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Jordanian-Egyptian Proposal For an Israeli-Palestinian Cease-Fire and Resumption of Negotiations

Jordanian-Egyptian Proposal

For an Israeli-Palestinian Cease-Fire and

Resumption of Negotiations

16 April 2001

 

Reaffirming that achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace is the political priority in the Middle East,

Desirous to find the effective means to end the current crisis, and in order to re-launch the Peace Process on the right track, by correcting the deficiencies of the negotiating process, Jordan and Egypt propose the following:

First: Steps to End the Current Crisis between Israel and the Palestinian Authority

In implementation of the understandings reached at the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit that convened on 16 and 17 October 2000, and working towards the return to the state that prevailed prior to September, 2000:

1. Both parties shall undertake, in one week from this agreement, concrete steps on each side to diffuse the current crisis, end confrontation, and restore calm.

2. Ending the military, (financial), and economic siege, and the blockade on the free movement of materials and food supplies, imposed in the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza Strip, as well as refraining from the use of internationally prohibited weapons. This shall be implemented during the same period.

3. In parallel, Israel shall withdraw all its military forces, tanks, armored vehicles, and weapons from their current positions in and around Palestinian cities, villages, and refugee camps to their locations that existed in September 2000.

4. Immediate release and transfer of all outstanding arrears to the Palestinian Authority.

5. In parallel to the implementation of all the above-mentioned steps, the Political/Security Committee at the high officials' level shall convene to monitor this implementation.

Second: Confidence-Building measures

In the light of the current climate of distrust, both parties will adopt measures aiming at restoring trust and confidence between the Palestinian and Israeli peoples, through resuming the faithful implementation of their commitments as agreed on or stipulated in the signed agreements, including:

1. The immediate resumption of implementing all articles of the Sharm el-Sheikh memorandum signed on 5 September 1999.

2. Total and immediate freeze of all settlement activities including those in East Jerusalem.

3. Mutual implementation of all security commitments.

4. The protection of all holy places and religious sites.

5. Mutual implementation of all other commitments as agreed upon by both parties.

Third: Rebuilding the negotiating process on the Palestinian Track:

In conjunction with the confidence building measures and the previously mentioned steps in item “First” which aims at ending the current crisis, both parties shall decide to resume work on all items on the agenda for the permanent status negotiations including: Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, borders, settlements, security, water, and all other basic issues, with no exception or prejudice according to signed agreements, with the aim of implementing fully Security Council resolutions 242 and 338. Both parties agree that they will conclude these negotiations within one year from the date of their resumption.

The negotiations between both parties must be based on the need to preserve and develop the progress that has been achieved during the period from November 1999 until January 2001, including all rounds of bilateral negotiations, the Camp David Summit and its aftermath, until the Taba round of negotiations on 21-28 January 2001.

Fourth: To guarantee the adherence of both parties to the strict and faithful implementation of the above mentioned items it is proposed that the sponsors of the peace process, the European Union, Egypt, Jordan and the secretary- general of the United Nations shall monitor this implementation and its progress.

 

Source: Journal of Palestine Studies, vol. xxx, n° 4, Summer 2001.