Main events of Ehud Barak's term in office:

Sept. 4, 1999: Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat revive negotiations, announce ambitious plans for full-fledged peace by Sept. 13, 2000. 

Dec. 15, 1999: Israel-Syria peace talks launched at highest-ever level. 

January 2000: Talks with Syria collapse over Syrian demand that Israel first commit to withdrawing from entire Golan Heights. 

February 2000: Arafat breaks off talks with Barak, expresses anger at him for neglecting Palestinians while courting Syrians. 

March 9, 2000: Barak and Arafat meet at Sharm el-Sheik, Egypt, revive talks and set new deadlines. 

May 24, 2000: Israel withdraws from Lebanon after a two-decade occupation, fulfilling a key Barak campaign pledge. 

July 2000: Barak's coalition government unravels as several factions leave over the prime minister's plan to offer new concessions to the Palestinians. 

July 11, 2000: President Clinton convenes talks with Barak and Arafat at Camp David. Summit ends with no agreement. 

Sept. 28, 2000: Israel's hawkish opposition leader, Ariel Sharon, visits Jerusalem shrine holy to Jews and Muslims; violent clashes erupt the next day. 

Oct. 17, 2000: Barak and Arafat agree to urge an end to violence at a summit in Egypt mediated by Clinton, but agreement fails to take hold and fighting continues. 

Nov. 28, 2000: With minority government in tatters, Barak agrees to hold new elections for prime minister and parliament, probably in the spring. 

Dec. 9, 2000: Barak announces intention to resign, says new election for prime minister will be held within 60 days. By now, more than 300 dead in the violence, most of them Palestinians. 

Feb 6, 2001: Sharon wins election in landslide.