ISRAEL-PALESTINIAN
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES ON
INTERIM SELF-GOVERNMENT ARRANGEMENTS
 
 
The Government of the State of Israel and the  P.L.O.  team  (in  the
Jordanian-Palestinian delegation to the Middle East Peace Conference)
(the 'Palestinian Delegation'), representing the Palestinian  people,
agree that it is time to put an end to decades of  confrontation  and
conflict, recognize their mutual legitimate and political rights, and
strive to  live  in  peaceful  coexistence  and  mutual  dignity  and
security  and  achieve  a  just,  lasting  and  comprehensive   peace
settlement and historic reconciliation through the  agreed  political
process.
 
Accordingly, the two sides agree to the following principles:
 
 
Article I
 
AIM OF THE NEGOTIATIONS
 
The aim of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations  within  the  current
Middle East peace process is, among  other  things,  to  establish  a
Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority,  the  elected  Council
(the 'Council'), 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  based  on   Security   Council
Resolutions 242 and 338.
 
It is understood that the interim arrangements are an  integral  part
of the whole peace process and that the negotiations on the permanent
status  will  lead  to  the  implementation   of   Security   Council
Resolutions 242 and 338.
 
 
Article II
 
FRAMEWORK FOR THE INTERIM PERIOD
 
The agreed framework for the interim period  is  set  forth  in  this
Declaration of Principles.
 
 
Article III
 
ELECTIONS
 
1. In order that the Palestinian people in the  West  Bank  and  Gaza
Strip may  govern  themselves  according  to  democratic  principles,
direct, free and general political elections will  be  held  for  the
Council under agreed supervision and international observation, while
the Palestinian police will ensure public order.
 
2. An agreement will be concluded on the exact mode and conditions of
the elections in accordance with the protocol attached  as  Annex  I,
with the goal of holding the elections not  later  than  nine  months
after the entry into force of this Declaration of Principles.
 
3. These elections will constitute a significant interim  preparatory
step  toward  the  realization  of  the  legitimate  rights  of   the
Palestinian people and their just requirements.
 
 
Article IV
 
JURISDICTION
 
Jurisdiction of the Council will  cover  West  Bank  and  Gaza  Strip
territory, except for issues that will be negotiated in the permanent
status negotiations. The two sides view the West Bank  and  the  Gaza
Strip as a single territorial unit, whose integrity will be preserved
during the interim period.
 
 
Article V
 
TRANSITIONAL PERIOD AND PERMANENT STATUS NEGOTIATIONS
 
1. The five-year transitional period will begin upon  the  withdrawal
from the Gaza Strip and Jericho area.
 
2. Permanent status negotiations will commence as soon  as  possible,
but not later than the beginning of the third  year  of  the  interim
period, between the Government of Israel and the  Palestinian  people
representatives.
 
3. It is understood that these  negotiations  shall  cover  remaining
issues,  including:  Jerusalem,   refugees,   settlements,   security
arrangements,  borders,  relations   and   cooperation   with   other
neighbors, and other issues of common interest.
 
4. The two parties agree that the outcome  of  the  permanent  status
negotiations should not be  prejudiced  or  preempted  by  agreements
reached for the interim period.
 
 
Article VI
 
PREPARATORY TRANSFER OF POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
 
1. Upon the entry into force of this Declaration  of  Principles  and
the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and the Jericho area,  a  transfer
of authority from the  Israeli  military  government  and  its  Civil
Administration to the  authorised  Palestinians  for  this  task,  as
detailed herein, will commence. This transfer of authority will be of
a preparatory nature until the inauguration of the Council.
 
2. Immediately after the entry into  force  of  this  Declaration  of
Principles and the withdrawal from the Gaza Strip and  Jericho  area,
with the view to promoting economic development in the West Bank  and
Gaza Strip, authority will be transferred to the Palestinians on  the
following spheres: education and  culture,  health,  social  welfare,
direct taxation, and tourism. The Palestinian side will  commence  in
building the Palestinian police force, as agreed  upon.  Pending  the
inauguration of the  Council,  the  two  parties  may  negotiate  the
transfer of additional powers and responsibilities, as agreed upon.
 
 
Article VII
 
INTERIM AGREEMENT
 
1.  The  Israeli  and  Palestinian  delegations  will  negotiate   an
agreement on the interim period (the 'Interim Agreement').
 
2. The Interim Agreement  shall  specify,  among  other  things,  the
structure of the Council, the number of its members, and the transfer
of powers and responsibilities from the Israeli  military  government
and its Civil Administration to the Council.  The  Interim  Agreement
shall also specify the  Council's  executive  authority,  legislative
authority in accordance with Article IX below,  and  the  independent
Palestinian judicial organs.
 
3.  The  Interim  Agreement  shall  include   arrangements,   to   be
implemented upon the inauguration of the Council, for the  assumption
by the Council of all of the powers and responsibilities  transferred
previously in accordance with Article VI above.
 
4. In order to enable the Council to promote  economic  growth,  upon
its inauguration, the Council will establish, among other  things,  a
Palestinian Electricity Authority,  a  Gaza  Sea  Port  Authority,  a
Palestinian Development Bank, a Palestinian Export Promotion Board, a
Palestinian Environmental Authority, a Palestinian Land Authority and
a  Palestinian  Water  Administration  Authority,   and   any   other
Authorities agreed upon, in accordance  with  the  Interim  Agreement
that will specify their powers and responsibilities.
 
5. After the inauguration of the Council,  the  Civil  Administration
will be dissolved,  and  the  Israeli  military  government  will  be
withdrawn.
 
 
Article VIII
 
PUBLIC ORDER AND SECURITY
 
In order to guarantee public order  and  internal  security  for  the
Palestinians of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,  the  Council  will
establish a strong police force, while Israel will continue to  carry
the responsibility for defending against external threats, as well as
the responsibility for overall security of Israelis for  the  purpose
of safeguarding their internal security and public order.
 
 
Article IX
 
LAWS AND MILITARY ORDERS
 
1. The Council will be empowered to legislate, in accordance with the
Interim Agreement, within all authorities transferred to it.
 
2.  Both  parties  will  review  jointly  laws  and  military  orders
presently in force in remaining spheres.
 
 
Article X
 
JOINT ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN LIAISON COMMITTEE
 
In order to provide for a smooth implementation of  this  Declaration
of Principles and any subsequent agreements pertaining to the interim
period, upon the entry into force of this Declaration of  Principles,
a Joint Israeli-Palestinian Liaison Committee will be established  in
order to deal with issues requiring  coordination,  other  issues  of
common interest, and disputes.
 
 
Article XI
 
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN COOPERATION IN ECONOMIC FIELDS
 
Recognizing the  mutual  benefit  of  cooperation  in  promoting  the
development of the West Bank, the Gaza Strip  and  Israel,  upon  the
entry  into   force   of   this   Declaration   of   Principles,   an
Israeli-Palestinian   Economic   Cooperation   Committee   will    be
established in order to develop and implement in a cooperative manner
the programs identified in the protocols attached as  Annex  III  and
Annex IV.
 
 
Article XII
 
LIAISON AND COOPERATION WITH JORDAN AND EGYPT
 
The two parties will invite the Governments of Jordan  and  Egypt  to
participate  in  establishing   further   liaison   and   cooperation
arrangements between the Government of  Israel  and  the  Palestinian
representatives, on the one hand, and the Governments of  Jordan  and
Egypt, on the other hand, to promote cooperation between them.  These
arrangements will include the constitution of a Continuing  Committee
that will decide by agreement  on  the  modalities  of  admission  of
persons displaced from the West Bank and Gaza Strip in 1967, together
with necessary measures to prevent  disruption  and  disorder.  Other
matters of common concern will be dealt with by this Committee.
 
 
Article XIII
 
REDEPLOYMENT OF ISRAELI FORCES
 
1. After the entry into force of this Declaration of Principles,  and
not later than the eve of elections for the Council,  a  redeployment
of Israeli military forces in the West Bank and the Gaza  Strip  will
take place, in addition to withdrawal of Israeli forces  carried  out
in accordance with Article XIV.
 
2. In redeploying its military forces, Israel will be guided  by  the
principle that its  military  forces  should  be  redeployed  outside
populated areas.
 
3. Further redeployments to specified  locations  will  be  gradually
implemented commensurate with the assumption  of  responsibility  for
public order and internal security by the  Palestinian  police  force
pursuant to Article VIII above.
 
 
Article XIV
 
ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL FROM THE GAZA STRIP AND JERICHO AREA
 
Israel will withdraw  from  the  Gaza  Strip  and  Jericho  area,  as
detailed in the protocol attached as Annex II.
 
 
Article XV
 
RESOLUTION OF DISPUTES
 
1. Disputes arising out of the application or interpretation of  this
Declaration of Principles. or any subsequent agreements pertaining to
the interim period, shall be resolved  by  negotiations  through  the
Joint Liaison Committee to  be  established  pursuant  to  Article  X
above.
 
2. Disputes which cannot be settled by negotiations may  be  resolved
by a mechanism of conciliation to be agreed upon by the parties.
 
3. The parties may agree to submit to arbitration  disputes  relating
to the interim period, which cannot be settled through  conciliation.
To this end, upon the agreement of both  parties,  the  parties  will
establish an Arbitration Committee.
 
 
Article XVI
 
ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN COOPERATION CONCERNING REGIONAL PROGRAMS
 
Both parties view the multilateral working groups as  an  appropriate
instrument for promoting a 'Marshall Plan', the regional programs and
other programs, including special programs for the West Bank and Gaza
Strip, as indicated in the protocol attached as Annex IV.
 
 
Article XVII
 
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
 
1. This Declaration of Principles will enter  into  force  one  month
after its signing.
 
2. All protocols annexed to this Declaration of Principles and Agreed
Minutes pertaining thereto shall be  regarded  as  an  integral  part
hereof.
 
 
 
 
Done at Washington, D.C., this thirteenth day of September, 1993.
 
For the Government of Israel:               For the P.L.O.:
 
 
 
 
                           Witnessed By:
 
 
 
The United States of America                The Russian Federation
 
 
9-SEP-1993
