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GAZA-JERICHO AGREEMENT - LETTERS
Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak
Rabin:
May 4, 1994
Yitzhak Rabin
Prime Minister of Israel
Mr. Prime Minister,
With regard to the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, signed
in Cairo on May 4, 1994 (hereinafter 'the Agreement'), the PLO hereby
confirms the following:
- The PLO undertakes to ensure that the Palestinian Authority,
including the Palestinian Police and other Palestinian Authority agencies,
will function in accordance with the Agreement, and that the Palestinian
Authority will activate the coordination and cooperation mechanism in a
timely manner.
- The PLO undertakes to cooperate with Israel, and to assist it, in its
efforts to locate and to return to Israel Israeli soldiers who are missing
in action and the bodies of killed soldiers which have not been
recovered.
- The PLO undertakes to submit to the next meeting of the Palestinian
National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the
Palestinian Covenant, as undertaken in the letter dated September 9, 1993
signed by the Chairman of the PLO and addressed to the Prime Minister of
Israel.
- When Chairman Arafat enters the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, he will
use the title 'Chairman (Ra'ees in Arabic) of the Palestinian Authority' or
'Chairman of the PLO', and will not use the title 'President of
Palestine.'
- Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status
of the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area pending the outcome of the permanent
status negotiations.
- Pursuant to Article IV, paragraph 3, of the Agreement, the PLO shall
inform the Government of Israel of the names of the members of the
Palestinian Authority in a letter that shall be provided within a week of
signing the Agreement. The appointment of these members to the Palestinian
Authority shall take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and
the Government of Israel. Changes in the membership of the Palestinian
Authority will take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and
the Government of Israel.
- Immediately after the conclusion of the Agreement, early empowerment
negotiations will commence pursuant to Article VI of the Declaration of
Principles, and the two sides will explore possible expansion of the scope
of these negotiations beyond the five spheres.
- The two sides will intensify the negotiations on the interim
arrangements consistant with the Declaration of Principles and guided by its
target date.
- The two sides reiterate their commitment to commence permanent status
negotiations as soon as possible, but no later than the beginning of the
third year of the interim period, as provided for in Article V of the
Declaration of Principles.
- As regards the relations between Israel and the PLO, and without
derogating from the commitments contained in the letters dated September 9,
1993 signed by and exchanged between the Prime Minister of Israel and the
Chairman of the PLO, the two sides will apply between them the provisions
contained in Article XII, paragraph 1, with the necessary changes.
- The two Parties shall, within one month of signing the Agreement, invite
the Governments of Jordan and Egypt to establish the Continuing Committee
referred to in Article XII of the Declaration of Principles and in Article
XVI of the Agreement.
- The Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority shall pass all
necessary legislation to implement the Agreement.
- The two Parties shall continue discussions on the following issues:
- the size of the Jericho Area;
- the positioning of a Palestinian official at the bridge;
- additional arrangement in the Rafah passage; and
- all outstanding issues specified in the Agreement.
Sincerely,
Yasser Arafat
Chairman
The Palestinian Liberation Organization
Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser
Arafat:
May 4, 1994
Yasser Arafat
Chairman
The Palestine Liberation Organization
Mr. Chairman,
The Government of the State of Israel has the honor to acknowledge
receipt of your letter of today's date which reads as follows:
"With regard to the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, signed
in Cairo on May 4, 1994 (hereinafter 'the Agreement'), the PLO hereby
confirms the following:
- The PLO undertakes to ensure that the Palestinian Authority,
including the Palestinian Police and other Palestinian Authority agencies,
will function in accordacne with the Agreement, and that the Palestinian
Authority will activate the coordination and cooperation mechanism in a
timely manner.
- The PLO undertakes to cooperate with Israel, and to assist it, in its
efforts to locate and to return to Israel Israeli soldiers who are missing
in action and the bodies of killed soldiers which have not been
recovered.
- The PLO undertakes to submit to the next meeting of the Palestinian
National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the
Palestinian Covenant, as undertaken in the letter dated September 9, 1993
signed by the Chairman of the PLO and addressed to the Prime Minister of
Israel.
- When Chairman Arafat enters the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, he will
use the title 'Chairman (Ra'ees in Arabic) of the Palestinian Authority' or
'Chairman of the PLO', and will not use the title 'President of
Palestine.'
- Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status
of the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area pending the outcome of the permanent
status negotiations.
- Pursuant to Article IV, paragraph 3, of the Agreement, the PLO shall
inform the Government of Israel of the names of the members of the
Palestinian Authority in a letter that shall be provided within a week of
signing the Agreement. The appointment of these members to the Palestinian
Authority shall take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and
the Government of Israel. Changes in the membership of the Palestinian
Authority will take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and
the Government of Israel.
- Immediately after the conclusion of the Agreement, early empowerment
negotiations will commence pursuant to Article VI of the Declaration of
Principles, and the two sides will explore possible expansion of the scope
of these negotiations beyond the five spheres.
- The two sides will intensify the negotiations on the interim
arrangements consistant with the Declaration of Principles and guided by its
target date.
- The two sides reiterate their commitment to commence permanent status
negotiations as soon as possible, but no later than the beginning of the
third year of the interim period, as provided for in Article V of the
Declaration of Principles.
- As regards the relations between Israel and the PLO, and without
derogating from the commitments contained in the letters dated September 9,
1993 signed by and exchanged between the Prime Minister of Israel and the
Chairman of the PLO, the two sides will apply between them the provisions
contained in Article XII, paragraph 1, with the necessary changes.
- The two Parties shall, within one month of signing the Agreement, invite
the Governments of Jordan and Egypt to establish the Continuing Committee
referred to in Article XII of the Declaration of Principles and in Article
XVI of the Agreement.
- The Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority shall pass all
necessary legislation to implement the Agreement.
- The two Parties shall continue discussions on the following issues:
- the size of the Jericho Area;
- the positioning of a Palestinian official at the bridge;
- additional arrangement in the Rafah passage; and
- all outstanding issues specified in the Agreement."
The Government of the State of Israel acknowledges and confirms the
undertakings and commitments contained in this letter.
Sincerely,
Yitzhak Rabin
Prime Minister of Israel
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