International treaties and the occupation’s renunciation: Netanyahu and the Israeli right considered the Oslo international agreements and other agreements and treaties to be the fundamental mistake, describing them as having been brought by the most anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish people, according to what Israeli media and political sources revealed.
The Oslo Accords, or Oslo Treaty or Oslo I, officially known as the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, is a peace agreement signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington, DC, on September 13, 1993 , in the presence of then- US President Bill Clinton . The agreement is named after the Norwegian capital, Oslo , where secret talks took place in 1991 that led to the Madrid Conference .
The Oslo Accords, signed on September 13 , 1993 , were the first direct formal agreement between Israel, represented by its then Foreign Minister Shimon Peres , and the Palestine Liberation Organization , represented by the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee, Yasser Arafat . The Declaration of Principles and the exchange of letters marked a turning point in the relationship between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel, under which the parties committed themselves to the following:
Yasser Arafat also sent a letter to the then Norwegian Foreign Minister Johan Jørgen Holst, confirming that he would include in his public statements a position of the PLO calling on the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to participate in the steps leading to the normalization of life, reject violence and terrorism, contribute to peace and stability, and participate effectively in reconstruction, economic development, and cooperation.
The Declaration of Principles provides for the establishment of a Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority ( later known as the Palestinian National Authority ) and an elected Legislative Council for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip , for a transitional period not exceeding five years, until a permanent settlement is reached based on UN Resolutions 242 and 338. [ 1] Not later than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.
The agreement stipulated that these negotiations would cover the remaining issues, including Jerusalem , refugees , settlements, security arrangements, borders, relations and cooperation with other neighbors.
These agreements were followed by more agreements, treaties and protocols such as the Gaza-Jericho Agreement and the Paris Economic Protocol, which were included in a subsequent treaty called Basel II .
One of the most important provisions of the agreement
The PLO renounces terrorism and violence (prevents armed resistance against Israel) and deletes the articles in its charter that relate to it, such as armed action and the destruction of Israel (Exchanged letters – First letter)
The full terms of the agreement :
The Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, commonly known as the Oslo II Accord or Oslo II Accord, is a pivotal and complex agreement in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process . Because the agreement was signed in Taba , it is sometimes called the Taba Agreement. The agreement envisioned the establishment of a Palestinian interim self-government in the Palestinian territories, but it did not include a promise of an independent Palestinian state. Oslo II established Areas A , B, and C in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority was granted some limited powers and responsibilities in Areas A and B, with the possibility of holding negotiations on a final settlement in accordance with Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. The agreement was officially signed in Washington on September 28, 1995, and was preceded by bloody events that left an impact on it, including the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre and several suicide bombings that shook the heart of Israel, followed by the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin .
Historical context
Oslo II was signed first in Taba (in the Sinai Peninsula , Egypt ) by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on September 24, 1995 and then four days later on September 28, 1995 by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and witnessed by U.S. President Bill Clinton and representatives of Russia , Egypt , Jordan , Norway , and the European Union in Washington, D.C.
The agreement is based on the fundamentals of the Oslo I Interim Agreement, formally known as the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements , which was formally signed on September 13, 1993 by Israel and the PLO, with Rabin and Arafat shaking hands in Washington, D.C., and officially witnessed by the United States and Russia.
The three previous agreements were cancelled :
The Oslo II Accords are called the Interim Agreement because they were intended to be the basis for subsequent negotiations, and to pave the way for a final comprehensive peace agreement. Following Oslo II , various additional agreements were reached , but the negotiations did not result in a final peace agreement.
Objective of the agreement
The preamble to the agreement speaks of peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity and security, while recognizing the common legitimate and political rights of the two parties. The aim of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, among other goals, is to establish a Palestinian Interim Self-Government for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, for a transitional period not exceeding five years, leading to a permanent settlement in accordance with Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
As soon as possible but not later than May 4, 1996, negotiations on permanent status shall begin, leading to the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, settling all major issues .
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the main goal of the interim agreement is to expand Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank through an elected self-governing authority to allow the Palestinians to manage their internal affairs, reduce points of friction between Israelis and Palestinians, and open a new space for cooperation and coexistence based on common interests, dignity and mutual respect. At the same time, both parties took into account the external security as well as the personal security of their citizens in the West Bank.
Parties to the agreement
The Israeli occupation and the Palestine Liberation Organization , and it was signed by the United States of America , the Russian Federation , the European Union , the Kingdom of Norway , and the Arab Republic of Egypt .
Summary of the agreement
The agreement divided the Palestinian territories into (A, B, and C), defining the areas under the rule of the Authority, the areas subject to Israel, and so on. The agreement stipulated Israel’s withdrawal from six major Arab cities and 400 villages at the beginning of 1996, the election of 82 members of the Legislative Council, and the release of detainees in Israeli prisons .
It included confirmation of what was mentioned in previous agreements and the security arrangements and crossings, and made special arrangements for Hebron to protect 400 Jewish settlers. It is assumed that the Oslo II agreement will be the second stage, which will be followed by the final status negotiations.
The text of the agreement is 314 pages long and contains seven protocols, which are :
The interim agreement did not include anything to limit the continued construction of settlements in the West Bank in general and in Jerusalem in particular, nor did it define the borders of Palestinian cities and villages. While the text of the agreement defined Area A with specific boundaries for some cities, and Area B with specific boundaries for most villages, it defined Area C as the West Bank below A and B (as stated in Article 11, Clause 3, Paragraph C, p. 15: “Area C means the areas of the West Bank outside Areas A and B.” Article 22 of Annex III to the agreement states that “the powers and authorities in the field of land registration in the West Bank and Gaza will be transferred from the Israeli military government to the Palestinian side, including, among other things: land and real estate registration; initial land registration; registration of court decisions…”), the rest of the text places restrictions that give the Israeli side a kind of veto right if it so desires. For example, Area C (which is the majority of the West Bank and Gaza) is excluded until the subsequent stages of redeployment (Clause 2, Article 22, Annex 3, p. 154).
The third clause refers to the need to respect the legal rights of Israelis in this regard (it is worth noting that these rights are not generally known to the Palestinian side). The fourth clause of the same article refers to the right of any Israeli or any Israeli entity to object to any Palestinian decision regarding the subject of land registration within a period specified in the text, which requires that the matter be referred to a “joint committee,” and this joint committee decides whether or not to approve the implementation of the Palestinian decision that is the subject of the objection.
In paragraph 4 of Article XXII, Annex III, “The Joint Committee will meet within fourteen days of the filing of the objection to examine all aspects of the matter and decide whether to approve the implementation of the measures on the subject in respect of which the objection was filed.” To complete the circle, the same clause indicates that the Palestinian side must provide information to the Israelis regarding any new measures in this regard: “The Palestinian side will provide, at the earliest opportunity, through the Liaison Committee, information regarding any decision or any request for implementation of registration (including initial registration that may affect the rights of Israelis).
The main aspect in which the agreement allows the Palestinian side the right to basic facts in its interest is represented primarily in the issue of elections, as the agreement refers to the election of a council consisting of 82 members. Without going into details, it gives the possibility of a kind of separation between the legislative, executive and judicial authorities. Therefore, the size of the council and its powers have some parliamentary features that create a kind of popular legitimacy, and may constitute the beginning of a system of accountability and the restructuring of the Palestinian political system, after the current system began to collapse. This is despite the existence of loopholes in the issue of elections, as there is a general positivity in the issue represented in the centrality and unity of elections; this is an issue related to the political unity of the Palestinian people.
If we move to another standard for evaluation , which is the standard of the Oslo Accords, which considers this agreement an application of its second part, we find that the ceiling of this agreement is lower than the ceiling of the Oslo Accords in many aspects, and we will try to provide examples of them below: The most prominent examples come in the field of transferring some issues, which the Oslo Accords stipulated as issues of the transitional phase, to the final negotiations stage; and the most prominent example of this is the postponement of the second phase of redeployment to be negotiated in the final negotiations. The third clause of Article Thirteen, entitled (Redeployment of Israeli Forces), states the following: “Additional redeployment to specific locations will be implemented gradually with the transfer of powers in public order and internal security to the Palestinian police.”
In the current agreement, this issue has been postponed to the final negotiations; as stated in Article 1, Clause 10 of Annex I (Redeployment and Security Arrangements): “ The specific security locations… referred to in this agreement will be determined in the subsequent redeployment phase at a time specified not later than 18 months from the inauguration of the Council. They will be negotiated in the final status negotiations.” Other examples that we will mention in passing: The Oslo Agreement allows for redeployment in all populated areas, and does not refer to a gradual process, while this agreement referred to redeployment in specific population locations, not all of them, and also in a gradual manner, meaning that what the Oslo Agreement referred to as the first phase of redeployment was divided here into stages. It is well known that Israel adopted the staged approach in order to move to a new stage only if it was comfortable (according to its standards) with the implementation of the previous stage, and this is what the experience of the previous agreement ( Gaza-Jericho ) indicated.
But perhaps the general and blatant contradiction between the Oslo Accords and what is supposed to be their implementation becomes apparent when we recall the text of Article 4 of the Declaration of Principles, which states: “The jurisdiction of the Council will cover the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, except for the issues that will be negotiated in the permanent status negotiations. The two parties view the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a single territorial unit, the unity and integrity of which will be preserved during the interim period.”
Text of the agreement
A- Israel will transfer powers and responsibilities as specified in this Agreement from the Israeli military government and its Civil Administration to the Council in accordance with this Agreement, and Israel will continue to exercise powers and responsibilities not so transferred.
B- Until the Council is installed, the powers and responsibilities transferred to the Council will be exercised by the Palestinian Authority established under the Gaza-Jericho Agreement, which will also have all the rights, responsibilities and duties imposed on the Council in this regard. Accordingly, the term “Council” throughout this Agreement will be interpreted – until the Council is installed – to mean the Palestinian Authority.
C- The transfer of powers and responsibilities to the police force established by the Palestinian Council, in accordance with Article XIV below, (hereinafter referred to as “the Palestinian Police”) will be accomplished in a phased manner, as detailed in this Agreement and in the Protocol on Security and Redeployment Arrangements attached to this Agreement.
C- With regard to the transfer and assumption of authority in civil areas, the powers and responsibilities will be transferred and assumed as stipulated in the Civil Relations Protocol attached to this Agreement.
C- After the installation of the Council, the Civil Administration in the West Bank will be dissolved, and the Israeli military government will withdraw. The withdrawal of the military government will not limit its exercise of the powers and responsibilities not transferred to the Council.
h- A Joint Civil Affairs Coordination and Cooperation Committee (hereinafter “CAC”) will be established, as will two Joint Civil Affairs Subcommittees, one for the Gaza Strip and the other for the West Bank, and Regional Civil Liaison Offices, to provide coordination and cooperation in civil matters between the Council and Israel. g- The Council’s offices, the offices of its Chairman and Executive Authority, and other committees located in the areas under Palestinian jurisdiction will be established in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
A- In order for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to govern according to democratic principles, direct and free general political elections will be held for the Council and the President of the Executive Authority, in accordance with the provisions set forth in the attached Elections Protocol.
B- These elections will constitute an important transitional preliminary step towards achieving the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and their just demands, and will provide a democratic basis for establishing Palestinian institutions.
T- The Palestinians of Jerusalem who live there may participate in the election process, in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement, and in Article VI of the Second Interim Annex in “Election Arrangements with Respect to Jerusalem.”
C- The President of the Palestinian Authority will announce elections immediately after the signing of this agreement, which will be implemented at the earliest practical time, after the redeployment of Israeli forces, and consistent with the requirements of the election timetable, the Elections Law.
1 – The Palestinian Council and the President of the Executive Authority of the Council shall constitute the interim self-government authority of the Palestinian people, which shall be elected by the Palestinian people of the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip for the transitional period agreed upon in Annex 1 of the Declaration of Principles.
2- The Council will have legislative and executive powers in accordance with Articles 7 and 9 of the Declaration of Principles, and will be responsible for all legislative and executive powers and responsibilities transferred to it under this Agreement, exercising legislative powers will be in accordance with Article 18 of this Agreement (Legislative Powers of the Council).
2- The Council and the Head of the Executive Authority of the Council shall be directly and simultaneously elected by the Palestinian people in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Election Law and Regulations, which shall not be in violation of the provisions of this Agreement.
4- The members of the Council and the head of the Executive Authority of the Council will be elected for a transitional period not exceeding five years from the date of signing the Gaza-Jericho Agreement signed on May 4, 1994. Immediately after his inauguration, the Council will elect from among its members a Speaker. The Speaker will chair the Council’s meetings, manage it and its committees, approve the agenda of each meeting, and present proposals for voting and announcing the results to the Council.
5 – The Council’s mandate shall be as specified in Article 17 of this Agreement (the mandate).
6- The organization, structure and function of the Council shall be determined by this Agreement and by the Basic Law of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority, which shall be adopted by the Council. The Basic Law and any regulations established under it shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
7- The Council will be responsible, through its executive powers, for the offices, services and departments transferred to it, and it can establish – in accordance with its mandate – ministries, bodies and sub-bodies, based on its needs to carry out its responsibilities.
8- The Speaker will submit, for the approval of the Council, proposed internal procedural regulations to govern, among other things, the Council’s decision-making processes and other matters.
The Palestinian Council will consist of 82 representatives and the head of the executive authority, who will be directly and simultaneously elected by the Palestinian people in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
1 – The Council shall have a committee that shall exercise the executive powers of the Council, and shall be formed in accordance with Article Four below (hereinafter the Executive Authority).
2- The Executive Authority shall be given the executive powers of the Council, and shall exercise them on behalf of the Council, and shall determine its own internal procedures and decision-making processes.
3- The Council will publish the names of the members of the Committee/Executive Authority immediately after their initial appointment and any subsequent changes.
A. The Head of the Executive Authority shall be, by virtue of his office, a member of the Executive Authority.
b. All other members of the Executive Committee/Authority, except as provided in subparagraph (c) below, shall be members of the Council, and shall be selected and proposed to the Council by the Chief Executive and by decision of the Council.
C. The Head of the Executive Authority shall have the right to appoint some persons, provided that their number does not exceed 20% of the total members of the Executive Authority, who are not members of the Council in order to exercise executive powers and to participate in government work. The appointed members do not have the right to vote in Council meetings.
D. Non-elected members of the Executive Authority shall have a valid address in an area under the jurisdiction of the Council.
1 – The Council may form small committees to facilitate the Council’s work procedures and assist in controlling the activity of the executive authority.
2- Each committee will establish its own procedures for decision-making, within the general framework of the organization and structure of the Council.
1 – All sessions of the Council and its committees, with the exception of meetings of the executive authority, shall be open to the public, unless the Council or the relevant committee decides otherwise on the grounds of security, commercial, or personal secrets.
2- Participation in the discussions of the Council, its committees, and the discussions of the executive authority will be limited only to members of each of them. Experts may be invited to such meetings to talk about specific issues and for the aforementioned purpose.
Any person or organization affected by any activity or decision issued by the Chairman of the Executive Authority of the Council, or by any member of the Executive Authority, and who believes that such activity or decision exceeds the authority of the Chairman of the Council or the member, or is incorrect in law or procedure, may apply to the competent Palestinian Court of Justice for review of such activity or decision.
A- Based on the Declaration of Principles, the Council will not have powers and responsibilities in the sphere of international relations, which includes the establishment abroad of embassies, consulates or other missions or posts or permitting their establishment in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, or the appointment or admission of diplomatic staff or the exercise of diplomatic functions.
B- Despite the provisions of this clause, the Palestine Liberation Organization may conduct negotiations through which it may sign agreements with countries or international organizations for the benefit of the Council in the following matters only:
1- Economic agreements as clearly stipulated in Annex V of this Agreement.
2- Agreements with donor countries to implement arrangements for providing assistance to the Council.
3- Agreements for the implementation of regional development plans as set out in Annex IV of the Declaration of Principles or in agreements entered into within the framework of multilateral negotiations.
4- Cultural, scientific, or educational agreements.
C- Transactions between the Council and representatives of states and international organizations, in addition to the establishment of representative offices in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, other than those mentioned in paragraph “A” above, for the purpose of implementing the agreements stipulated in paragraph “B” above, will not be considered international relations.
C- Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Council will have – within its powers – an independent judicial system for Palestinian courts and governmental bodies.
1- The first phase of the redeployment of Israeli military forces will cover populated areas in the West Bank – cities, villages, refugee camps, and hamlets, as stipulated in Annex I, and will be completed before the eve of the Palestinian elections, in other words, 22 days before Election Day.
2- Subsequent redeployment of Israeli military forces to specified military locations – will begin immediately after the inauguration of the Council, will be implemented gradually in conjunction with the assumption by the Palestinian Police of responsibilities for public order and internal security, and will be completed within 18 months of the inauguration of the Council as set out in Articles (11 “Land”) and (13 “Security”) below and Annex I.
3- The Palestinian police will be deployed and will assume the tasks of public order and internal security for the Palestinians in a phased manner based on Article (“13” Security) below and Annex I.
4- Israel will continue to carry out external security responsibilities, in addition to the responsibility for the overall security of Israelis, in order to maintain their internal security and public order.
5- According to the purpose of this Agreement, “Israeli Security Forces” includes the Israeli Police and other Israeli security forces.
Except for the issues that will be negotiated in the final stage negotiations, they will fall under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Council, and this will be done in stages over 18 months from the day of the Council’s inauguration as explained below:
1- Lands in residential areas (Areas A, B), including state lands and Waqf lands, will fall under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority in the first phase of redeployment.
2- All civil powers and responsibilities, including structural organization in Areas A and B as stipulated in Annex III, will be transferred and given to the Palestinian Authority during the first phase of redeployment.
3- In Area B, during the first phase of redeployment, Israel will transfer to the Council civil powers and responsibilities not relating to territory, as set out in Annex III.
4- Further redeployment of Israeli military forces to specified military locations will be implemented gradually in accordance with the Declaration of Principles in three phases, each to be achieved within a period of six months, after the inauguration of the Council, to be completed within 18 months from the date of the inauguration of the Council.
5- During the further redeployment phases, which will be completed within 18 months from the date of the inauguration of the Council, powers and responsibilities relating to territory will be gradually transferred to Palestinian jurisdiction, which will cover the West Bank and the Gaza Strip except for the issues that will be negotiated in the final status negotiations.
6- The specific military locations mentioned in Article X, paragraph “2” above, will be determined in the further phases of redeployment, within a specific time frame ending no later than 18 months from the date of the inauguration of the Council. “B” The two parties agree that the West Bank and Gaza Strip area, which will be negotiated in the final status negotiations, for the purposes of this Agreement and until the completion of the first phase of redeployment:
A. Area “A” means the populated areas drawn with a red line and shaded in brown on the attached map No. “1”.
B. Area “B” means the populated areas drawn with a red line and shaded in yellow on the attached map No. “1”, as well as the areas on which buildings are erected in the ruins listed in the list in Appendix 6 of Annex “1”.
C. Area C means areas in the West Bank outside Areas A and B that will be gradually transferred to Palestinian jurisdiction under this Agreement, except for issues that will be negotiated in the final status negotiations.
1 – In order to ensure public order and internal security for the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Council will establish a strong police force as stipulated in Article 14 below.
Israel will continue to bear the responsibility for defense against external threats: including the responsibility for protecting the Egyptian and Jordanian borders, and defense against external threats from the sea and from the air as well, in addition to the responsibility for the overall security of Israelis in the settlements, in order to ensure their internal security and public order, and it will have the authority to take the necessary steps to meet this responsibility.
2- Agreed security coordination arrangements and mechanisms are set out in Annex I.
3- A Joint Coordination and Cooperation Committee for Mutual Security (hereinafter “JSC”) will be established, in addition to a Joint Regional Security Committee (hereinafter “PSCs”) and Joint District Coordination Offices (hereinafter “DCOs”) as provided for in Annex I.
4- The security arrangements stipulated in this Agreement and in Annex I may be reviewed at the request of either party, and may be amended by mutual agreement of the parties. Specific arrangements for review are included in Annex I.
5- For the purpose of this agreement, “settlements” means in the West Bank – the settlements in Area “C”, and in the Gaza Strip – the Gush Katif and Erez settlements, in addition to other settlements as shown in attached Map No. “2”.
A. Upon completion of the redeployment of Israeli military forces in any district, the Council will assume the powers and responsibilities for internal security and public order in Area A of the district.
B. There will be a complete redeployment of Israeli military forces from Area B, and Israel will transfer to the Council and it will assume responsibility for public order for the Palestinians. Israel will have the overriding responsibility for security in order to protect Israelis and confront the threat of terrorism.
T. In Area B, the Palestinian police will assume responsibility for the public order of the Palestinians, who will be deployed to secure Palestinian needs and requirements as follows:
1- T – The Palestinian Police will form 25 police stations and centers in cities, villages and other places specified in Appendix 2 to Annex I, and as drawn on Map No. 3, the RSC of the West Bank may approve the establishment of other police stations and centers if necessary.
2- T – The Palestinian police will be responsible for handling public order issues in which only Palestinians are involved.
3- T – The Palestinian police will operate freely in populated areas where police stations and centers are located, as stipulated in Clauses (T1) above.
4- T – While the movement of the Palestinian police in uniform in Area “B”, which is outside the areas where there are Palestinian police stations and sites, will be implemented after coordination and approval from the relevant “DCO” three months after the completion of the redeployment from Area “B” to the Palestinian cities and villages in Area “B” on the roads used only by the Palestinians after informing the “DCO”.
5- T – The coordination of such a planned movement before its approval by the authorized “DCO” must include a programmed plan including the number of police personnel, the type and number of weapons and vehicles intended to be used. This must also include details of arrangements to ensure continuous coordination through appropriate communication links, the precise program for the movement of the planned operation within the area, in addition to the intended place and the route used for it, its proposed duration, and the return programs to the police station or center; the Israeli side in the “DCO” will provide the Palestinian side with its response after receiving a request for police movement, in accordance with this paragraph within one day in normal and routine cases or within a period not exceeding two hours in emergency cases.
6- T – The Palestinian police and the Israeli military forces will conduct joint security activities on the main roads as stipulated in Annex I.
7- T – The Palestinian Police will inform the “RSC” of the West Bank of the names of the police personnel, the numbers of the police vehicles, and the serial numbers, regarding each police station or center in Area “B”.
8-T – Further redeployment in Area C and transfer of internal security responsibilities to the Palestinian police in Areas B and C will take place in three stages, each stage continuing after a period of six months, and will be completed 18 months after the inauguration of the Council, except for the issues of final status negotiations and Israel’s overall responsibilities for Israelis and borders.
9- T – The procedures detailed in this clause will be reviewed within six months after the completion of the first phase of redeployment.
1 – The Council shall establish a strong police force. The duties, functions, structure, composition and deployment of the Palestinian Police Force, as well as the provisions relating to its equipment and operation and its rules of conduct are set out in Annex I.
2 – The Palestinian police forces formed under the Gaza-Jericho Agreement will be integrated into the Palestinian Police and will be subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
3 – Except for the Palestinian police and the Israeli military forces, no other armed force will be formed or operate.
4 – Except for the weapons, equipment and devices of the Palestinian Police in Annex I and those of the Israeli military forces, no organization, group or individual in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip may manufacture, sell, possess, own, import or bring in weapons, equipment, explosives, gunpowder or any related devices, except as provided for in Annex I.
1 – The two parties will take the necessary measures to prevent acts of terrorism, crime, and acts of aggression directed against the other party or against individuals under the authority of the other party and against their property, and legal measures will be taken against the perpetrators of such acts.
2 – Specific provisions for the nature of this article are set out in Annex I.
In order to create a positive and supportive general atmosphere to keep pace with the implementation of this agreement, and to build a solid foundation of mutual trust and goodwill, and in order to facilitate the anticipated cooperation and new relations between the two peoples, the two parties agreed to carry out confidence-building measures as described below:-
1 – Israel will release (or transfer to the Palestinian side) detainees and prisoners from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The first stage of the release of these prisoners and detainees will take place upon the signing of this agreement, and the second stage will take place prior to Election Day. There will be a third stage of the release of detainees and prisoners, and they will be released from among the categories detailed in Annex VII (Release of Palestinian Detainees and Prisoners). Those released will be free to return to their homes in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
2 – Palestinians who have established contacts with the Israeli authorities will not be subject to harassment, violence, revenge, arbitrariness or prosecution, and appropriate and ongoing measures will be taken in coordination with Israel to ensure their protection.
3 – Palestinians from abroad who are permitted to enter the West Bank and the Gaza Strip based on this agreement, and to whom the provisions of this agreement apply, will not be prosecuted for acts committed before September 13, 1993.
A. Jurisdiction: According to the Declaration of Principles, the Council’s jurisdiction will include the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a single geographical unit, with the exception of:
1 – Issues to be negotiated in the final status negotiations: Jerusalem, settlements, designated security locations, Palestinian refugees, borders, international relations and Israelis.
2 – Powers and responsibilities not transferred to the Council.
B. Accordingly, the Council’s authority includes all matters that fall within its geographical, functional or personal jurisdiction as shown below:
1 – The geographical jurisdiction of the Council will include the Gaza Strip area, excluding the settlements and the military base area shown on Map 2, and the West Bank area, excluding Area C, which will be gradually transferred to Palestinian jurisdiction in three stages, with the exception of the issues that will be negotiated in the final status negotiations, each of which will take a period of six months to be completed 18 months after the inauguration of the Council.
At this time, the Council’s jurisdiction will cover the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, except for the issues that will be negotiated in the permanent status negotiations.
2 – The geographical jurisdiction shall include the land, local and territorial waters, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
3 – The functional jurisdiction of the Council extends to all powers and responsibilities transferred to it as specified in this Agreement or in any future agreements that may be reached between the two parties during the transitional period.
4 – The functional and territorial jurisdiction of the Council extends to all individuals except Israelis, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above paragraph, the Council will have functional jurisdiction over Area C as specified in Article IV of Annex III.
T. The Council shall have, within its authority, legislative, executive and judicial powers and responsibilities, as provided for in this Agreement.
C. /A- Israel will have authority over areas not under territorial jurisdiction through military rule.
b- To this end, the Israeli military government will retain the necessary legislative, executive and judicial powers and responsibilities based on international law. This provision will not detract from the application of Israeli legislation to Israelis in lawsuits before the courts.
c. The exercise of authority with respect to the electromagnetic field and the airspace shall be in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
h. Without prejudice to the provisions of this Article, the legal arrangements detailed in the Protocol on Legal Matters, attached as Annex IV (hereinafter “Annex IV”), will be observed and complied with. Israel and the Council may negotiate further legal arrangements.
g. The Council and Israel will cooperate in matters of legal assistance in civil and criminal matters on a reciprocal basis and through the Legal Committee (hereinafter “the Legal Committee”) established pursuant thereto.
D. The Council’s jurisdiction will gradually extend to include the West Bank and Gaza Strip, except for issues that will be negotiated in the final status negotiations through a series of steps to redeploy Israeli military forces.
The first phase of the redeployment of Israeli military forces will cover populated areas in the West Bank, cities, villages, refugee camps and hamlets, as set out in Annex II, and will be completed prior to the eve of the Palestinian elections, i.e. 22 days before election day. Further redeployment of Israeli military forces to specified Israeli locations will commence immediately after the inauguration of the Council and will be implemented in three phases, each phase taking a period of six months to be completed no later than 18 months from the date of the inauguration of the Council.
1 – For the purposes of this Article, legislation: means any primary or statutory legislation including basic laws, laws, regulations, and other legislative bills.
2 – The Council shall have the power, within its jurisdiction as specified in Article Seventeen of this Agreement, to adopt legislation.
3 – Although the primary legislative authority will be in the hands of the Council as a whole, the head of the Council’s executive authority will have the following legislative powers:
A. The authority to exchange legislation or submit legislative proposals to the Council.
B. The authority to issue legislation adopted by the Council.
T. The power to issue secondary legislation, including regulations relating to any matters and within any scope stipulated in any primary legislation adopted by the Council.
4 – A. Legislation, including legislation amending or repealing existing laws or military orders, which exceeds the Council’s jurisdiction or which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Declaration of Principles, this Agreement or any agreement that may be reached between the two parties during the interim period shall not be valid and shall be null and void.
B. The head of the executive authority of the Council shall not issue legislation adopted by the Council, if such legislation falls within the provisions of this clause.
5 – The Israeli side in the Legal Committee must be informed of all legislation.
6 – Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 4 above, the Israeli side of the Legal Committee may draw the attention of the Committee to any legislation to which Israel considers paragraph 4 to apply, in order to discuss issues arising from such legislation. The Legal Committee will consider legislation submitted to it at the earliest possible opportunity.
Israel and the Council will exercise their powers and responsibilities under this Agreement with due regard to internationally accepted principles and norms, human rights principles and the rule of law.
A/A- The transfer of powers and responsibilities from the Israeli military government and its Civil Administration to the Council, as detailed in Annex III, includes all related rights, liabilities and obligations arising with regard to acts or omissions which occurred prior to such transfer. Israel will cease to bear any financial responsibility regarding such acts or omissions and the Council will bear all financial responsibility for these and for its own functioning.
A/B- Any financial claim in this regard against Israel will be referred to the Council.
A/C- Israel will provide the Council with the information it has regarding pending and anticipated claims brought before the court or tribunal against Israel in this regard.
A/D- Israel will inform the Council and enable it to participate in defending the claim, and to present arguments on its own behalf, when legal proceedings are brought in connection with such a claim.
A/E- If and when there is a judgment against Israel by a court or tribunal in connection with this claim, the Council will compensate Israel for the full amount of the judgment.
A/W- Without prejudice to the foregoing, where the court or tribunal hearing such a claim finds that liability rests solely with an employee or agent acting beyond the scope of his or her assigned powers, and in an unlawful or reckless manner, the Council shall not bear any financial liability.
b/b- Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs “a/a” to “a/f” above, each side may take the necessary measures, including issuing legislation, to ensure that such claims by Palestinians, including pending claims, are brought only before Palestinian courts or tribunals in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, and are not brought or heard before Israeli courts or tribunals.
B/C- When a new claim is submitted before the Palestinian judiciary and courts after the request has been rejected in accordance with paragraph (A) above, the Council must defend it, and based on subparagraph (A/A) above, it will pay the amount of the judgment if it is issued in favor of the claimant.
b/d- The Legal Committee shall agree on arrangements for the transfer of all materials and information necessary to enable the Palestinian judiciary and courts to hear such claims in accordance with paragraph (b) above, and, where necessary, for the provision of legal assistance by Israel to the Council in defending such claims.
C- The transfer of authority itself will not affect the rights, responsibilities and obligations of any person or legal entity existing on the date of signing this Agreement.
D- The Council, upon its installation, will assume all the rights, responsibilities and obligations of the Palestinian Authority.
E- For the purposes of this Agreement, “Israelis” include legal entities and companies registered in Israel.
Any dispute relating to the implementation of the Agreement shall be referred to the appropriate coordination and cooperation mechanism established under this Agreement, and the provisions of Article 15 of the Declaration of Principles shall apply to any dispute not settled through the appropriate coordination and cooperation mechanism, in particular:
1 – Disputes arising from the application or interpretation of this Agreement or any related agreements, and pertaining to the transitional phase, must be settled through the Liaison Committee.
2- Disputes that cannot be settled through negotiations may be resolved through a dispute resolution mechanism agreed upon by the two parties.
3- The two parties may agree to submit to arbitration in order to resolve disputes related to the transitional phase, which cannot be settled by reconciliation. For this purpose, and based on the agreement of the two parties, an arbitration committee may be formed.
1 – Israel and the Council will seek to promote mutual understanding and tolerance and accordingly refrain from incitement, including hostile propaganda, against each other, and without derogating from the principle of freedom of expression, and will take legal measures to prevent such incitement by any organizations, groups or individuals within their jurisdiction.
2 – Israel and the Council will ensure that their educational systems contribute to peace between Israel and the Palestinian people, and peace in the region in general, and will refrain from advancing any issues that could adversely affect the reconciliation process.
3- Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Agreement, Israel and the Council will cooperate in combating criminal activity that may affect both parties, including offenses related to the trade in illicit drugs and hallucinogenic substances, smuggling, and offenses against property, including offenses related to motor vehicles.
In order to ensure an orderly and smooth transfer of powers and responsibilities, the two sides will cooperate with regard to the transfer of security powers and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of Annex I, and the transfer of civil powers and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of Annex III.
The economic relations between the two sides are defined in the Protocol on Economic Relations, signed in Paris on 29 April 1994, and the Annexes thereto, and the Annex to the Protocol on Economic Relations, all attached as Annex 5, and will be governed by the relevant provisions of this Agreement and its Annexes.
1 – The two parties agree to establish a mechanism for developing programmes between them, the details of which are set out in Annex VI.
2- A permanent cooperation committee to address issues arising in the context of this cooperation, to be formed as indicated in Annex VI.
1 – The Liaison Committee established under Article X of the Declaration of Principles will ensure the smooth implementation of this Agreement. It will deal with issues requiring coordination, other issues of common interest and disputes.
2 – The Liaison Committee will be formed of an equal number of members from each side. Other technicians and experts may be added as necessary.
3 – The Liaison Committee shall adopt its procedural rules of operation, including the place or places of its meetings and their number.
4 – The Liaison Committee will reach its decisions by agreement.
5 – The Liaison Committee will form a sub-committee to monitor, guide and implement this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the “Monitoring and Steering Committee”). Its work will be as follows:
A. The Monitoring and Steering Committee will continuously monitor the implementation of this Agreement with the aim of supporting cooperation and encouraging peaceful relations between the two parties.
b. The Monitoring and Steering Committee will manage the activities of the various joint committees formed under this Agreement (CAC.JSC), namely: the Legal Committee, the Joint Legal Committee, and the Continuing Cooperation Committee of this Agreement. The Committee will submit reports to the Liaison Committee.
T. The Monitoring and Steering Committee will be composed of the heads of the above-mentioned committees.
d. The Chairman of the Oversight and Steering Committee shall establish rules of procedure, including the place and number of meetings.
1 – Pursuant to Article XII of the Declaration of Principles, the two sides invited the Governments of Jordan and Egypt to participate in establishing further coordination and liaison arrangements between the Government of Israel and Palestinian representatives on the one hand, and the Governments of Jordan and Egypt on the other hand, to promote cooperation between them. As part of these arrangements, a Continuing Committee has been formed and has begun its work.
2- The Continuing Committee will decide by agreement on the modalities of entry of persons (Displaced) who were displaced from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 1967, along with the necessary measures to prevent chaos and disorder.
3 – The Continuing Committee will address other matters of common interest.
1 – Israel and the Council will cooperate by providing each other with the necessary assistance in carrying out the search for missing persons and for the bodies of persons that have not been found, as well as by providing information on missing persons.
2 – The PLO undertakes to cooperate with Israel and to assist it in its efforts to locate and return to Israel Israeli soldiers who have gone missing in service, as well as the bodies of Israelis who have not yet been discovered.
Arrangements for safe passage of persons and transportation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are set out in Annex I.
A- This agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signing.
B- Upon the installation of the Council, this agreement will replace the Gaza-Jericho Agreement, the Preliminary Transfer Agreement, and the Additional Transfer Protocol.
T- The Council, upon its installation, will replace the Palestinian Authority and will assume all the functions and obligations of the Palestinian Authority stipulated in the Gaza-Jericho Agreement, the Preliminary Transfer Agreement, and the Additional Transfer Protocol.
C- The two parties will adopt all necessary legislation to implement this agreement.
C- Final status negotiations between the two parties will commence as soon as possible but not later than May 4, 1996. It is understood that these negotiations will cover remaining issues including: Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, security arrangements, borders, relations and cooperation with neighboring states, and other matters of common interest.
H- Nothing in this Agreement shall preempt or prejudice the outcome of the permanent status negotiations to be conducted pursuant to the Declaration of Principles. Neither Party shall be deemed, by virtue of entering into this Agreement, to have renounced or waived any of its established rights, claims, or positions.
K- Neither party will initiate or take any step that would change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.
D- The two parties view the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a single geographical unit, the unity and status of which will be preserved during the interim period.
d- The PLO undertakes, within two months of the date of the inauguration of the Council, to convene the Palestinian National Council and formally approve the necessary changes regarding the Palestinian Charter, as pledged in the letter signed by the Chairman of the PLO and addressed to the Prime Minister of Israel dated September 19, 1993 and May 4, 1994.
R- Pursuant to Annex I, Article VII of this Agreement, Israel confirms that the permanent checkpoints on the roads leading to and from the Jericho area (except those on the road leading from Musa Alami to the Allenby Bridge) will be removed upon completion of the first phase of redeployment.
G- Prisoners who were handed over under the Gaza-Jericho Agreement to the Palestinian Authority on condition that they remain in the Jericho area throughout their sentences will be free to return to their homes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip upon completion of the first phase of redeployment.
Q- Regarding relations between Israel and the PLO, and without prejudice to the commitments contained in the letters signed by and exchanged between the Prime Minister of Israel and the Chairman of the PLO dated September 9, 1993 and May 4, 1994, the two sides will apply between them the provisions contained in Article XXII, “Clause 1,” with the necessary amendments.
1 – K – The preamble to this agreement and all its appendices, appendices and attached maps are considered an integral part of this agreement.
2 – K – The two parties agreed that the maps attached to the (Gaza-Jericho) Agreement are:
1 – Map No. (1) (Gaza Strip) An identical copy is attached to this agreement as Map No. (2) (in this agreement “Map No. (2)”).
2 – Map No. (3) (Deployment of the Palestinian Police in the Gaza Strip), an identical copy attached to this agreement as Map No. (5) (in this agreement “Map No. “5”)
3- Map No. (6) (Maritime Activity) is an integral part and will remain in effect throughout the validity of this agreement.
Sh- While the Jiftlik area will fall under the functional and personal jurisdiction of the Council in the first phase of redeployment, the transfer of the geographical jurisdiction of this area to the Council will be considered by the Israeli side in the first phase of the other redeployment phases.
Palestinian diplomacy, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas “Abu Mazen”, was able to achieve a number of accomplishments on the international scene, which were represented as follows :
List of treaties and agreements to which the State of Palestine has acceded:
The following is a list of the agreements and treaties that President Mahmoud Abbas signed documents and requests for the State of Palestine to join :
Commitment: Change the law to allow for the punishment of crimes against protected persons.
If the provisions are not reserved, it will be necessary to hand over and receive criminals who commit criminal acts against diplomats and internationally protected persons .
No statute of limitations applies to these crimes, regardless of when they were committed.
Obligations: The law must include texts that detail the concept of serious crimes, crimes against humanity and their classification .
The clear and explicit text in the internal law states that these mentioned actions constitute a violation of the law .
To include some of the penalties imposed in the agreement and incorporate them into the applicable penal code .
Its importance: criminalizing transnational organized crimes, including money laundering and corruption, and enhancing international cooperation in this regard in order to confiscate criminals’ money, return it to its origin, extradite and return criminals, and provide assistance to Palestine in strengthening Palestinian institutions, legal and technical, and equipping Palestinian technologies to confront dangers, monitor borders and the electronic domain, and prevent electronic crime, as hackers previously broke into Palestinian servers and the occupation was accused of this act .
Imposing Palestinian sovereignty over land and sea borders .
Obligations: Amend Palestinian law to criminalize this type of crime and prepare prisons and systems for this .
Its importance: Finding mechanisms to hold the occupation accountable for using Palestinian land to bury its waste, in addition to the settlements and their waste. The necessity of defining hazardous waste and sending it to the occupation and the international community, as any waste that is brought in illegally is considered a crime .
Obligations: Inform the General Secretariat of the waste that we consider hazardous, and amend the law to add hazardous waste.
In addition to the fact that no one may exploit the Palestinian continental shelf and Palestine’s sovereignty over its economic rights to the shelf , there is a special court for disputes, and it is accountable to it .
Obligations: Establishing a special law and arrangements regarding seas, marine resources and water resources .
Its importance: The universality of this agreement and its emphasis on the right of peoples to control their resources and have sovereignty over them, and the impact of the occupation, its settlements, settlers and their practices on biological diversity in Palestine, in addition to the technical assistance provided by this agreement to threatened areas .
There, to him to resolve disputes
Obligations: Need to develop a national plan to preserve biodiversity and laws that preserve nature. Part of this is holding the occupation accountable for its practices. And identifying protected sites.
Its importance: Equal sharing of water resources, waterways and rivers. This will embody international law towards obligating Israel to abide by the rules of this agreement . Palestine will be one of the first countries to accept this agreement .
Crimes: Genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .
Obligations: Individuals from Palestine will be held accountable if they are accused of committing crimes within the jurisdiction of the court, and Palestinian laws must be amended .
This agreement obliges member states to ensure that women have the right to vote in elections and hold public office on an equal basis with men, the importance of which is to emphasize women’s rights.
This agreement aims to ensure that host countries conduct the tasks of United Nations operations in their areas and that these tasks are limited to maintaining international peace. It also obliges countries to take appropriate measures to prevent attacks on United Nations personnel and persons working with them.
The importance of the New York Convention lies in the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards issued in other countries .
Its importance: This agreement confirms that nuclear proliferation threatens world peace and the future of humanity. Since Israel is a nuclear state and refuses to comply with international law, especially in placing its facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it can be held accountable, especially since we will be affected in the event of leaks and nuclear danger. In addition, it is in Palestine’s interest to make the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons .
Shrapnel, incendiary weapons, explosive remnants of war Importance: States Parties and parties to an armed conflict must take action to clear, remove or destroy explosive remnants of war (Article 3), and to record, retain and transmit information relating to the use or abandonment of explosive ordnance (Article 4). States Parties and parties are also obliged to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians (Article 5) and humanitarian missions and organizations (Article 6). States Parties in a position to do so must provide cooperation and assistance for, inter alia, marking, clearance, removal, destruction and victim assistance (Articles 7 and 8). Protocol V entered into force on 12 November 2006.
This agreement can be used to force Israel to help clean up the remains of its military training and not to displace civilians under the pretext of training its forces, in addition to the 19 minefields spread among Palestinian homes in the West Bank.
Not allowing Israel to use excessively harmful weapons such as white phosphorus and other weapons .
Demanding the prohibition of the use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of any State,
it is prohibited to use methods and means of warfare that are intended to cause widespread damage to the natural environment, as happened with the waters in the Gaza Strip.
This agreement is linked to the Geneva Convention.
Obligations: Not to use these weapons, which exposes us to accountability in the event that some militias use this type of locally manufactured weapons. At least two protocols must be ratified .
Palestine is an observer and is attending the Convention Conference as an observer. There is a Palestinian declaration of our desire to enter into this Convention. A national body has been formed to follow up on the issues of weapons, explosives and mines, and it submits a voluntary report to the United Nations .
Its importance: It constitutes part of the tools of international humanitarian law.
Obligations: Forming a national body to follow up on this file, and amendments to the law regarding cluster munitions .
Report on achievements and make financial contributions upon request of the Director General.
Despite the numerous attempts by the Israeli occupation to put all obstacles in the way of Palestine joining various international organizations, especially those concerned with following up on Tel Aviv’s violations and crimes, Palestine has been able in recent years to secure a seat for itself within international institutions, the latest of which was achieved today, Wednesday, after it was accepted into the International Criminal Police Organization “Interpol”. The following is a review of the most important organizations that Palestine has joined since 2004 .
September 27, 2017: The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) accepts Palestine as a member with 74 countries voting in favor of the resolution.
April 4, 2016: The Ministers of Trade of the Agadir Group countries (Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan) approved Palestine’s accession to the Agadir Agreement alongside the State of Lebanon, which would allow Palestine to import raw materials and production components necessary for Palestinian industry from the Agadir countries and the European Union countries, carry out the necessary manufacturing processes on them, and re-export them to the markets of the Euro-Mediterranean region, exempt from customs duties, in addition to benefiting from a number of programs.
March 14, 2016: Palestine becomes a full member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration , after a vote of 57 in favor, 24 abstentions and no opposition.
December 12, 2015: Palestine officially joins the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which constitutes a general framework for international efforts to address issues of a global and humanitarian nature.
October 6, 2015: Palestine joins the COMSATS educational foundation, providing opportunities for Palestinian students to exchange expertise with member states of the foundation.
August 12, 2015: The General Assembly of the World Skills Organization, during its 43rd session held in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, voted in favor of the State of Palestine’s official membership, making it the 75th country in the organization. It specializes in developing vocational and technical education and training in its member states, and seeks to organize the World Skills Competition once every two years in one of the member states.
May 18, 2015: Palestine officially joins the World Customs Organization.
April 1, 2015: Palestine officially becomes a member of the International Criminal Court .
December 31, 2014: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signs a document to join 20 international organizations, treaties and agreements, including: joining the International Criminal Court, the charter paving the way for Palestine’s membership in the Rome Statute, the declaration to accept Articles 12 and 13 of the Rome Statute, the Charter on the Political Rights of Women, the Charter on the Burial of Solid and Noxious Materials in Territories of States Beyond Their Borders, the Charter on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Treaty on the Limitation of Certain Conventional Weapons, the Treaty on the Limitation of Cluster Munitions, Protocol 2 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, Protocol 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the Protocol on the Protection of International Persons, the Charter on the Commitment to Implement the Provisions of War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity, and the declaration of the State of Palestine as a state committed to all international charters, institutions and norms.
November 26, 2014: The International Association of Prosecutors approves the application of the Public Prosecution of the State of Palestine to join it, making Palestine the 147th State in this association, following discussions with a number of prosecutions of the member states.
November 22, 2014: The European Federation of Journalists decided to accept the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate as an observer member of the Federation, during its annual meetings held in the Russian capital, Moscow.
September 16, 2014: Palestine joins the European Energy Charter Declaration, which was first adopted in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1991.
October 6, 2013: Palestine joins the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Network. Palestine’s accession to the network represents a space for Palestinian youth and youth civil society organizations to benefit from the network’s various programs and create twinning and partnership relationships with active youth organizations in member states.
September 12, 2013: The Palestine Chefs Club joins the International Chefs Club.
April 16, 2013: The Board of Directors of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries approves the accession of the Palestinian Standards Institution to the Institute.
April 19, 2012: The International Monetary Fund accepts Palestine as a member of the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS), which includes 22 indicators, allowing all users to view and use them according to their needs. These indicators will also be placed on the electronic board, for dissemination of data in the International Monetary Fund, which includes Palestine on the international statistical map.
November 29, 2012: The United Nations General Assembly votes in favor of Resolution 67/19, which grants Palestine non-member state status in the United Nations, during the 67th General Assembly meeting, which is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The proposal was submitted by the representative of Palestine to the United Nations.
October 31, 2011: Palestine obtains full membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
October 27, 2011: The coordination meeting of the heads of delegations of the member states of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) decided to support the accession of the State of Palestine as a full member of UNESCO.
January 25, 2011: Palestine officially joins the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) by signing the agreement at the ICC headquarters in Paris. It occupies an important position on the international level, due to its ability to resolve regional international trade disputes, such as the many trade disputes currently existing between Palestinian, Israeli and international companies, through globally trusted mechanisms.
January 7, 2011: Approval of Palestine’s full and official membership in the Asian Military Sports Federation (CISM), in Bahrain. This membership opens up great opportunities and horizons for Palestinian military teams to participate abroad, in training courses, and in all military sports activities.
January 17, 2007: The energy ministers of the seven-nation electricity interconnection agreed in principle, at their eleventh meeting, to Palestine’s accession to the interconnection countries, pending the completion of the technical and economic studies and legal procedures required for accession.
September 29, 2005: Approval of Palestine’s application for observer membership in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
June 7, 2005: Palestine officially joins the Euro-Mediterranean Academic Network.
May 31, 2005: Palestine obtained membership in the NATO Parliament during the Ljubljana Conference in the Republic of Slovenia, after the members of the Parliament voted unanimously to grant Palestine a seat as an “observer.”
November 30, 2004: Palestine joined the Austria-based Organization for Security and Cooperation as an associate member, on the sidelines of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference held in The Hague. The organization includes 55 countries, and works in all areas related to security worldwide. Its most prominent goals are to limit the spread of weapons, especially weapons of mass destruction, and to encourage preventive diplomacy in resolving conflicts.
11/9/2015 The United Nations approved raising the Palestinian flag over its headquarters. The resolution was adopted by a majority of 119 votes, with eight countries opposing, while 45 countries abstained from voting.
September 27, 2017 The Interpol General Assembly accepted Palestine as a member after 75 of its member countries voted in favor of the resolution, 24 countries opposed it, and 34 countries abstained from voting.
December 19, 2017 The United Nations General Assembly adopted, on Tuesday, by a majority, a resolution affirming the right of the Palestinians to self-determination, with the support of 176 countries, against the opposition of 7 countries, in addition to the abstention of 4 other countries from voting.
20/December/2017 The United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution affirming the Palestinian people’s right to sovereignty over their natural resources, with a majority of 163 countries in favor of the resolution, while six countries voted against it, and 11 countries abstained from voting.
December 21, 2017 128 countries voted in the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday to approve a resolution rejecting recognition of US President Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, while nine countries rejected the General Assembly resolution and 35 countries abstained.
The State of Palestine has also joined dozens of international treaties and agreements, including, but not limited to :
The list also includes: the Treaty for the Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, the Rotterdam Convention against Trafficking in and Use of Hazardous Substances, the Stockholm Convention against the Hazards of Exposure to Non-Particulate Organic Pollutants, the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, and the Convention on Environmental Change .
The list also includes: the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Geneva Protocol on the Prohibition of the Use of Chemical Weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Convention against the Development, Production and Use of Anti-Personnel Mines, the Arms Control Treaty, the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Marketing of Goods, the Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the Customs Convention on the International Carriage of Goods, the Convention against Trafficking in Children, the Practice of Prostitution and the Sexual Exploitation of Children, the Convention to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, and finally Palestine’s accession to the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty .
This shift in the approach of the United Nations and the countries under its umbrella constitutes a victory for the Palestinian cause, and it is also a glimmer of hope for the Palestinians to regain their full rights .
International treaties and the occupation’s renunciation: Netanyahu and the Israeli right considered the Oslo international agreements and other agreements and treaties to be the fundamental mistake, describing them as having been brought by the most anti-Zionist and anti-Jewish people, according to what Israeli media and political sources revealed.
The Oslo Accords, or Oslo Treaty or Oslo I, officially known as the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements, is a peace agreement signed by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington, DC, on September 13, 1993 , in the presence of then- US President Bill Clinton . The agreement is named after the Norwegian capital, Oslo , where secret talks took place in 1991 that led to the Madrid Conference .
The Oslo Accords, signed on September 13 , 1993 , were the first direct formal agreement between Israel, represented by its then Foreign Minister Shimon Peres , and the Palestine Liberation Organization , represented by the Secretary-General of the Executive Committee, Yasser Arafat . The Declaration of Principles and the exchange of letters marked a turning point in the relationship between the Palestine Liberation Organization and Israel, under which the parties committed themselves to the following:
Yasser Arafat also sent a letter to the then Norwegian Foreign Minister Johan Jørgen Holst, confirming that he would include in his public statements a position of the PLO calling on the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to participate in the steps leading to the normalization of life, reject violence and terrorism, contribute to peace and stability, and participate effectively in reconstruction, economic development, and cooperation.
The Declaration of Principles provides for the establishment of a Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority ( later known as the Palestinian National Authority ) and an elected Legislative Council for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip , for a transitional period not exceeding five years, until a permanent settlement is reached based on UN Resolutions 242 and 338. [ 1] Not later than the beginning of the third year of the transitional period.
The agreement stipulated that these negotiations would cover the remaining issues, including Jerusalem , refugees , settlements, security arrangements, borders, relations and cooperation with other neighbors.
These agreements were followed by more agreements, treaties and protocols such as the Gaza-Jericho Agreement and the Paris Economic Protocol, which were included in a subsequent treaty called Basel II .
One of the most important provisions of the agreement
The PLO renounces terrorism and violence (prevents armed resistance against Israel) and deletes the articles in its charter that relate to it, such as armed action and the destruction of Israel (Exchanged letters – First letter)
The full terms of the agreement :
The Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, commonly known as the Oslo II Accord or Oslo II Accord, is a pivotal and complex agreement in the Israeli-Palestinian peace process . Because the agreement was signed in Taba , it is sometimes called the Taba Agreement. The agreement envisioned the establishment of a Palestinian interim self-government in the Palestinian territories, but it did not include a promise of an independent Palestinian state. Oslo II established Areas A , B, and C in the West Bank. The Palestinian Authority was granted some limited powers and responsibilities in Areas A and B, with the possibility of holding negotiations on a final settlement in accordance with Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338. The agreement was officially signed in Washington on September 28, 1995, and was preceded by bloody events that left an impact on it, including the Ibrahimi Mosque massacre and several suicide bombings that shook the heart of Israel, followed by the assassination of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin .
Historical context
Oslo II was signed first in Taba (in the Sinai Peninsula , Egypt ) by Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on September 24, 1995 and then four days later on September 28, 1995 by Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and witnessed by U.S. President Bill Clinton and representatives of Russia , Egypt , Jordan , Norway , and the European Union in Washington, D.C.
The agreement is based on the fundamentals of the Oslo I Interim Agreement, formally known as the Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements , which was formally signed on September 13, 1993 by Israel and the PLO, with Rabin and Arafat shaking hands in Washington, D.C., and officially witnessed by the United States and Russia.
The three previous agreements were cancelled :
The Oslo II Accords are called the Interim Agreement because they were intended to be the basis for subsequent negotiations, and to pave the way for a final comprehensive peace agreement. Following Oslo II , various additional agreements were reached , but the negotiations did not result in a final peace agreement.
Objective of the agreement
The preamble to the agreement speaks of peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity and security, while recognizing the common legitimate and political rights of the two parties. The aim of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, among other goals, is to establish a Palestinian Interim Self-Government for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, for a transitional period not exceeding five years, leading to a permanent settlement in accordance with Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
As soon as possible but not later than May 4, 1996, negotiations on permanent status shall begin, leading to the implementation of Security Council resolutions 242 and 338, settling all major issues .
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the main goal of the interim agreement is to expand Palestinian autonomy in the West Bank through an elected self-governing authority to allow the Palestinians to manage their internal affairs, reduce points of friction between Israelis and Palestinians, and open a new space for cooperation and coexistence based on common interests, dignity and mutual respect. At the same time, both parties took into account the external security as well as the personal security of their citizens in the West Bank.
Parties to the agreement
The Israeli occupation and the Palestine Liberation Organization , and it was signed by the United States of America , the Russian Federation , the European Union , the Kingdom of Norway , and the Arab Republic of Egypt .
Summary of the agreement
The agreement divided the Palestinian territories into (A, B, and C), defining the areas under the rule of the Authority, the areas subject to Israel, and so on. The agreement stipulated Israel’s withdrawal from six major Arab cities and 400 villages at the beginning of 1996, the election of 82 members of the Legislative Council, and the release of detainees in Israeli prisons .
It included confirmation of what was mentioned in previous agreements and the security arrangements and crossings, and made special arrangements for Hebron to protect 400 Jewish settlers. It is assumed that the Oslo II agreement will be the second stage, which will be followed by the final status negotiations.
The text of the agreement is 314 pages long and contains seven protocols, which are :
The interim agreement did not include anything to limit the continued construction of settlements in the West Bank in general and in Jerusalem in particular, nor did it define the borders of Palestinian cities and villages. While the text of the agreement defined Area A with specific boundaries for some cities, and Area B with specific boundaries for most villages, it defined Area C as the West Bank below A and B (as stated in Article 11, Clause 3, Paragraph C, p. 15: “Area C means the areas of the West Bank outside Areas A and B.” Article 22 of Annex III to the agreement states that “the powers and authorities in the field of land registration in the West Bank and Gaza will be transferred from the Israeli military government to the Palestinian side, including, among other things: land and real estate registration; initial land registration; registration of court decisions…”), the rest of the text places restrictions that give the Israeli side a kind of veto right if it so desires. For example, Area C (which is the majority of the West Bank and Gaza) is excluded until the subsequent stages of redeployment (Clause 2, Article 22, Annex 3, p. 154).
The third clause refers to the need to respect the legal rights of Israelis in this regard (it is worth noting that these rights are not generally known to the Palestinian side). The fourth clause of the same article refers to the right of any Israeli or any Israeli entity to object to any Palestinian decision regarding the subject of land registration within a period specified in the text, which requires that the matter be referred to a “joint committee,” and this joint committee decides whether or not to approve the implementation of the Palestinian decision that is the subject of the objection.
In paragraph 4 of Article XXII, Annex III, “The Joint Committee will meet within fourteen days of the filing of the objection to examine all aspects of the matter and decide whether to approve the implementation of the measures on the subject in respect of which the objection was filed.” To complete the circle, the same clause indicates that the Palestinian side must provide information to the Israelis regarding any new measures in this regard: “The Palestinian side will provide, at the earliest opportunity, through the Liaison Committee, information regarding any decision or any request for implementation of registration (including initial registration that may affect the rights of Israelis).
The main aspect in which the agreement allows the Palestinian side the right to basic facts in its interest is represented primarily in the issue of elections, as the agreement refers to the election of a council consisting of 82 members. Without going into details, it gives the possibility of a kind of separation between the legislative, executive and judicial authorities. Therefore, the size of the council and its powers have some parliamentary features that create a kind of popular legitimacy, and may constitute the beginning of a system of accountability and the restructuring of the Palestinian political system, after the current system began to collapse. This is despite the existence of loopholes in the issue of elections, as there is a general positivity in the issue represented in the centrality and unity of elections; this is an issue related to the political unity of the Palestinian people.
If we move to another standard for evaluation , which is the standard of the Oslo Accords, which considers this agreement an application of its second part, we find that the ceiling of this agreement is lower than the ceiling of the Oslo Accords in many aspects, and we will try to provide examples of them below: The most prominent examples come in the field of transferring some issues, which the Oslo Accords stipulated as issues of the transitional phase, to the final negotiations stage; and the most prominent example of this is the postponement of the second phase of redeployment to be negotiated in the final negotiations. The third clause of Article Thirteen, entitled (Redeployment of Israeli Forces), states the following: “Additional redeployment to specific locations will be implemented gradually with the transfer of powers in public order and internal security to the Palestinian police.”
In the current agreement, this issue has been postponed to the final negotiations; as stated in Article 1, Clause 10 of Annex I (Redeployment and Security Arrangements): “ The specific security locations… referred to in this agreement will be determined in the subsequent redeployment phase at a time specified not later than 18 months from the inauguration of the Council. They will be negotiated in the final status negotiations.” Other examples that we will mention in passing: The Oslo Agreement allows for redeployment in all populated areas, and does not refer to a gradual process, while this agreement referred to redeployment in specific population locations, not all of them, and also in a gradual manner, meaning that what the Oslo Agreement referred to as the first phase of redeployment was divided here into stages. It is well known that Israel adopted the staged approach in order to move to a new stage only if it was comfortable (according to its standards) with the implementation of the previous stage, and this is what the experience of the previous agreement ( Gaza-Jericho ) indicated.
But perhaps the general and blatant contradiction between the Oslo Accords and what is supposed to be their implementation becomes apparent when we recall the text of Article 4 of the Declaration of Principles, which states: “The jurisdiction of the Council will cover the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, except for the issues that will be negotiated in the permanent status negotiations. The two parties view the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a single territorial unit, the unity and integrity of which will be preserved during the interim period.”
Text of the agreement
A- Israel will transfer powers and responsibilities as specified in this Agreement from the Israeli military government and its Civil Administration to the Council in accordance with this Agreement, and Israel will continue to exercise powers and responsibilities not so transferred.
B- Until the Council is installed, the powers and responsibilities transferred to the Council will be exercised by the Palestinian Authority established under the Gaza-Jericho Agreement, which will also have all the rights, responsibilities and duties imposed on the Council in this regard. Accordingly, the term “Council” throughout this Agreement will be interpreted – until the Council is installed – to mean the Palestinian Authority.
C- The transfer of powers and responsibilities to the police force established by the Palestinian Council, in accordance with Article XIV below, (hereinafter referred to as “the Palestinian Police”) will be accomplished in a phased manner, as detailed in this Agreement and in the Protocol on Security and Redeployment Arrangements attached to this Agreement.
C- With regard to the transfer and assumption of authority in civil areas, the powers and responsibilities will be transferred and assumed as stipulated in the Civil Relations Protocol attached to this Agreement.
C- After the installation of the Council, the Civil Administration in the West Bank will be dissolved, and the Israeli military government will withdraw. The withdrawal of the military government will not limit its exercise of the powers and responsibilities not transferred to the Council.
h- A Joint Civil Affairs Coordination and Cooperation Committee (hereinafter “CAC”) will be established, as will two Joint Civil Affairs Subcommittees, one for the Gaza Strip and the other for the West Bank, and Regional Civil Liaison Offices, to provide coordination and cooperation in civil matters between the Council and Israel. g- The Council’s offices, the offices of its Chairman and Executive Authority, and other committees located in the areas under Palestinian jurisdiction will be established in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
A- In order for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip to govern according to democratic principles, direct and free general political elections will be held for the Council and the President of the Executive Authority, in accordance with the provisions set forth in the attached Elections Protocol.
B- These elections will constitute an important transitional preliminary step towards achieving the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and their just demands, and will provide a democratic basis for establishing Palestinian institutions.
T- The Palestinians of Jerusalem who live there may participate in the election process, in accordance with the provisions set forth in this Agreement, and in Article VI of the Second Interim Annex in “Election Arrangements with Respect to Jerusalem.”
C- The President of the Palestinian Authority will announce elections immediately after the signing of this agreement, which will be implemented at the earliest practical time, after the redeployment of Israeli forces, and consistent with the requirements of the election timetable, the Elections Law.
1 – The Palestinian Council and the President of the Executive Authority of the Council shall constitute the interim self-government authority of the Palestinian people, which shall be elected by the Palestinian people of the West Bank, Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip for the transitional period agreed upon in Annex 1 of the Declaration of Principles.
2- The Council will have legislative and executive powers in accordance with Articles 7 and 9 of the Declaration of Principles, and will be responsible for all legislative and executive powers and responsibilities transferred to it under this Agreement, exercising legislative powers will be in accordance with Article 18 of this Agreement (Legislative Powers of the Council).
2- The Council and the Head of the Executive Authority of the Council shall be directly and simultaneously elected by the Palestinian people in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Election Law and Regulations, which shall not be in violation of the provisions of this Agreement.
4- The members of the Council and the head of the Executive Authority of the Council will be elected for a transitional period not exceeding five years from the date of signing the Gaza-Jericho Agreement signed on May 4, 1994. Immediately after his inauguration, the Council will elect from among its members a Speaker. The Speaker will chair the Council’s meetings, manage it and its committees, approve the agenda of each meeting, and present proposals for voting and announcing the results to the Council.
5 – The Council’s mandate shall be as specified in Article 17 of this Agreement (the mandate).
6- The organization, structure and function of the Council shall be determined by this Agreement and by the Basic Law of the Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority, which shall be adopted by the Council. The Basic Law and any regulations established under it shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Agreement.
7- The Council will be responsible, through its executive powers, for the offices, services and departments transferred to it, and it can establish – in accordance with its mandate – ministries, bodies and sub-bodies, based on its needs to carry out its responsibilities.
8- The Speaker will submit, for the approval of the Council, proposed internal procedural regulations to govern, among other things, the Council’s decision-making processes and other matters.
The Palestinian Council will consist of 82 representatives and the head of the executive authority, who will be directly and simultaneously elected by the Palestinian people in the West Bank, Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
1 – The Council shall have a committee that shall exercise the executive powers of the Council, and shall be formed in accordance with Article Four below (hereinafter the Executive Authority).
2- The Executive Authority shall be given the executive powers of the Council, and shall exercise them on behalf of the Council, and shall determine its own internal procedures and decision-making processes.
3- The Council will publish the names of the members of the Committee/Executive Authority immediately after their initial appointment and any subsequent changes.
A. The Head of the Executive Authority shall be, by virtue of his office, a member of the Executive Authority.
b. All other members of the Executive Committee/Authority, except as provided in subparagraph (c) below, shall be members of the Council, and shall be selected and proposed to the Council by the Chief Executive and by decision of the Council.
C. The Head of the Executive Authority shall have the right to appoint some persons, provided that their number does not exceed 20% of the total members of the Executive Authority, who are not members of the Council in order to exercise executive powers and to participate in government work. The appointed members do not have the right to vote in Council meetings.
D. Non-elected members of the Executive Authority shall have a valid address in an area under the jurisdiction of the Council.
1 – The Council may form small committees to facilitate the Council’s work procedures and assist in controlling the activity of the executive authority.
2- Each committee will establish its own procedures for decision-making, within the general framework of the organization and structure of the Council.
1 – All sessions of the Council and its committees, with the exception of meetings of the executive authority, shall be open to the public, unless the Council or the relevant committee decides otherwise on the grounds of security, commercial, or personal secrets.
2- Participation in the discussions of the Council, its committees, and the discussions of the executive authority will be limited only to members of each of them. Experts may be invited to such meetings to talk about specific issues and for the aforementioned purpose.
Any person or organization affected by any activity or decision issued by the Chairman of the Executive Authority of the Council, or by any member of the Executive Authority, and who believes that such activity or decision exceeds the authority of the Chairman of the Council or the member, or is incorrect in law or procedure, may apply to the competent Palestinian Court of Justice for review of such activity or decision.
A- Based on the Declaration of Principles, the Council will not have powers and responsibilities in the sphere of international relations, which includes the establishment abroad of embassies, consulates or other missions or posts or permitting their establishment in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, or the appointment or admission of diplomatic staff or the exercise of diplomatic functions.
B- Despite the provisions of this clause, the Palestine Liberation Organization may conduct negotiations through which it may sign agreements with countries or international organizations for the benefit of the Council in the following matters only:
1- Economic agreements as clearly stipulated in Annex V of this Agreement.
2- Agreements with donor countries to implement arrangements for providing assistance to the Council.
3- Agreements for the implementation of regional development plans as set out in Annex IV of the Declaration of Principles or in agreements entered into within the framework of multilateral negotiations.
4- Cultural, scientific, or educational agreements.
C- Transactions between the Council and representatives of states and international organizations, in addition to the establishment of representative offices in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, other than those mentioned in paragraph “A” above, for the purpose of implementing the agreements stipulated in paragraph “B” above, will not be considered international relations.
C- Subject to the provisions of this Agreement, the Council will have – within its powers – an independent judicial system for Palestinian courts and governmental bodies.
1- The first phase of the redeployment of Israeli military forces will cover populated areas in the West Bank – cities, villages, refugee camps, and hamlets, as stipulated in Annex I, and will be completed before the eve of the Palestinian elections, in other words, 22 days before Election Day.
2- Subsequent redeployment of Israeli military forces to specified military locations – will begin immediately after the inauguration of the Council, will be implemented gradually in conjunction with the assumption by the Palestinian Police of responsibilities for public order and internal security, and will be completed within 18 months of the inauguration of the Council as set out in Articles (11 “Land”) and (13 “Security”) below and Annex I.
3- The Palestinian police will be deployed and will assume the tasks of public order and internal security for the Palestinians in a phased manner based on Article (“13” Security) below and Annex I.
4- Israel will continue to carry out external security responsibilities, in addition to the responsibility for the overall security of Israelis, in order to maintain their internal security and public order.
5- According to the purpose of this Agreement, “Israeli Security Forces” includes the Israeli Police and other Israeli security forces.
Except for the issues that will be negotiated in the final stage negotiations, they will fall under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Council, and this will be done in stages over 18 months from the day of the Council’s inauguration as explained below:
1- Lands in residential areas (Areas A, B), including state lands and Waqf lands, will fall under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority in the first phase of redeployment.
2- All civil powers and responsibilities, including structural organization in Areas A and B as stipulated in Annex III, will be transferred and given to the Palestinian Authority during the first phase of redeployment.
3- In Area B, during the first phase of redeployment, Israel will transfer to the Council civil powers and responsibilities not relating to territory, as set out in Annex III.
4- Further redeployment of Israeli military forces to specified military locations will be implemented gradually in accordance with the Declaration of Principles in three phases, each to be achieved within a period of six months, after the inauguration of the Council, to be completed within 18 months from the date of the inauguration of the Council.
5- During the further redeployment phases, which will be completed within 18 months from the date of the inauguration of the Council, powers and responsibilities relating to territory will be gradually transferred to Palestinian jurisdiction, which will cover the West Bank and the Gaza Strip except for the issues that will be negotiated in the final status negotiations.
6- The specific military locations mentioned in Article X, paragraph “2” above, will be determined in the further phases of redeployment, within a specific time frame ending no later than 18 months from the date of the inauguration of the Council. “B” The two parties agree that the West Bank and Gaza Strip area, which will be negotiated in the final status negotiations, for the purposes of this Agreement and until the completion of the first phase of redeployment:
A. Area “A” means the populated areas drawn with a red line and shaded in brown on the attached map No. “1”.
B. Area “B” means the populated areas drawn with a red line and shaded in yellow on the attached map No. “1”, as well as the areas on which buildings are erected in the ruins listed in the list in Appendix 6 of Annex “1”.
C. Area C means areas in the West Bank outside Areas A and B that will be gradually transferred to Palestinian jurisdiction under this Agreement, except for issues that will be negotiated in the final status negotiations.
1 – In order to ensure public order and internal security for the Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Council will establish a strong police force as stipulated in Article 14 below.
Israel will continue to bear the responsibility for defense against external threats: including the responsibility for protecting the Egyptian and Jordanian borders, and defense against external threats from the sea and from the air as well, in addition to the responsibility for the overall security of Israelis in the settlements, in order to ensure their internal security and public order, and it will have the authority to take the necessary steps to meet this responsibility.
2- Agreed security coordination arrangements and mechanisms are set out in Annex I.
3- A Joint Coordination and Cooperation Committee for Mutual Security (hereinafter “JSC”) will be established, in addition to a Joint Regional Security Committee (hereinafter “PSCs”) and Joint District Coordination Offices (hereinafter “DCOs”) as provided for in Annex I.
4- The security arrangements stipulated in this Agreement and in Annex I may be reviewed at the request of either party, and may be amended by mutual agreement of the parties. Specific arrangements for review are included in Annex I.
5- For the purpose of this agreement, “settlements” means in the West Bank – the settlements in Area “C”, and in the Gaza Strip – the Gush Katif and Erez settlements, in addition to other settlements as shown in attached Map No. “2”.
A. Upon completion of the redeployment of Israeli military forces in any district, the Council will assume the powers and responsibilities for internal security and public order in Area A of the district.
B. There will be a complete redeployment of Israeli military forces from Area B, and Israel will transfer to the Council and it will assume responsibility for public order for the Palestinians. Israel will have the overriding responsibility for security in order to protect Israelis and confront the threat of terrorism.
T. In Area B, the Palestinian police will assume responsibility for the public order of the Palestinians, who will be deployed to secure Palestinian needs and requirements as follows:
1- T – The Palestinian Police will form 25 police stations and centers in cities, villages and other places specified in Appendix 2 to Annex I, and as drawn on Map No. 3, the RSC of the West Bank may approve the establishment of other police stations and centers if necessary.
2- T – The Palestinian police will be responsible for handling public order issues in which only Palestinians are involved.
3- T – The Palestinian police will operate freely in populated areas where police stations and centers are located, as stipulated in Clauses (T1) above.
4- T – While the movement of the Palestinian police in uniform in Area “B”, which is outside the areas where there are Palestinian police stations and sites, will be implemented after coordination and approval from the relevant “DCO” three months after the completion of the redeployment from Area “B” to the Palestinian cities and villages in Area “B” on the roads used only by the Palestinians after informing the “DCO”.
5- T – The coordination of such a planned movement before its approval by the authorized “DCO” must include a programmed plan including the number of police personnel, the type and number of weapons and vehicles intended to be used. This must also include details of arrangements to ensure continuous coordination through appropriate communication links, the precise program for the movement of the planned operation within the area, in addition to the intended place and the route used for it, its proposed duration, and the return programs to the police station or center; the Israeli side in the “DCO” will provide the Palestinian side with its response after receiving a request for police movement, in accordance with this paragraph within one day in normal and routine cases or within a period not exceeding two hours in emergency cases.
6- T – The Palestinian police and the Israeli military forces will conduct joint security activities on the main roads as stipulated in Annex I.
7- T – The Palestinian Police will inform the “RSC” of the West Bank of the names of the police personnel, the numbers of the police vehicles, and the serial numbers, regarding each police station or center in Area “B”.
8-T – Further redeployment in Area C and transfer of internal security responsibilities to the Palestinian police in Areas B and C will take place in three stages, each stage continuing after a period of six months, and will be completed 18 months after the inauguration of the Council, except for the issues of final status negotiations and Israel’s overall responsibilities for Israelis and borders.
9- T – The procedures detailed in this clause will be reviewed within six months after the completion of the first phase of redeployment.
1 – The Council shall establish a strong police force. The duties, functions, structure, composition and deployment of the Palestinian Police Force, as well as the provisions relating to its equipment and operation and its rules of conduct are set out in Annex I.
2 – The Palestinian police forces formed under the Gaza-Jericho Agreement will be integrated into the Palestinian Police and will be subject to the provisions of this Agreement.
3 – Except for the Palestinian police and the Israeli military forces, no other armed force will be formed or operate.
4 – Except for the weapons, equipment and devices of the Palestinian Police in Annex I and those of the Israeli military forces, no organization, group or individual in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip may manufacture, sell, possess, own, import or bring in weapons, equipment, explosives, gunpowder or any related devices, except as provided for in Annex I.
1 – The two parties will take the necessary measures to prevent acts of terrorism, crime, and acts of aggression directed against the other party or against individuals under the authority of the other party and against their property, and legal measures will be taken against the perpetrators of such acts.
2 – Specific provisions for the nature of this article are set out in Annex I.
In order to create a positive and supportive general atmosphere to keep pace with the implementation of this agreement, and to build a solid foundation of mutual trust and goodwill, and in order to facilitate the anticipated cooperation and new relations between the two peoples, the two parties agreed to carry out confidence-building measures as described below:-
1 – Israel will release (or transfer to the Palestinian side) detainees and prisoners from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The first stage of the release of these prisoners and detainees will take place upon the signing of this agreement, and the second stage will take place prior to Election Day. There will be a third stage of the release of detainees and prisoners, and they will be released from among the categories detailed in Annex VII (Release of Palestinian Detainees and Prisoners). Those released will be free to return to their homes in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
2 – Palestinians who have established contacts with the Israeli authorities will not be subject to harassment, violence, revenge, arbitrariness or prosecution, and appropriate and ongoing measures will be taken in coordination with Israel to ensure their protection.
3 – Palestinians from abroad who are permitted to enter the West Bank and the Gaza Strip based on this agreement, and to whom the provisions of this agreement apply, will not be prosecuted for acts committed before September 13, 1993.
A. Jurisdiction: According to the Declaration of Principles, the Council’s jurisdiction will include the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a single geographical unit, with the exception of:
1 – Issues to be negotiated in the final status negotiations: Jerusalem, settlements, designated security locations, Palestinian refugees, borders, international relations and Israelis.
2 – Powers and responsibilities not transferred to the Council.
B. Accordingly, the Council’s authority includes all matters that fall within its geographical, functional or personal jurisdiction as shown below:
1 – The geographical jurisdiction of the Council will include the Gaza Strip area, excluding the settlements and the military base area shown on Map 2, and the West Bank area, excluding Area C, which will be gradually transferred to Palestinian jurisdiction in three stages, with the exception of the issues that will be negotiated in the final status negotiations, each of which will take a period of six months to be completed 18 months after the inauguration of the Council.
At this time, the Council’s jurisdiction will cover the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, except for the issues that will be negotiated in the permanent status negotiations.
2 – The geographical jurisdiction shall include the land, local and territorial waters, in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
3 – The functional jurisdiction of the Council extends to all powers and responsibilities transferred to it as specified in this Agreement or in any future agreements that may be reached between the two parties during the transitional period.
4 – The functional and territorial jurisdiction of the Council extends to all individuals except Israelis, unless otherwise provided in this Agreement. Notwithstanding the above paragraph, the Council will have functional jurisdiction over Area C as specified in Article IV of Annex III.
T. The Council shall have, within its authority, legislative, executive and judicial powers and responsibilities, as provided for in this Agreement.
C. /A- Israel will have authority over areas not under territorial jurisdiction through military rule.
b- To this end, the Israeli military government will retain the necessary legislative, executive and judicial powers and responsibilities based on international law. This provision will not detract from the application of Israeli legislation to Israelis in lawsuits before the courts.
c. The exercise of authority with respect to the electromagnetic field and the airspace shall be in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
h. Without prejudice to the provisions of this Article, the legal arrangements detailed in the Protocol on Legal Matters, attached as Annex IV (hereinafter “Annex IV”), will be observed and complied with. Israel and the Council may negotiate further legal arrangements.
g. The Council and Israel will cooperate in matters of legal assistance in civil and criminal matters on a reciprocal basis and through the Legal Committee (hereinafter “the Legal Committee”) established pursuant thereto.
D. The Council’s jurisdiction will gradually extend to include the West Bank and Gaza Strip, except for issues that will be negotiated in the final status negotiations through a series of steps to redeploy Israeli military forces.
The first phase of the redeployment of Israeli military forces will cover populated areas in the West Bank, cities, villages, refugee camps and hamlets, as set out in Annex II, and will be completed prior to the eve of the Palestinian elections, i.e. 22 days before election day. Further redeployment of Israeli military forces to specified Israeli locations will commence immediately after the inauguration of the Council and will be implemented in three phases, each phase taking a period of six months to be completed no later than 18 months from the date of the inauguration of the Council.
1 – For the purposes of this Article, legislation: means any primary or statutory legislation including basic laws, laws, regulations, and other legislative bills.
2 – The Council shall have the power, within its jurisdiction as specified in Article Seventeen of this Agreement, to adopt legislation.
3 – Although the primary legislative authority will be in the hands of the Council as a whole, the head of the Council’s executive authority will have the following legislative powers:
A. The authority to exchange legislation or submit legislative proposals to the Council.
B. The authority to issue legislation adopted by the Council.
T. The power to issue secondary legislation, including regulations relating to any matters and within any scope stipulated in any primary legislation adopted by the Council.
4 – A. Legislation, including legislation amending or repealing existing laws or military orders, which exceeds the Council’s jurisdiction or which is inconsistent with the provisions of the Declaration of Principles, this Agreement or any agreement that may be reached between the two parties during the interim period shall not be valid and shall be null and void.
B. The head of the executive authority of the Council shall not issue legislation adopted by the Council, if such legislation falls within the provisions of this clause.
5 – The Israeli side in the Legal Committee must be informed of all legislation.
6 – Without prejudice to the provisions of paragraph 4 above, the Israeli side of the Legal Committee may draw the attention of the Committee to any legislation to which Israel considers paragraph 4 to apply, in order to discuss issues arising from such legislation. The Legal Committee will consider legislation submitted to it at the earliest possible opportunity.
Israel and the Council will exercise their powers and responsibilities under this Agreement with due regard to internationally accepted principles and norms, human rights principles and the rule of law.
A/A- The transfer of powers and responsibilities from the Israeli military government and its Civil Administration to the Council, as detailed in Annex III, includes all related rights, liabilities and obligations arising with regard to acts or omissions which occurred prior to such transfer. Israel will cease to bear any financial responsibility regarding such acts or omissions and the Council will bear all financial responsibility for these and for its own functioning.
A/B- Any financial claim in this regard against Israel will be referred to the Council.
A/C- Israel will provide the Council with the information it has regarding pending and anticipated claims brought before the court or tribunal against Israel in this regard.
A/D- Israel will inform the Council and enable it to participate in defending the claim, and to present arguments on its own behalf, when legal proceedings are brought in connection with such a claim.
A/E- If and when there is a judgment against Israel by a court or tribunal in connection with this claim, the Council will compensate Israel for the full amount of the judgment.
A/W- Without prejudice to the foregoing, where the court or tribunal hearing such a claim finds that liability rests solely with an employee or agent acting beyond the scope of his or her assigned powers, and in an unlawful or reckless manner, the Council shall not bear any financial liability.
b/b- Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs “a/a” to “a/f” above, each side may take the necessary measures, including issuing legislation, to ensure that such claims by Palestinians, including pending claims, are brought only before Palestinian courts or tribunals in the West Bank or the Gaza Strip, and are not brought or heard before Israeli courts or tribunals.
B/C- When a new claim is submitted before the Palestinian judiciary and courts after the request has been rejected in accordance with paragraph (A) above, the Council must defend it, and based on subparagraph (A/A) above, it will pay the amount of the judgment if it is issued in favor of the claimant.
b/d- The Legal Committee shall agree on arrangements for the transfer of all materials and information necessary to enable the Palestinian judiciary and courts to hear such claims in accordance with paragraph (b) above, and, where necessary, for the provision of legal assistance by Israel to the Council in defending such claims.
C- The transfer of authority itself will not affect the rights, responsibilities and obligations of any person or legal entity existing on the date of signing this Agreement.
D- The Council, upon its installation, will assume all the rights, responsibilities and obligations of the Palestinian Authority.
E- For the purposes of this Agreement, “Israelis” include legal entities and companies registered in Israel.
Any dispute relating to the implementation of the Agreement shall be referred to the appropriate coordination and cooperation mechanism established under this Agreement, and the provisions of Article 15 of the Declaration of Principles shall apply to any dispute not settled through the appropriate coordination and cooperation mechanism, in particular:
1 – Disputes arising from the application or interpretation of this Agreement or any related agreements, and pertaining to the transitional phase, must be settled through the Liaison Committee.
2- Disputes that cannot be settled through negotiations may be resolved through a dispute resolution mechanism agreed upon by the two parties.
3- The two parties may agree to submit to arbitration in order to resolve disputes related to the transitional phase, which cannot be settled by reconciliation. For this purpose, and based on the agreement of the two parties, an arbitration committee may be formed.
1 – Israel and the Council will seek to promote mutual understanding and tolerance and accordingly refrain from incitement, including hostile propaganda, against each other, and without derogating from the principle of freedom of expression, and will take legal measures to prevent such incitement by any organizations, groups or individuals within their jurisdiction.
2 – Israel and the Council will ensure that their educational systems contribute to peace between Israel and the Palestinian people, and peace in the region in general, and will refrain from advancing any issues that could adversely affect the reconciliation process.
3- Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Agreement, Israel and the Council will cooperate in combating criminal activity that may affect both parties, including offenses related to the trade in illicit drugs and hallucinogenic substances, smuggling, and offenses against property, including offenses related to motor vehicles.
In order to ensure an orderly and smooth transfer of powers and responsibilities, the two sides will cooperate with regard to the transfer of security powers and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of Annex I, and the transfer of civil powers and responsibilities in accordance with the provisions of Annex III.
The economic relations between the two sides are defined in the Protocol on Economic Relations, signed in Paris on 29 April 1994, and the Annexes thereto, and the Annex to the Protocol on Economic Relations, all attached as Annex 5, and will be governed by the relevant provisions of this Agreement and its Annexes.
1 – The two parties agree to establish a mechanism for developing programmes between them, the details of which are set out in Annex VI.
2- A permanent cooperation committee to address issues arising in the context of this cooperation, to be formed as indicated in Annex VI.
1 – The Liaison Committee established under Article X of the Declaration of Principles will ensure the smooth implementation of this Agreement. It will deal with issues requiring coordination, other issues of common interest and disputes.
2 – The Liaison Committee will be formed of an equal number of members from each side. Other technicians and experts may be added as necessary.
3 – The Liaison Committee shall adopt its procedural rules of operation, including the place or places of its meetings and their number.
4 – The Liaison Committee will reach its decisions by agreement.
5 – The Liaison Committee will form a sub-committee to monitor, guide and implement this Agreement (hereinafter referred to as the “Monitoring and Steering Committee”). Its work will be as follows:
A. The Monitoring and Steering Committee will continuously monitor the implementation of this Agreement with the aim of supporting cooperation and encouraging peaceful relations between the two parties.
b. The Monitoring and Steering Committee will manage the activities of the various joint committees formed under this Agreement (CAC.JSC), namely: the Legal Committee, the Joint Legal Committee, and the Continuing Cooperation Committee of this Agreement. The Committee will submit reports to the Liaison Committee.
T. The Monitoring and Steering Committee will be composed of the heads of the above-mentioned committees.
d. The Chairman of the Oversight and Steering Committee shall establish rules of procedure, including the place and number of meetings.
1 – Pursuant to Article XII of the Declaration of Principles, the two sides invited the Governments of Jordan and Egypt to participate in establishing further coordination and liaison arrangements between the Government of Israel and Palestinian representatives on the one hand, and the Governments of Jordan and Egypt on the other hand, to promote cooperation between them. As part of these arrangements, a Continuing Committee has been formed and has begun its work.
2- The Continuing Committee will decide by agreement on the modalities of entry of persons (Displaced) who were displaced from the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 1967, along with the necessary measures to prevent chaos and disorder.
3 – The Continuing Committee will address other matters of common interest.
1 – Israel and the Council will cooperate by providing each other with the necessary assistance in carrying out the search for missing persons and for the bodies of persons that have not been found, as well as by providing information on missing persons.
2 – The PLO undertakes to cooperate with Israel and to assist it in its efforts to locate and return to Israel Israeli soldiers who have gone missing in service, as well as the bodies of Israelis who have not yet been discovered.
Arrangements for safe passage of persons and transportation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip are set out in Annex I.
A- This agreement shall enter into force on the date of its signing.
B- Upon the installation of the Council, this agreement will replace the Gaza-Jericho Agreement, the Preliminary Transfer Agreement, and the Additional Transfer Protocol.
T- The Council, upon its installation, will replace the Palestinian Authority and will assume all the functions and obligations of the Palestinian Authority stipulated in the Gaza-Jericho Agreement, the Preliminary Transfer Agreement, and the Additional Transfer Protocol.
C- The two parties will adopt all necessary legislation to implement this agreement.
C- Final status negotiations between the two parties will commence as soon as possible but not later than May 4, 1996. It is understood that these negotiations will cover remaining issues including: Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, security arrangements, borders, relations and cooperation with neighboring states, and other matters of common interest.
H- Nothing in this Agreement shall preempt or prejudice the outcome of the permanent status negotiations to be conducted pursuant to the Declaration of Principles. Neither Party shall be deemed, by virtue of entering into this Agreement, to have renounced or waived any of its established rights, claims, or positions.
K- Neither party will initiate or take any step that would change the status of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.
D- The two parties view the West Bank and the Gaza Strip as a single geographical unit, the unity and status of which will be preserved during the interim period.
d- The PLO undertakes, within two months of the date of the inauguration of the Council, to convene the Palestinian National Council and formally approve the necessary changes regarding the Palestinian Charter, as pledged in the letter signed by the Chairman of the PLO and addressed to the Prime Minister of Israel dated September 19, 1993 and May 4, 1994.
R- Pursuant to Annex I, Article VII of this Agreement, Israel confirms that the permanent checkpoints on the roads leading to and from the Jericho area (except those on the road leading from Musa Alami to the Allenby Bridge) will be removed upon completion of the first phase of redeployment.
G- Prisoners who were handed over under the Gaza-Jericho Agreement to the Palestinian Authority on condition that they remain in the Jericho area throughout their sentences will be free to return to their homes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip upon completion of the first phase of redeployment.
Q- Regarding relations between Israel and the PLO, and without prejudice to the commitments contained in the letters signed by and exchanged between the Prime Minister of Israel and the Chairman of the PLO dated September 9, 1993 and May 4, 1994, the two sides will apply between them the provisions contained in Article XXII, “Clause 1,” with the necessary amendments.
1 – K – The preamble to this agreement and all its appendices, appendices and attached maps are considered an integral part of this agreement.
2 – K – The two parties agreed that the maps attached to the (Gaza-Jericho) Agreement are:
1 – Map No. (1) (Gaza Strip) An identical copy is attached to this agreement as Map No. (2) (in this agreement “Map No. (2)”).
2 – Map No. (3) (Deployment of the Palestinian Police in the Gaza Strip), an identical copy attached to this agreement as Map No. (5) (in this agreement “Map No. “5”)
3- Map No. (6) (Maritime Activity) is an integral part and will remain in effect throughout the validity of this agreement.
Sh- While the Jiftlik area will fall under the functional and personal jurisdiction of the Council in the first phase of redeployment, the transfer of the geographical jurisdiction of this area to the Council will be considered by the Israeli side in the first phase of the other redeployment phases.
Palestinian diplomacy, headed by President Mahmoud Abbas “Abu Mazen”, was able to achieve a number of accomplishments on the international scene, which were represented as follows :
List of treaties and agreements to which the State of Palestine has acceded:
The following is a list of the agreements and treaties that President Mahmoud Abbas signed documents and requests for the State of Palestine to join :
Commitment: Change the law to allow for the punishment of crimes against protected persons.
If the provisions are not reserved, it will be necessary to hand over and receive criminals who commit criminal acts against diplomats and internationally protected persons .
No statute of limitations applies to these crimes, regardless of when they were committed.
Obligations: The law must include texts that detail the concept of serious crimes, crimes against humanity and their classification .
The clear and explicit text in the internal law states that these mentioned actions constitute a violation of the law .
To include some of the penalties imposed in the agreement and incorporate them into the applicable penal code .
Its importance: criminalizing transnational organized crimes, including money laundering and corruption, and enhancing international cooperation in this regard in order to confiscate criminals’ money, return it to its origin, extradite and return criminals, and provide assistance to Palestine in strengthening Palestinian institutions, legal and technical, and equipping Palestinian technologies to confront dangers, monitor borders and the electronic domain, and prevent electronic crime, as hackers previously broke into Palestinian servers and the occupation was accused of this act .
Imposing Palestinian sovereignty over land and sea borders .
Obligations: Amend Palestinian law to criminalize this type of crime and prepare prisons and systems for this .
Its importance: Finding mechanisms to hold the occupation accountable for using Palestinian land to bury its waste, in addition to the settlements and their waste. The necessity of defining hazardous waste and sending it to the occupation and the international community, as any waste that is brought in illegally is considered a crime .
Obligations: Inform the General Secretariat of the waste that we consider hazardous, and amend the law to add hazardous waste.
In addition to the fact that no one may exploit the Palestinian continental shelf and Palestine’s sovereignty over its economic rights to the shelf , there is a special court for disputes, and it is accountable to it .
Obligations: Establishing a special law and arrangements regarding seas, marine resources and water resources .
Its importance: The universality of this agreement and its emphasis on the right of peoples to control their resources and have sovereignty over them, and the impact of the occupation, its settlements, settlers and their practices on biological diversity in Palestine, in addition to the technical assistance provided by this agreement to threatened areas .
There, to him to resolve disputes
Obligations: Need to develop a national plan to preserve biodiversity and laws that preserve nature. Part of this is holding the occupation accountable for its practices. And identifying protected sites.
Its importance: Equal sharing of water resources, waterways and rivers. This will embody international law towards obligating Israel to abide by the rules of this agreement . Palestine will be one of the first countries to accept this agreement .
Crimes: Genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and the crime of aggression .
Obligations: Individuals from Palestine will be held accountable if they are accused of committing crimes within the jurisdiction of the court, and Palestinian laws must be amended .
This agreement obliges member states to ensure that women have the right to vote in elections and hold public office on an equal basis with men, the importance of which is to emphasize women’s rights.
This agreement aims to ensure that host countries conduct the tasks of United Nations operations in their areas and that these tasks are limited to maintaining international peace. It also obliges countries to take appropriate measures to prevent attacks on United Nations personnel and persons working with them.
The importance of the New York Convention lies in the recognition and enforcement of foreign arbitral awards issued in other countries .
Its importance: This agreement confirms that nuclear proliferation threatens world peace and the future of humanity. Since Israel is a nuclear state and refuses to comply with international law, especially in placing its facilities under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it can be held accountable, especially since we will be affected in the event of leaks and nuclear danger. In addition, it is in Palestine’s interest to make the Middle East a region free of weapons of mass destruction, especially nuclear weapons .
Shrapnel, incendiary weapons, explosive remnants of war Importance: States Parties and parties to an armed conflict must take action to clear, remove or destroy explosive remnants of war (Article 3), and to record, retain and transmit information relating to the use or abandonment of explosive ordnance (Article 4). States Parties and parties are also obliged to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians (Article 5) and humanitarian missions and organizations (Article 6). States Parties in a position to do so must provide cooperation and assistance for, inter alia, marking, clearance, removal, destruction and victim assistance (Articles 7 and 8). Protocol V entered into force on 12 November 2006.
This agreement can be used to force Israel to help clean up the remains of its military training and not to displace civilians under the pretext of training its forces, in addition to the 19 minefields spread among Palestinian homes in the West Bank.
Not allowing Israel to use excessively harmful weapons such as white phosphorus and other weapons .
Demanding the prohibition of the use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of any State,
it is prohibited to use methods and means of warfare that are intended to cause widespread damage to the natural environment, as happened with the waters in the Gaza Strip.
This agreement is linked to the Geneva Convention.
Obligations: Not to use these weapons, which exposes us to accountability in the event that some militias use this type of locally manufactured weapons. At least two protocols must be ratified .
Palestine is an observer and is attending the Convention Conference as an observer. There is a Palestinian declaration of our desire to enter into this Convention. A national body has been formed to follow up on the issues of weapons, explosives and mines, and it submits a voluntary report to the United Nations .
Its importance: It constitutes part of the tools of international humanitarian law.
Obligations: Forming a national body to follow up on this file, and amendments to the law regarding cluster munitions .
Report on achievements and make financial contributions upon request of the Director General.
Despite the numerous attempts by the Israeli occupation to put all obstacles in the way of Palestine joining various international organizations, especially those concerned with following up on Tel Aviv’s violations and crimes, Palestine has been able in recent years to secure a seat for itself within international institutions, the latest of which was achieved today, Wednesday, after it was accepted into the International Criminal Police Organization “Interpol”. The following is a review of the most important organizations that Palestine has joined since 2004 .
September 27, 2017: The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) accepts Palestine as a member with 74 countries voting in favor of the resolution.
April 4, 2016: The Ministers of Trade of the Agadir Group countries (Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, and Jordan) approved Palestine’s accession to the Agadir Agreement alongside the State of Lebanon, which would allow Palestine to import raw materials and production components necessary for Palestinian industry from the Agadir countries and the European Union countries, carry out the necessary manufacturing processes on them, and re-export them to the markets of the Euro-Mediterranean region, exempt from customs duties, in addition to benefiting from a number of programs.
March 14, 2016: Palestine becomes a full member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration , after a vote of 57 in favor, 24 abstentions and no opposition.
December 12, 2015: Palestine officially joins the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which constitutes a general framework for international efforts to address issues of a global and humanitarian nature.
October 6, 2015: Palestine joins the COMSATS educational foundation, providing opportunities for Palestinian students to exchange expertise with member states of the foundation.
August 12, 2015: The General Assembly of the World Skills Organization, during its 43rd session held in the Brazilian city of Sao Paulo, voted in favor of the State of Palestine’s official membership, making it the 75th country in the organization. It specializes in developing vocational and technical education and training in its member states, and seeks to organize the World Skills Competition once every two years in one of the member states.
May 18, 2015: Palestine officially joins the World Customs Organization.
April 1, 2015: Palestine officially becomes a member of the International Criminal Court .
December 31, 2014: Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas signs a document to join 20 international organizations, treaties and agreements, including: joining the International Criminal Court, the charter paving the way for Palestine’s membership in the Rome Statute, the declaration to accept Articles 12 and 13 of the Rome Statute, the Charter on the Political Rights of Women, the Charter on the Burial of Solid and Noxious Materials in Territories of States Beyond Their Borders, the Charter on the Non-Applicability of Statutory Limitations to War Crimes, the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the Treaty on the Limitation of Certain Conventional Weapons, the Treaty on the Limitation of Cluster Munitions, Protocol 2 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, Protocol 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the Protocol on the Protection of International Persons, the Charter on the Commitment to Implement the Provisions of War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity, and the declaration of the State of Palestine as a state committed to all international charters, institutions and norms.
November 26, 2014: The International Association of Prosecutors approves the application of the Public Prosecution of the State of Palestine to join it, making Palestine the 147th State in this association, following discussions with a number of prosecutions of the member states.
November 22, 2014: The European Federation of Journalists decided to accept the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate as an observer member of the Federation, during its annual meetings held in the Russian capital, Moscow.
September 16, 2014: Palestine joins the European Energy Charter Declaration, which was first adopted in The Hague, Netherlands, in 1991.
October 6, 2013: Palestine joins the Euro-Mediterranean Youth Network. Palestine’s accession to the network represents a space for Palestinian youth and youth civil society organizations to benefit from the network’s various programs and create twinning and partnership relationships with active youth organizations in member states.
September 12, 2013: The Palestine Chefs Club joins the International Chefs Club.
April 16, 2013: The Board of Directors of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries approves the accession of the Palestinian Standards Institution to the Institute.
April 19, 2012: The International Monetary Fund accepts Palestine as a member of the Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS), which includes 22 indicators, allowing all users to view and use them according to their needs. These indicators will also be placed on the electronic board, for dissemination of data in the International Monetary Fund, which includes Palestine on the international statistical map.
November 29, 2012: The United Nations General Assembly votes in favor of Resolution 67/19, which grants Palestine non-member state status in the United Nations, during the 67th General Assembly meeting, which is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. The proposal was submitted by the representative of Palestine to the United Nations.
October 31, 2011: Palestine obtains full membership in the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
October 27, 2011: The coordination meeting of the heads of delegations of the member states of the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) decided to support the accession of the State of Palestine as a full member of UNESCO.
January 25, 2011: Palestine officially joins the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) by signing the agreement at the ICC headquarters in Paris. It occupies an important position on the international level, due to its ability to resolve regional international trade disputes, such as the many trade disputes currently existing between Palestinian, Israeli and international companies, through globally trusted mechanisms.
January 7, 2011: Approval of Palestine’s full and official membership in the Asian Military Sports Federation (CISM), in Bahrain. This membership opens up great opportunities and horizons for Palestinian military teams to participate abroad, in training courses, and in all military sports activities.
January 17, 2007: The energy ministers of the seven-nation electricity interconnection agreed in principle, at their eleventh meeting, to Palestine’s accession to the interconnection countries, pending the completion of the technical and economic studies and legal procedures required for accession.
September 29, 2005: Approval of Palestine’s application for observer membership in the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
June 7, 2005: Palestine officially joins the Euro-Mediterranean Academic Network.
May 31, 2005: Palestine obtained membership in the NATO Parliament during the Ljubljana Conference in the Republic of Slovenia, after the members of the Parliament voted unanimously to grant Palestine a seat as an “observer.”
November 30, 2004: Palestine joined the Austria-based Organization for Security and Cooperation as an associate member, on the sidelines of the Euro-Mediterranean Conference held in The Hague. The organization includes 55 countries, and works in all areas related to security worldwide. Its most prominent goals are to limit the spread of weapons, especially weapons of mass destruction, and to encourage preventive diplomacy in resolving conflicts.
11/9/2015 The United Nations approved raising the Palestinian flag over its headquarters. The resolution was adopted by a majority of 119 votes, with eight countries opposing, while 45 countries abstained from voting.
September 27, 2017 The Interpol General Assembly accepted Palestine as a member after 75 of its member countries voted in favor of the resolution, 24 countries opposed it, and 34 countries abstained from voting.
December 19, 2017 The United Nations General Assembly adopted, on Tuesday, by a majority, a resolution affirming the right of the Palestinians to self-determination, with the support of 176 countries, against the opposition of 7 countries, in addition to the abstention of 4 other countries from voting.
20/December/2017 The United Nations General Assembly voted on a resolution affirming the Palestinian people’s right to sovereignty over their natural resources, with a majority of 163 countries in favor of the resolution, while six countries voted against it, and 11 countries abstained from voting.
December 21, 2017 128 countries voted in the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday to approve a resolution rejecting recognition of US President Trump’s declaration of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, while nine countries rejected the General Assembly resolution and 35 countries abstained.
The State of Palestine has also joined dozens of international treaties and agreements, including, but not limited to :
The list also includes: the Treaty for the Suppression of Nuclear Terrorism, the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, the Rotterdam Convention against Trafficking in and Use of Hazardous Substances, the Stockholm Convention against the Hazards of Exposure to Non-Particulate Organic Pollutants, the Barcelona Convention for the Protection of the Mediterranean Sea against Pollution, and the Convention on Environmental Change .
The list also includes: the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, the Chemical Weapons Convention, the Geneva Protocol on the Prohibition of the Use of Chemical Weapons, the Biological Weapons Convention, the Convention against the Development, Production and Use of Anti-Personnel Mines, the Arms Control Treaty, the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Marketing of Goods, the Convention on Narcotic Drugs, the Convention on Psychotropic Substances, the Customs Convention on the International Carriage of Goods, the Convention against Trafficking in Children, the Practice of Prostitution and the Sexual Exploitation of Children, the Convention to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, and finally Palestine’s accession to the Nuclear Weapons Prohibition Treaty .
This shift in the approach of the United Nations and the countries under its umbrella constitutes a victory for the Palestinian cause, and it is also a glimmer of hope for the Palestinians to regain their full rights .
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