Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum (1999)

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The Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum, full name: The Sharm el Sheikh Memorandum on Implementation Timeline of Outstanding Commitments of Agreements Signed and the Resumption of Permanent Status Negotiations was a memorandum signed on September 4, 1999 by Prime Minister of Israel Ehud Barak and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat at Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, overseen by the United States represented by Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. The memorandum was witnessed and co-signed by President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt and King Abdullah of Jordan.

Its purpose was to implement the Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (Oslo II) of September 1995 and to implement all other agreements between the PLO and Israel since Septemebr 1993: (Protocol on Economic Relations 1994; 1994 Cairo Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, 1994 Washington Declaration, Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities Between Israel and the PLO 1994); Protocol on Further Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities 1995)

The two sides agreed to:

  1. To resume the Permanent Status negotiations to achieve the goal of reaching a Permanent Status Agreement. They reaffirmed that the negotiations on the Permanent Status will lead to the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. They agreed to make a determined effort to conclude a Framework Agreement and setting a timetable to achieve these goals.
  2. In phase one and phase two of further redeployments, the Israeli side undertook that on September 5, 1999, to transfer 7% from Area C to Area B; on November 15, 1999, to transfer 2% from Area B to Area A and 3% from Area C to Area B; on January 20, 2000, to transfer 1% from Area C to Area A, and 5.1% from Area B to Area A. (Note: Area A - full control of the Palestinian Authority. Area B - Palestinian civil control, Israeli military control. Area C - full Israeli control.)
  3. Discussed issues relating to the release of Palestinian prisoners from Israeli military jails.
  4. Various committees will be set up to monitor redployments and the return to civilian life.
  5. Safe passage routes and crossing points were to be negotiated and implemented
  6. Needs for the peaceful and normal functioning of the Gaza sea port and airport
  7. Issues realting to Hebron which imentions that a A high level Joint Liaison Committee will convene not later than September 13, 1999 to review the situation in the Tomb of the Patriarchs / Al Haram Al Ibrahimi
  8. Security issues: "The two Sides will, in accordance with the prior agreements, act to ensure the immediate, efficient and effective handling of any incident involving a threat or act of terrorism, violence or incitement, whether committed by Palestinians or Israelis..."
  9. The two sides called upon the international donor community to enhance its commitment and financial support to the Palestinian economic development and the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
  10. Recognizing the necessity to create a positive environment for the negotiations, 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.
  11. Obligations pertaining to dates, which occur on holidays or Saturdays, shall be carried out on the first subsequent working day.

To sum up:

In an effort to break the deadlocked Israel-PA negotiations, the parties met in Sharm el-Sheikh in the presence of Secretary Albright, President Mubarak and King Abdullah, and signed an agreement which called for the Israeli withdrawal from a further 11% of the West Bank; the release of 350 Palestinian prisoners; the opening of safe passages between the West Bank and Gaza; and a seaport to be built in Gaza. There was also a timetable for final status talks to deal with Jerusalem, borders, refugees and settlements. A framework agreement on permanent status (FAPS) was to be achieved by February 2000 and permanent agreement by September 2000. [1]


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