalition deal in Saudi Arabia to end factional warfare. The agreement makes no mention of recognising Israel. March 17, 2007 - A new Palestinian unity government takes office. June 14, 2007 - Hamas takes over Gaza from Fatah in a series of battles killing at least 100 people. Abbas dismisses the Palestinian government and declares a state of emergency. June 15, 2007 - Abbas appoints Western-backed economist Salam Fayyad to serve as prime minister of an emergency government. June 18, 2007 - The United States lifts its aid embargo on the Palestinian government. EU and others follow suit. July 25, 2007 - The Quartet's new envoy, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair ends his first talks in the region as envoy. He will return for more talks in early September. -- Egyptian and Jordanian envoys, members of an Arab League working group, arrive in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to discuss a long-stalled land for peace initiative.
