PEACE AND SECURITY
1. PEACE AND THE NEW MIDDLE EAST
The Labour Party aspires to reach a New Middle East in which there will be no more wars and no terrorist acts. Massive economic resources will not be devoted to the arms race and we will live in a Middle East where there is personal and national security, a common market with regional irrigation, tourism, transport and communications systems and cooperation in the fields of culture and science.
The terror of Hizbullah, Hamas and the Islamic Jihad is the enemy of individual freedom in Israel, harming normal life, but not posing a strategic danger to Israel as it is not powerful enough to jeopardize the existence of the nation.
The peace and security policy of Israel will continue, aiming at the cessation of the Arab-Israel conflict by the year 2000.
The end of the conflict will produce a new Middle East. The region will be based on cooperative relations in the various economic sectors, mutual contacts in culture, science and technology, common development of a higher standard of living, the welfare of the communities and the securing of a better future and wide ranging opportunities for future generations in our region.
To reach these goals Israel will continue to negotiate for peace, while simultaneously fighting against the remnants of the old Middle East, the fundamentalist and terrorist forces which seek to destroy the peace process. The new reality will strengthen Israel's security and international standing and will further economic prosperity and the welfare of the nation.
2. THE SECURITY OF ISRAEL
The peace policy of Israel is based upon the deterrent ability of the IDF and its strength. A stable peace is itself an important security factor in the strength of the country. Among other things, this stability is based upon the existence of defensible borders and essential security arrangements, which the Labour Party will present as critical elements in all peace negotiations in the future.
Israel will continue to develop its qualitative advantage over the Arab armies and will give high preference to independent military research and development and to the expansion of the local production of innovative, highly sophisticated military equipment.
The fight against terror and subversion must be a central factor in the peace and security policy of Israel. This struggle will have both an offensive and defensive character. The Israeli government will see itself as free to choose the place, manner, means and timing for the war against terrorism. This battle against terrorism requires a strong stance, sophistication, determination, patience and regional and global commitment. The foundations for this have already been laid by the Labour government.
In the framework of this struggle Israel will continue to act for the increase in international and regional cooperation against terror, as begun at the recent Sharm el-Sheikh Summit, and the agreement between President Clinton and Prime Minister Peres.
Israel will oppose the arming with weapons of mass destruction of any regime with an ideology of hatred and destruction. This primarily includes Iran. The government will act in both regional and international frameworks to prevent the catastrophic link between a fundamentalist ideology and non-conventional weapons.
The IDF will act to secure the existence of the State of Israel, its defense, security and territorial integrity. The national consensus in the employment of the strength of the IDF is an essential national issue, which must be included in all government concerns. The IDF must be excluded from all party political debate.
3. THE PEACE NEGOTIATIONS
On the basis of the breakthrough in the peace process over the past few years, Israel will continue negotiations on a permanent peace with the Palestinian Authority, Syria and Lebanon.
The objective of this negotiation is to reach a comprehensive and long-lasting peace in the region, to strengthen Israel's national security and to permit her to enjoy economic expansion and social and individual welfare.
- 3.1 Final Settlement with the Palestinians:
- The negotiations will be based on the Oslo Accords and Israel will stand by the following principles in the negotiations:
- A united Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, under Israeli jurisdiction.
- Israel will not rule over the Palestinian people.
- The Jordan River will be the eastern security border of Israel and there will be no other army west of it.
- Separation which will answer the needs of security and national identity.
- Sovereignty over the Jordan Valley, Northwest Dead Sea area, the Etzion Bloc and areas essential to the security of Israel.
- Palestinian, Jordanian and Israeli economic cooperation.
- Settlement of the Palestinian refugee problem outside the borders of Israel, rejecting the right to return.
- Maintaining Israeli jurisdiction over most of the Israeli settlers. (No new settlements will be established.)
The permanent solution, arrived at through negotiations, will be brought for approval in a referendum vote.
- 3.2 The Peace Agreement with Syria:
- The Labour Party regards the Golan as a nationally important region to the State of Israel.
The peace negotiations with Syria will continue on the basis of the Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
The agreement we are seeking will be based on secure borders and dependable security arrangements, guaranteed water sources essential to Israel, and the establishment of full, normal relations between the two countries, emphasizing economic cooperation.
The agreement with Syria will accompany agreements with most of the other Arab states. The permanent settlement will be brought to a referendum vote after the negotiations.
- 3.3 The Peace Agreement with Lebanon:
- The agreement will be based on the preservation of the security interests of the state, including the population of the northern areas, while ensuring the eradication of terror.
Israel has no territorial or national ambitions in Lebanon and its aim is to develop normal relations and economic cooperation between the two countries.
Until the establishment of a peace agreement, Israel will continue to defend its northern border by means of the Security Zone in South Lebanon and local forces based up by the IDF and other essential security arrangements.
In the framework of the peace agreement the inclusion of the South Lebanon Army in the Lebanese Army will be assured.
- 3.4 Referendum
- At the conclusion of the negotiations with Syria and the permanent settlement with the Palestinians, and after the government is convinced that the best possible agreements for the State of Israel have been attained, securing its essential interests and ensuring peace and security, the agreements will be brought for the Israeli public's verdict by means of a referendum.
The commitment to hold a referendum will allow the government more flexibility during negotiations, without exposing our positions to our negotiating partners. Taking this step formulates, therefore, a strategy in itself and also a point of principle for the Labour Party, which looks upon the Israeli public as a partner in crucial decision-making in exceptional matters concerning the future of the State of its structure.
4. ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES
The relations between Israel and the United States have reached a peak, in terms of the quality of the relations and the deep friendship between us and the Administration, Congress and the American people.
The government will act to add an extra dimension to these relations with the establishment and the implementation of the Strategic Alliance and the Alliance for War Against Terror between Israel and the United States of America.
The special relationship between the two countries has been nurtured, not only because of strategic interests, but mainly thanks to the common democratic and ethical values shared by them.
Israel greatly appreciates and economic and security assistance which it receives from the United States and the guarantee that its qualitative superiority will be preserved. Israel values the special contribution made by the United States to the peace process in the Middle East.
5. REGIONAL PEACE
The Labour Party views the achievement of regional peace as a fundamental element in its efforts to create a New Middle East.
In this framework, the government will work to continue and strengthen the peaceful relations with our neighbors Egypt and Jordan. Concurrently Israel will continue to deepen the existing relations with Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania, Oman and Qatar, and the elevation of these relations to a higher level. In addition efforts will be made to establish relations with the other Arab countries which are searching for peace.
Israel will act in cooperation with its neighbors to create a positive atmosphere in the public and the media, to deepen the ties and bring the peoples closer together, making the enjoyment of the fruits of peace possible.
The government will act to continue the regional arrangements which are developing common interests between the peoples of the region, and between them and other countries.
In the view of the Labour Party this system of regional cooperation strengthens the peace process and demonstrates its importance in a very practical way, thus increasing stability.
The emphasis will be placed on the economic and security aspects of the peace process and on cooperation in matters such as water resources, ecology, culture, science, technology, etc.
In this framework:
Israel attached great importance to the economic and strategic composition of the Middle East in a time of peace, endeavoring to fashion a new regional reality. In connection with this the government will work towards continuing the formalization of the relations in the region, based on the innovative processes which have been formed in recent years; such as: the multilateral peace process, the conferences of Casablanca, Amman and Barcelona for the promotion of investment in the private sector in the Middle East, the establishment of a regional bank and the development of a regional system of commerce and tourism. In addition the Arab boycott will be ended.
The government will work towards the establishment of cooperation in a regional security organization. In the framework of genuine peace agreements Israel will examine positively regional arms reduction proposals, procedures to decrease armed forces, to create an agreed balance of power to prevent the entry of weapons of mass destruction into the region.
6. ISRAEL'S INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
The developments in the peace process have created a new global relations order for Israel, which has diplomatic relations with 158 countries, and aspires to achieve relations with all the countries of the world.
The government will attempt to realize the potential of the wide-ranging extent of these relations, which can bring the country great benefits. A special emphasis will be placed on the development of international economic and commercial relations between Israel and other countries with expanding economies, in particular in North America, Europe and the Far East.
Israel will, of course, continue to nurture the relations in tourism with the countries in all the different parts of the world and to strengthen links in the areas of culture, education, science, agriculture, technology and medicine.
Israel wishes to become a country which contributed more actively from the considerable experience it has accumulated, for the benefit of underdeveloped countries.
The government will also aspire to deepen understanding and dialogue between religions, to contribute to greater respect between peoples.
7. JERUSALEM
Jerusalem, capital of the State of Israel and the focal point of the Jewish people, will remain united and undivided, under Israeli sovereignty.
In the course of peace negotiations the government will maintain its position that the area surrounding Jerusalem, including Ma'ale Adumim, Giv'at Ze'ev, the Etzion Bloc and the area northwest of the Dead Sea will remain under Israeli jurisdiction.
The government led by the Labour Party will guarantee continuation of the freedom of access, the freedom of expression and the freedom of worship in the holy places in Jerusalem, to people of all nations and religions. In Jerusalem, the holy city for millions of believers in different religions, all over the world, the special religious status of the Islamic and Christian holy places will be guaranteed.
Tolerance and patience will continue to be the basic principles guiding the government and the municipality. The government will view the precept of provision of equal services, while taking into account the special needs of a divergent population, an important and central goal in the consolidation of the unity of Jerusalem.
The government regards as a responsibility and obligation, by law, to respect the civil and religious rights of all the parts of the population of the city, with no discrimination between religion and nationality, to provide for the needs of all the inhabitants.
The government will spare no effort to ensure the personal security of all the people living in Jerusalem and the visitors to the city.
Protection of the unique social pattern in Jerusalem requires special efforts in the fields of education, culture, welfare and housing, to provide for the special needs of the diverse populations in the city. The government will foster the social elements with particular importance, development of local enhancement of the standard of living, society and ecology of the capital of Israel and will make special efforts to reduce poverty and to help the poor of the city.
The government of Israel headed by the Labour Party will make the necessary funds available to the municipality to continue the development of the infrastructure in all parts of the city. It will also ensure that the living conditions, mortgages and other incentives in Jerusalem will be equivalent to those in other areas of the region.
The government will encourage the establishment of new enterprises in the city, the expansion of the industrial areas, as a designated development area and will promote the activities of scientific research and medical institutions in the city, while allocating resources for this.
Jerusalem will be a magnet attracting the youth who will be proud to be among its citizens and never abandon it.