During the middle of October 1998 a summit, hosted by U.S. President
Bill Clinton, was held at Wye River, Maryland. The Israeli delegation
was headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and included Foreign
Minister Ariel Sharon, Defense Minister Yitzhak Mordechai and Minister
of Trade and Industry Natan Sharansky.
As a result of the negotiations,
the Wye River Memorandum was signed by Prime Minister Netanyahu and
Chairman Arafat on October 23, 1998 in a ceremony attended also by King
Hussein of Jordan. The Memorandum consists of steps to facilitate
implementation of the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and Gaza Strip
of September 28, 1995 (the "Interim Agreement") and other related
agreements, including the Note for the Record of January 17, 1997.
The agreement emphasizes reciprocity and addresses specific security
concerns which had been raised by Israel in the past. Attached to the
Memorandum is a "timeline", which outlines, step by step, the
implementation of the mutual undertakings which are incumbent upon each
side. Upon completion of each phase of the Palestinian commitments, Israel
will transfer a specified percentage of land to the Palestinians within
the context of the "further redeployments" as stated in previous
agreements.
Accompanying the memorandum was a letter from Secretary of State
Albright to Prime Minister Netanyahu reiterating the U.S. commitment to
Israeli security and various assurances received from the Palestinians.
This was followed a week later by four letters of assurance from the
U.S. to Israel on various points contained in the memorandum.
The main provisions of the memorandum are as follows:
FURTHER REDEPLOYMENTS:
The Israeli side's implementation of the first and
second further redeployments will consist of the transfer to the
Palestinian side of 13 percent from Area C (1 percent to Area A and 12
percent to Area B) and 14.2 from Area B to Area A.
SECURITY:
1. The Palestinian side will make known its policy of zero tolerance for
terror and violence against both sides.
2. A work plan will be developed by the Palestinians and shared with the
U.S. Implementation of the plan is to begin immediately.
3. In addition to bilateral Israeli-Palestinian security cooperation, a
U.S.-Palestinian committee will meet weekly to review the steps being
taken to eliminate terrorism.
4. The Palestinian side will apprehend specific individuals suspected of
perpetrating acts of violence and terror for the purpose of further
investigation, prosecution and punishment.
5. The Palestinian side will establish and vigorously and continuously
implement a program for the collection and appropriate handling of illegal
firearms.
6. The two sides agree that their security cooperation will be based on a
spirit of partnership and will include:
- Bilateral cooperation
- An exchange of forensic expertise, training and other assistance
- The establishment of a high ranking U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli committee
which will meet not less than on a biweekly basis to assess current
threats and deal with any impediments to security cooperation.
PREVENTING INCITEMENT:
1. The Palestinian side will issue a decree prohibiting all forms of
incitement to violence and terror, and establishing mechanisms for acting
systematically against all expressions or threats of violence or
terror.
2. A U.S.-Palestinian-Israeli committee will meet on a regular basis to
monitor cases of possible incitement to violence or terror and to make
recommendations and reports on how to prevent such incitement. This
committee will be comprised of law enforcement, education and media
specialists as well as current or former elected officials from all of the
sides.
THE PALESTINIAN POLICE FORCE:
1. The Palestinian side will provide a list of its policemen to the
Israeli side in conformity with the prior agreements.
THE PLO CHARTER:
1. The executive committee of the PLO and the Palestinian Central Council
will reaffirm the letter of 22 January from PLO Chairman Arafat to
President Clinton concerning the nullification of the Palestinian National
Charter provisions that are inconsistent with the letters exchanged
between the PLO and the Government of Israel on 9/10 September 1993.
2. PLO Chairman Arafat, the Speaker of the Palestine National Council, and
the Speaker of the Palestinian Council, will invite the members of the
PNC, as well as the members of the Central Council, the Council, and the
Palestinian Heads of Ministries to a meeting to be addressed by President
Clinton to reaffirm their support for the Peace Process and the
aforementioned decisions of the Executive Committee and the Central
Council.
INTERIM COMMITTEES AND ECONOMIC ISSUES:
1. The Israeli and Palestinian sides will launch a strategic economic
dialogue to enhance their economic relationship. They will establish
an Ad Hoc Committee for this purpose within the framework of the
Joint Economic Committee.
2. The Israeli and Palestinian sides have agreed on arrangements which
will permit the timely opening of the Gaza Industrial Estate (at
Karni).
3. The Israeli and Palestinian sides have also concluded a protocol on the
operation of the international airport in the Gaza Strip during the
interim period.
4. Both sides will renew negotiations on "safe passage" (of people and
goods) and will make best efforts to conclude the agreement (regarding the
southern route) within a week of the entry into force of the memorandum.
Operation of the southern route will start as soon as possible thereafter.
As regards the northern route, negotiations will continue with the goal of
reaching agreement as soon as possible.
5. Recognizing the importance of the port of Gaza, both sides commit
themselves to proceeding without delay to conclude an agreement to allow
the construction and operation of the port in accordance with the prior
agreements.
PERMANENT STATUS NEGOTIATIONS:
The two sides will immediately resume permanent status negotiation on an
accelerated basis and will make a determined effort to reach agreement by
May 4, 1999.
UNILATERAL ACTIONS:
Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status
of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in accordance with the Interim
Agreement.