Main Points of Gaza-Jericho Agremeent

5/4/1994

GAZA-JERICHO AGREEMENT

MAIN POINTS OF THE GAZA-JERICHO AGREEMENT
May 4, 1994

1. Security Arrangements and Withdrawal of Israeli Forces

Under the security concept applied to Gaza and Jericho, these areas are regarded as within an Israeli security 'envelope'. This envelope is meant to provide for security from external threats along the boundaries. Within this envelope, internal security responsibilities are divided between Israel and the Palestinians. While Israel remains responsible for Israelis and settlements, the Palestinians are now responsible for public order and internal security of Palestinians.

The Security annex of the Gaza-Jericho Agreement contains the following points:

Withdrawal of Israeli Forces: As part of the Gaza-Jericho accord, Israeli military forces have withdrawn from the areas of Gaza and Jericho, in coordination with a newly established Joint Israeli- Palestinian Security Coordination and Cooperation Committee. This committee is designed to deal with joint security issues, to exchange information and to provide guidance for the District Coordination Offices. Israeli forces have been redeployed to specified areas, such as the Military Installation Area along the Egyptian border and Israeli settlements, in order to fulfill security functions as defined in the agreement. This withdrawal was completed on May 18, 1994.

Security of Israelis: The Agreement includes arrangements for protection of the Israeli settlements and the settlement blocs within the Gaza Strip, including Gush Katif, Erez and other areas. The Israel Defense Forces will patrol the whole of the common security fence surrounding the bloc for its protection. Some Palestinian land surrounding the settlements remains under Israeli security responsibility and some restrictions apply regarding building and other matters.

Security on Roads: Israel has full operational authority for the security of Israelis travelling on the principal routes leading to the settlements and the adjacent areas. Joint Israeli-Palestinian patrols and mobile units will be established in order to ensure free, unimpeded and secure movement on the roads.

External Security: Israel maintains security control and supervision over the entry of persons, vehicles and weapons at all points of entry. Israel retains security control of the sea as well as control and supervision over all air space.

Safe Passage: Israel will ensure 'safe passage' for Palestinian persons and transportation between the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area during daylight hours.

Palestinian Security: The Palestinian Police will operate under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority and will be responsible for internal security and public order. It will include 9,000 policemen, 7,000 of whom may come from abroad. The Palestinians will act to prevent terror against Israelis in the areas under their control.

Palestinian Prisoner Release: Some 5,000 Palestinian prisoners who have not participated in anti-Israeli terrorist attacks resulting in fatalities will be released. Those prisoners who have been arrested for terrorist activities carried out since the DOP was signed, and prisoners associated with anti-peace movements such as HAMAS and Islamic Jihad will not be among those released.

2. Transfer of Civil Affairs

In accordance with the Gaza-Jericho agreement, the Israeli Civil Administration in Gaza and the Jericho area has been dissolved and its powers and responsibilities transferred to the Palestinian Authority in the following civilian spheres, detailed in Annex II:

education
nature reserves
insurance
public works
housing
social welfare
tourism
parks
postal services
telecommunication
archaeology
religious affairs
commerce & industry
water and sewage
employee pensions
planning & zoning
transportation
health
agriculture
environmental protection
direct taxation
population registry
employment and documentation
electricity

treasury

A Joint Civil Affairs Coordination and Cooperation Committee has been established in order to coordinate between the Palestinian Authority and Israel on civil matters. Other matters to be coordinated include issues regarding infrastructure, questions regarding passage in and to/from the autonomous areas and general contacts between the two sides.

3. Legal Matters

The jurisdiction of the Palestinian legal authority extends to all matters falling within its territorial, functional and personal jurisdiction as described in the agreement. This jurisdiction does not extend to Israeli citizens, Israeli settlements or to areas of responsibility not transferred to the Palestinians, such as foreign relations. The Annex III provides specific arrangements in relation to the exercise of this jurisdiction in criminal and civil matters, including the following points

The jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority covers all criminal offenses committed in the areas under its territorial jurisdiction.
Israel has sole criminal jurisdiction over offenses committed in the settlements and the Military Installation Area, and over offenses committed throughout the Gaza-Jericho area by Israelis.
Israel and the Palestinian Authority shall cooperate and provide each other with legal assistance in criminal matters including the exchange of information, records of criminal suspects, vehicle ownership registration, and the like.
Both Israel and the Palestinian Authority may ask for a transfer of suspects or defendants that fall under their jurisdiction.
The Palestinian courts and judicial authorities have jurisdiction in all civil matters.
The Palestinians have no jurisdiction over civil actions in which an Israeli is a party unless that action relates to property in the autonomous area, or an ongoing Israeli business located in the autonomous area, or the Israeli in question has consented to such jurisdiction.

4. Economic Relations

The economic aspects of the Gaza-Jericho agreement were negotiated and concluded in Paris, and appear in the agreement as Annex IV. The annex deals with the extensive economic ties between Israel and the Palestinian Authority, including issues such as import/export, monetary policy, taxation, and the Palestinian work force employed in Israel. The annex contains the following main points:

Import Policy: Under the Gaza-Jericho agreement, Israel and the Palestinian Authority will have an import policy basically similar in all respects regarding imports and customs. Nonetheless, the Palestinian Authority will be able to import mutually agreed goods at customs rates differing from those prevailing in Israel. It will also be permitted to import goods from Arab countries in agreed limited quantities.
Local Markets and Tourism: There will be free movement of goods manufactured in the autonomous areas. Agricultural produce from the autonomous areas will enter Israel freely with the exception of tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, eggs, and broilers (chickens) for which there will be import quotas. Tourists will move freely between Israel and the autonomous areas.
Monetary Policy: The Palestinian Authority will establish a monetary authority whose main functions will be the regulation and supervision of the banks operating in the area.
Taxation: The Palestinian Tax Administration will conduct its own direct tax policies. Israel will transfer to the Palestinian Authority 75 percent of the revenues from income tax collected from Palestinians employed in Israel. A value added tax (VAT) will be operated by the Palestinian Authority with rates around 15-16 percent.
Labor: The guiding principle in this sphere is to enable mutual movement of labor. The rights of Palestinian workers employed in Israel will be preserved while a social security system is established by the Palestinian Authority.

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