PM RABIN - STATEMENTS ON THE STATUS OF JERUSALEM
1. The following is a statement by Prime Minister Rabin on Israel's TV
Channel 2 - August 1, 1994:
United Jerusalem is the de facto capital of the State of Israel. Even if
the issue of Jerusalem is raised in negotiations, as was agreed in the
Declaration of Principles, and at most no later than two years from now,
we will stand by our clear and unequivocal position: that in any case,
Jerusalem must be united, under Israeli sovereignty and the capital of
Israel. This, then, is the reality, and will remain so in the future as
well.
2. Following are excerpts from an interview with Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin on Israel Radio - June 9, 1994:
Q: What does the Government intend to do in order to prevent the
Palestinians, the PLO, from establishing political facts in Jerusalem?
A: I want to take this opportunity to clarify something which created a
tempest in a teacup. In the Declaration of Principles agreement, we
insisted during the 'Gaza-Jericho first' interim arrangement and during
the second phase that the PLO will have nothing to do with the matter
of a united Jerusalem. We insisted, during this period, the PLO would not
be a partner, and that there would be no dialogue on this issue until
we discuss the permanent status on all matters pertaining to united
Jerusalem under Israeli sovereignty. I believe that there is a broad
national consensus surrounding the issue of Jerusalem, united under
Israeli sovereignty, and the capital of the Jewish people and the State of
Israel.
In my eyes, the order of priorities is the political effort, united
Jerusalem, important parts of Judea and Samaria, the Golan Heights and
Gaza last. Accordingly, we did not want to attach in any form
anything that might imply some status for the PLO or the Palestinian
Authority in any matters related to eastern Jerusalem. Thus, we did not
consent to any letter in this regard that would be directed to the PLO or
submitted to the Knesset not with the Declaration of Principles
agreement and not with 'Gaza-Jericho first.'
At the same time, we stated Israel's position on a given date. The letter
was directed not to the PLO, but to a party who offered his services in
contacts between us and the PLO. The answers both by the Foreign
Minister on 9 September 1993, and in the letter of 11 October were also
sent with my knowledge and participation, and I bear responsibility.
The second thing he said that the issue has been discussed and that he
received the letter in Cairo, at the conclusion of the negotiations on the
'Gaza-Jericho first' agreement is a blatant lie. His whole intention
was to suggest that there was a link between the Declaration of Principles
agreement and the agreement on the implementation of 'Gaza-Jericho first,'
and the Jerusalem issue; and there is no truth to this. It is simply a
lie.
Our positions have been publicly stated in the Knesset. There were no
secrets in them. A letter was sent to the Norwegian Foreign Minister, not
the PLO. We have stood on the principle that the PLO cannot claim that the
agreements achieved, and that will be achieved, concerning the interim
period give any standing to what the PLO does, or will do, in east
Jerusalem.
Q: But what is the Government actually doing, when it is known that the
PLO is trying to create political facts in east Jerusalem?
A: Even before the public storm, two or three weeks ago, we began
discussions on the situation in Jerusalem. Over the years, a number of
bodies that administer services have sprung up in Jerusalem, some
justifiably, for the Palestinian residents in the territories such as
the Supreme Muslim Council, which is responsible for the Temple Mount, a
holy place to which Palestinians from all of Judea, Samaria, and Gaza come
to pray. Since 1967, it has been responsible for religious affairs. There
is a medical institution, Mokassed Hospital, which has existed for years
under various Governments. It provides medical services not only for the
residents of east Jerusalem. There are other areas that do not have any
political significance.
We intend to examine to what extent the PLO has or will attempt to
establish governing bodies in Jerusalem. It is possible, insofar as
applying Israeli law to the united Jerusalem is concerned, that special
legislation will be needed in order to combat this phenomenon. The PLO
undertook an obligation that all governing bodies of the Palestinian
Authority, for the interim period, will be located in Jericho. We will
insist on this, even if special legislation is necessary.