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American bridging proposal
("Ha'aretz", December 25, 2000)
Following are the main elements of the American bridging proposal as published by "Ha'aretz" - December 25, 2000:
Jerusalem. Arab neighborhoods will become part of Palestine, Jewish neighborhoods will remain part of Israel. On the Temple Mount, the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock and the plaza between them will be under Palestinian sovereignty, but the Palestinians will be forbidden to conduct archaeological digs there and will have to acknowledge the Jewish connection to the site. The Western Wall, the Jewish Quarter of the Old City and most of the Armenian Quarter will remain Israeli. The entire Old City will be open, with no border controls. Jerusalem will be the capital of both countries.
Refugees. Palestinian refugees will be granted the right to return to their "homeland," which will be defined in the agreement as the Palestinian state. There will be no right of return to Israel, but Israel will absorb tens of thousands of refugees on a humanitarian basis. An international framework, in which Israel will participate, will be set up for compensating and resettling the refugees. The agreement will recognize Israel as the historic homeland of the Jewish people.
Borders. The border will be the June 4, 1967 lines, with minor adjustments, for which Israel will compensate the Palestinians with territory in the Negev. The Palestinians will control some 95 percent of the West Bank; about 80 percent of the settlers will be annexed to Israel, with territorial contiguity between Israel and the annexed settlements. Israel will guarantee a "safe passage" between Gaza and the West Bank.
The Washington talks did not discuss evacuating settlements, but sources in Prime Minister Ehud Barak's office said that all settlements not annexed will be evacuated.
Finality. Upon signing the agreement, both sides will declare "an end to the conflict." The agreement will be implemented in two stages, the first lasting three years and the second, six years. When implementation is complete, the Palestinians will announce that they have no further claims against Israel.
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