Palestinians and Israelis Sign a Model Peace Accord
Palestine-Israel, Politics, 12/1/2003

The Palestinian news agency IPC reported that "As the deadline for the signing of the most disputed document in the history of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict draws nearer, many opposing sounds echoed through both the Israeli and Palestinian societies, and while the Palestinian President Yasser Arafat welcomed the accord only to encourage the efforts of peace, the Israeli government furiously rejected it and considered it a security error. The plan, dubbed The Geneva Accord in tribute to the funding and support of the Swiss Foreign Ministry, was negotiated over a period of two and a half years, between the Israeli leftist and Oslo architect Yossi Beilin and former Palestinian minister Yasser Abed Rabbo, and was unveiled in mid October."
Ê
IPC added "Despite welcoming the accord, President Arafat stressed that neither he nor the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) have officially accepted the draft peace accord. Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei' also declared that the Palestinian participants represent neither the PLO nor the Palestinian government."

IPC reported that: "Fateh's stance is clear and public: We are opposed to this document," Fateh leader in the West Bank Hussein Al Sheikh told Israel Radio. "This document does harm the historical rights of the Palestinian people, the right of return (of Palestinian refugees) and of the return of Jerusalem. As for the Israeli side, the Israeli government headed by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon furiously objected to the accord, saying that it did not involve elected members of the government, and calling the opposition negotiators who reached the deal subversive."

Main Points of the Geneva Accord:
The Geneva Accord is a model permanent-status agreement between Israel and a Palestinian state. Following are its main points:
Ê
* The agreement constitutes an end to all claims on both sides. The border it sets is final, unappealable and replaces all UN resolutions and previous agreements.
Ê
* The Palestinians recognize the Jewish people's right to a state, and each side recognizes Israel and Palestine as the other's national homeland. The Palestinian state will inherit all of the PLO's rights and responsibilities.
Ê
* Jerusalem: All Jewish neighborhoods, including those in East Jerusalem, will remain under Israeli sovereignty, and the Palestinians will recognize Jerusalem, in its new borders, as Israel's capital. Palestinian neighborhoods will be under Palestinian sovereignty and will become the Palestinian state's capital. Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem will lose their Israeli residency rights and become Palestinian citizens.
Ê
* The Temple Mount (Noble Sanctuary for Muslims) will be under Palestinian sovereignty, but an international force will maintain order and ensure freedom of access for all faiths. Jewish prayer on the mount will be forbidden, as well as the archeological digs.
Ê
* The Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter, including Zion Gate and Dung Gate, will remain under Israeli sovereignty.
Ê
* Refugees: The words "return" or "right of return" do not appear in the document. Israel will accept a limited number of Palestinian refugees, with this number at its own discretion (experts estimate around 40,000 refugees over a period of several years). The other refugees may resettle in Palestine or third countries. Israel will pay an agreed sum in compensation to the refugees.
Ê
* Borders: Israel will withdraw to the 1967 borders within 30 months, except for agreed territorial exchanges in a 1:1 ratio. The Israel Defense Forces will maintain a presence in the Jordan Valley for an additional three years.
Ê
* Territorial exchanges: Israel will annex a strip of the West Bank near Ben-Gurion Airport and major settlement blocs near the Green Line, including the West Bank settlements around Jerusalem: Ma'aleh Adumim, Givat Ze'ev, Gush Etzion and Givon. In exchange, Israel will give the Palestinians equivalent territory in the Negev, adjacent to the Gaza Strip. Efrat, Har Homa and Ariel will become Palestinian.

Meantime, The IPC reported today that "Israeli occupying forces (IOF) killed four Palestinians, three during a wide invasion of the city of Ramallah and nearby Al Ama'ri refugee camp."

Previous Stories:
  Four Palestinians were killed, peace efforts are given an impetus   (11/28/2003)
  Arafat doubts Sharon's seriousness, Hamas renews rejection of the truce   (11/26/2003)
  Jerusalem Mufti bans Palestinian from association with the seperation wall   (11/26/2003)
  Israeli forces besiege Bethlehem, Palestinians doubt Sharon's intention   (11/24/2003)
  Israeli troops kill a palestinian, deny Palestinian worshippers access to al-aqsa mosque   (11/22/2003)
  Qrei in Gaza for truce talks with the Palestinian resistance   (11/20/2003)

Please add a link on your webiste pointing to ArabicNews.com and bookmark ArabicNews.com & subscribe to our daily email news bulletin.

Search