The following are steps to facilitate implementation of the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip of September 28, 1995 and other related agreements including the Note for the Record of January 17, 1997 (hereinafter referred to as "the prior agreements") so that the Israeli and Palestinian sides can more effectively carry out their reciprocal responsibilities, including those relating to further redeployments and security, respectively. These steps are to be carried out in a parallel phased approach in accordance with the Memorandum and the attached time line. They are subject to the relevant terms and conditions of the prior agreements and do not supersede their other requirements.
I. FURTHER REDEPLOYMENTS
A. Phase One and Two Further Redeployments
1. Pursuant to the Interim Agreement and subsequent agreements, the Israeli side's implementation of the first and second F.R.D. will consist of the transfer to the Palestinian of 13 percent from Area C as follows:
-- 1 percent to Area (A)
-- 12 percent to Area (B)
The Palestinian side has informed that it will allocate an area/areas
amounting to 3 percent from the above area (B) to be designated as the
Green Areas and/or Nature Reserves. The Palestinian side has further informed
that they will act according to the established scientific standards, and
that therefore there will be no changes to the status of these area, without
prejudice to the rights of existing inhabitants in these areas including
Bedouins; while these standards do not allow new construction in these
areas, existing roads and buildings may be maintained.
The Israeli side will retain in these Green Areas/Nature Reserves the overriding security responsibility for the purpose of protecting Israelis and confronting the threat of terrorism. Activities and movements of the Palestinian Police forces may be carried out after coordination and confirmation; the Israeli side will respond to such requests expeditiously.
2. As part of the foregoing implementation of the first and second F.R.D.,
14.2 percent from Area (B) will become Area (A).
B. Third Phase of Further Redeployments.
With regard to the terms of the Interim Agreement and of Secretary Christopher's letters to the two sides of January 17, 1997, relating to the further redeployment process, there will be a committee to address this question. The United States will be briefed regularly.
II. SECURITY
In the provisions on security arrangements of the Interim Agreement, the Palestinian side agreed to take all measures necessary in order to prevent acts of terrorism, crime and hostilities directed against the Israeli side, against individuals falling under the Israeli side's authority and against their property, just as the Israeli side agreed to take all measures necessary in order to prevent acts of terrorism, crime and hostilities and against their property. The two sides also agreed to take legal measures against within their jurisdiction and to prevent incitement against eachother by any organizations, groups or individuals within their jurisdiction.
Both sides recognize that it is in their vital interests to combat terrorism
and fight violence in accord with Annex I of the Interim Agreement and
the Note for the Record. They also recognize that the struggle against
terror and violence must be comprehensive in that it deals with terrorists,
the terror support structure and the environment conducive to the support
of terror. It must be continuous and constant over a long-term, in that
there can be no pauses in the work against terrorists and their structure.
It must be cooperative in that no effort can be fully effective without
Israeli-Palestinian cooperation and the continuous exchange of information,
concepts and actions. Pursuant to the prior agreements, the Palestinian
side's implementation of its responsibilities for security, security cooperation,
and other issues will be as detailed below during the time periods specified
in the attached time line.
A. Security Actions
1. Outlawing and Combatting Terrorist Organizations
a. The Palestinian side will make known its policy for zero tolerance for terror and violence against both sides.
b. A work plan developed by the Palestinian side will be shared with the U.S. and hereafter implementation will begin immediately to ensure the systematic and effective combat of terrorist organizations and their infrastructure.
c. In addition to the bilateral Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation, a U.S.-Palestinian committee will meet biweekly to review the steps being taken to eliminate terrorist cells and the support structure that plans, finances, supplies and abets terror. In these meetings, the Palestinian side will inform the U.S. fully of the actions it has taken to outlaw all organizations (or wings of organizations, as appropriate) of a military, terrorist or violent character and their support structure and to prevent them from operating in areas under its jurisdiction.
d. The Palestinian side will apprehend the specific individuals suspected of perpetrating acts of violence and terror for the purpose of further investigation, and prosecution and punishment of all persons involved in acts of violence and terror.
e. A U.S.-Palestinian committee will meet to review and evaluate information pertinent to the decisions on prosecution, punishment or other legal measures which affect the status of individuals suspected of abetting or perpetrating acts of violence or terror.
2. Prohibiting Illegal Weapons
a. The Palestinian side will ensure an effective legal framework is in place to criminalize, in conformity with the prior agreements, any importation, manufacturing or unlicensed sale, acquisition or possession of firearms, ammunition or weapons in areas under Palestinian jurisdiction.
b. In addition, the Palestinian side will establish and vigorously and continuously implement a systematic program for the collection and appropriate handling of all such illegal items in accordance with the prior agreements. The U.S. has agreed to assist in carrying out this program.
c. A U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli committee will be established to assist and enhance cooperation in preventing the smuggling or other unauthorized introduction of weapons or explosive materials into areas under Palestinian jurisdiction.
3. Preventing Incitement
a. Drawing on relevant international practice and pursuant to Article XXII (1) of the Interim Agreement and Note for the Record, the Palestinian side will issue a decree prohibiting all forms of incitement to violence or terror. This decree will be comparable to the existing Israeli legislation which deals with the same subject.
b. A U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli committee will meet on a regular basis
to monitor cases of possible incitement to violence or terror, and to make
recommendations and reports on how to prevent such incitement. The Israeli-Palestinian
and U.S. sides will each appoint a media specialist, a
law enforcement representative, an educational specialist and a current
or former elected official to the committee.
B. Security Cooperation
The two sides agree that their security cooperation will be based on a spirit of partnership and will include, among other things, the following steps:
1. Bilateral Cooperation
There will be full bilateral cooperation between the two sides which will be continuous, intensive and comprehensive.
2. Forensic Cooperation
There will be an exchange of forensic expertise, training and other assistance.
3. Trilateral Committee
In addition to the bilateral Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation,
a high-ranking
U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli committee will meet as required and not less
than biweekly to assess current threats, deal with any impediments to effective
security cooperation and coordination and address the steps being taken
to combat terror and terrorist organizations. The committee will also serve
as a forum to address the issue of external support for terror. In these
meetings, the Palestinian side will fully inform the members of the committee
of the results of its investigations concerning terrorist suspects already
in custody and the participants will exchange addition relevant information.
The committee will report regularly to the leaders of the two sides on
the status of cooperation, the results of the meetings and its recommendations.
C. Other Issues
1. Palestinian Police Force
a. The Palestinian side will provide a list of its policemen to the Israeli side in conformity with the prior agreements.
b. Should the Palestinian side request technical assistance, the U.S. has indicated its willingness to help meet these needs in cooperation with other donors.
c. The Monitoring and Steering Committee will, as part of its functions, monitor the implementation of this provision and brief the U.S.
2. PLO Charter
The Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and the Palestinian Central Council will reaffirm the letter of 22 January 1998 from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to President Clinton concerning the nullification of the Palestinian National Charter provisions that are inconsistent with the letters exchanged between the PLO and the Government of Israel on 9/10 September 1993. PLO Chairman Arafat, the Speaker of the Palestine National Council, and the Speaker of the Palestinian Council will invite the members of the PNC, as well as the members of the Central Council, the Council, and the Palestinian Heads of Ministries to a meeting to be addressed by President Clinton to reaffirm their support for the peace process and the aforementioned decisions of the Executive Committee and the Central Council.
3. Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters
Among other forms of legal assistance in criminal matters, the requests for arrest and transfer of suspects and defendants pursuant to Article II (7) of Annex IV of the Interim Agreement will be submitted (or resubmitted) through the mechanism of the Joint Israeli-Palestinian Legal Committee and will be responded to in conformity with Article II (7) (f) of Annex IV of the Interim Agreement within the twelve week period. Requests submitted after the eighth week will be responded to in conformity with Article II (7) (f) within four weeks of their submission. The U.S. has been requested by the sides to report on a regular basis on the steps being taken to respond to the above requests.
4. Human Rights and the Rule of Law
Pursuant of Article XI (1) of Annex I of the Interim Agreement, and without derogating from the above, the Palestinian Police will exercise powers and responsibilities to implement this Memorandum with due regard to internationally accepted norms of human rights and the rule of law, and will be guided by the need to protect the public, respect human dignity, and avoid harassment.
III. INTERIM COMMITTEES AND ECONOMIC ISSUES
1. The Israeli and Palestinian sides reaffirm their commitment to enhancing their relationship and agree on the need actively to promote economic development in the West Bank and Gaza. In this regard, the parties agree to continue or to reactivate all standing committees established by the Interim Agreement, including the Monitoring and Steering Committee, the Joint Economic Committee (JEC), the Civil Affairs Committee (CAC), the Legal Committee and the Standing Cooperation Committee.
2. The Israeli and Palestinian sides have agreed on arrangements which will permit the timely opening of the Gaza Industrial Estate. They also have concluded a "Protocol Regarding the Establishment and Operation of the International Airport in the Gaza Strip During the Interim Period."
3. Both sides will renew negotiations on the Safe Passage immediately. As regards the southern route, the sides will make best efforts to conclude the agreement within a week of the entry into force of this Memorandum. Operation of the southern route will start as soon as possible thereafter.
As regards the northern route, negotiations will continue with the goal of reaching agreement as soon as possible. Implementation will take place expeditiously thereafter.
4. The Israeli and Palestinian sides acknowledge the great importance
of the Port of Gaza for the development of the Palestinian economy, and
the expansion of Palestinian trade. They commit themselves to proceeding
without delay to conclude an agreement to allow the construction and operation
of the port in accordance with the prior agreements. The Israeli-Palestinian
Committee will reactivate its work immediately with a goal of concluding
the
protocol within sixty days, which will allow commencement of the construction
of the port.
5. The two sides recognize that unresolved legal issues adversely affect
the relationship between the two peoples. They therefore will accelerate
efforts through the Legal Committee to address outstanding legal issues
and to implement solutions to these issues in the shortest possible period.
The Palestinian side will provide to the Israeli side copies of all of
its laws
in effect.
6. The Israeli and Palestinian sides also will launch a strategic economic
dialogue to enhance their economic relationship. They will establish within
the framework of the JEC an Ad Hoc Committee for this purpose. The committee
will review the following four issues: (1) Israeli purchase taxes; (2)
cooperation in combating vehicle theft; (3) dealing with unpaid Palestinian
debts; and (4) the impact of Israeli standards as barriers to trade
and the expansion of A1 and A2 lists. The committee will submit an interim
report within three weeks of entry into force of this Memorandum, and within
six weeks will submit its conclusions and recommendations to be implemented.
7. The two sides agree on the importance of continued international
donor assistance to facilitate implementation by both sides of agreements
reached. They also recognize the need for enhanced donor support for economic
development in the West Bank and Gaza. They agree to jointly approach the
donor community to organize a Ministerial Conference before the end of
1998 to seek pledges of enhanced levels of assistance.