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The Palestinian vision of negotiations based on the Arab peace plan (12
June 2002)
At this critical time, when the international community is seeking to
formulate a comprehensive policy regarding the Middle East, the Palestinian
Authority (PA) believes that it is important to convey the Palestinian
vision for ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. This vision is based on
the Arab initiative declared by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia and adopted
unanimously by the Arab summit in Beirut. While many creative and
constructive ideas regarding ending the current crisis are being presented,
we believe that these ideas will not succeed if they are not accompanied by
a clear political horizon that will rekindle hope in a permanent peace based
on a negotiated solution.
The Palestinian clarifications described below had been discussed with our
Arab friends, in particular with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Jordan, all of whom
share our opinion regarding the centrality of a vision of peace to the
success of any efforts.
The Arab Peace Initiative of March 2002 forms our basic terms of reference.
This initiative along with the vision of President Bush, Secretary of State
Colin Powell's speech of November 2001, and UN Security Council Resolutions
242, 338 and 1397, are the bases of the Palestinian vision for a permanent
status agreement between Palestine and Israel. According to these bases, the
following are the main elements of our vision:
The borders between the state of Palestine and the state of Israel will be
the June 4, 1967 Armistice Line, though the two sides may agree to minor,
reciprocal, and equal boundary ratifications that do not affect, among
other things, territorial contiguity. The Palestinian and Israeli sides
shall have no territorial claims beyond the June 4, 1967 borders. These
borders will be the permanent boundaries between the two states.
There will be a permanent territorial corridor established between the
West Bank and the Gaza Strip sections of the state of Palestine.
East Jerusalem will become the capital of the state of Palestine and West
Jerusalem will become the capital of the State of Israel.
Jerusalem, which is venerated by the three monotheistic religions, will
remain open to all peoples.
The Palestinian side will transfer sovereignty over the Jewish Quarter and
the Wailing Wall section of the Western Wall in East Jerusalem to Israel,
while retaining sovereignty over the remainder of the Old City.
Palestine and Israel will establish security cooperation arrangements that
preserve the integrity and sovereignty of each state. International forces
will play a central role in these arrangements. In addition, the two sides
will strive to establish a regional security regime.
Neither Palestine nor Israel will participate in military alliances
against each other, or allow their territory to be used as a military base
of operation against each other or against other neighbors. No foreign
troops may be stationed in the territory of either state unless otherwise
specified in the permanent status agreement or subsequently agreed to by
the two parties. Palestine and Israel's respective sovereignty and
independence will be guaranteed by formal agreements with members of the
international community.
In accordance with the Arab Peace Initiative of March 2002, there will be
a just and agreed solution to the Palestinian refugee problem based on UN
General Assembly Resolution 194.
The issue of water will be resolved in a just and equitable manner in
accordance with international treaties and norms.
Palestine and Israel will be democratic states with free market economies.
The comprehensive permanent status agreement will mark the end of conflict
between Palestine and Israel, and its complete implementation will mark
the end of claims between them.
Naturally, the realization of this vision requires a parallel process that
will create concrete and positive developments on the ground. These will
require a policy of de-escalation, de-occupation, ensuring the protection of
Palestinian and Israeli peoples in accordance with the rule of law, and the
gradual introduction of attributes of sovereignty to buttress and prepare
the ground for a permanent status agreement.
There should be a fixed timeline for this process with guaranteed diplomatic
involvement in order to ensure that the process does not stall. Part of
preparing for eventual Palestinian statehood requires internal Palestinian
restructuring, which we have already embarked on in the political, financial
and security fields. In the security realm, the ideas suggested by CIA
Director George Tenet will be the basis for our efforts.(June 12, 2002). |
