72 Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron- 17 January 1997

Early that morning Mr. Netanyahu met with Chairman Arafat at Erez Checkpoint in the presence of Dennis Ross. The accord was initialed at 2 A.M. by Israeli chief negotiator Dan Shomron and Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. The agreement called for an IDF withdrawal of 80% of Hebron within ten days. By March 7 Israel would begin the first phase of withdrawal from rural areas in the West Bank. Eight months after the first stage, Israel would carry out the second phase of the withdrawal. The third phase was to have been completed before mid-1998. In this phase Israel would withdraw from the remaining parts of the West Bank apart from "settlements and military locations." Within two months of the Hebron Accord, Israel and the PA would begin negotiations on the permanent status agreement to be completed by 4 May 1999. The U.S. interpretation of the accord is contained in a Note for the Record and the U.S. commitments to Israel are contained in a letter from Secretary of State Christopher to Prime Minister Netanyahu. The Knesset approved the Protocol on 16 January by a vote of 87 to 17, the Labour opposition voting with the government. Text: