Disarmament Diplomacy

In the News

Geneva Accord, December 1, 2003

Excerpts, Draft Permanent Status Agreement,

This constructive plan for peace was negotiated by teams of Israelis and Palestinians led by Yossi Beilin, a former Israeli justice minister, and Yasser Abed Rabbo, a former Palestinian information minister. Viewed by many as containing the compromises necessary for peace to be possible, the Geneva Accord specifies a territorial solution that brings Israel back to the pre-1967 borders, with minor border modifications, and specifies what those modifications are. It provides funds to compensate Palestinian refugees who will be resettled in the new Palestinian state. It moves Israeli settlers back into Israel. It specifies how Jerusalem will be shared in ways that give both security and access to the holy sites of each people. It provides for lasting security for both sides. It is long, detailed and carefully worked out. Below we offer a short excerpt from the preamble.

For the full text and further commentary, see: http://www.tikkun.org/community/index.cfm/action/current_projects/article/14.html and http://www.coalitionofwomen4peace.org.

Preamble (Excerpts)

...Recognizing that peace requires the transition from the logic of war and confrontation to the logic of peace and cooperation, and that acts and words characteristic of the state of war are neither appropriate nor acceptable in the era of peace;

Affirming their deep belief that the logic of peace requires compromise, and that the only viable solution is a two-state solution based on UNSC Resolution 242 and 338;

Affirming that this agreement marks the recognition of the right of the Jewish people to statehood and the recognition of the right of the Palestinian people to statehood, without prejudice to the equal rights of the Parties' respective citizens;

Recognizing that after years of living in mutual fear and insecurity, both peoples need to enter an era of peace, security and stability...

Recognizing each other's right to peaceful and secure existence within secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or acts of force

Determined to establish relations based on cooperation and the commitment to live side by side as good neighbors aiming both separately and jointly to contribute to the well-being of their peoples;

Reaffirming their obligation to conduct themselves in conformity with the norms of international law and the Charter of the United Nations;

...Confirming that this Agreement is concluded within the framework of the Middle East peace process initiated in Madrid in October 1991, the Declaration of Principles of September 13, 1993, the subsequent agreements including the Interim Agreement of September 1995, the Wye River Memorandum of October 1998 and the Sharm El-Sheikh Memorandum of September 4, 1999, and the permanent status negotiations including the Camp David Summit of July 2000, the Clinton Ideas of December 2000, and the Taba Negotiations of January 2001;...

Back to the top of page

© 2003 The Acronym Institute.