The Interim Agreement for extending Palestinian self-rule in the West Bank effectively brings 28 years of Israeli civil administration of the region to an end.
A key provision of the 40-page accord calls for the election of an 82-member Palestinian Council, after the redeployment of the Israel Defense Force from Palestinian cities and towns across the West Bank. Once the council is inaugurated, the Israeli civil administration in the West Bank will be dissolved.
The 82-member Palestinian Council will have legislative powers. Executive powers will be vested in a separate Executive Authority, which will include council members and appointed officials. There will be separate elections for the Palestinian Council and the Executive Authority.
Other principal features of the Interim Agreement include: * Israeli redeployments: The Israel Defense Force will withdraw from six West Bank population centers – Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, Kalkilya, Ramallah and Bethlehem – designated as “Area A” by Israeli and Palestinian negotiators.
In the West Bank town of Hebron, special arrangements will apply to allow the IDF to remain in the sections of the town where Jewish settlers reside.
The IDF will also redeploy from 450 Arab villages and towns in the West Bank, known as “Area B.”
The IDF redeployments will be completed in Areas A and B by March 1996, by which time Israel will complete construction of a bypass road that will enable Jewish settlers in Hebron to drive to Jerusalem without passing through built- up Palestinian areas.
In other sections of the West Bank – known as “Area C” and comprising unpopulated areas, Jewish settlements and areas of strategic importance to Israel – the IDF will engage in further redeployments in six-month intervals after the inauguration of the elected Palestinian Council. * Security: The Palestinian Council will have full responsibility for internal security and public order, as well as full civil responsibilities, in Area A.
In Area B, the Palestinian Council will be charged with maintaining public order and will have full authority over civilian affairs, while Israel will have overall security authority to safeguard its citizens and to combat terrorism.
Israel will retain full responsibility for security and public order in Area C. * Palestinian elections: Arab residents of eastern Jerusalem will be able to participate in the elections, which will take place 22 days after the completion of the IDF redeployment from Palestinian population centers.
A Palestinian resident of eastern Jerusalem may run for office in the elections only if he or she has an additional valid address in the West Bank or Gaza Strip. * Prisoner releases: Israel will release some 3,000 Palestinian prisoners in two phases: The first will take place upon the signing of the agreement in Washington; the second, on the eve of Palestinian elections.
The two sides also agreed that a third release would take place “according to other principles which will be established separately.” * Palestinian Covenant: Within two months after the elections, the Palestinian Council will revoke those articles in the covenant calling for the destruction of Israel. * Palestinian police: The two sides agreed to the establishment of a 12,000- member Palestinian police force, which will constitute the only Palestinian security force in the West Bank. * Religious sites: Responsibility over religious sites in the West Bank and Gaza will be transferred to the Palestinians. Both sides agreed to protect the sites, to allow free access to them and to provide freedom of worship at the sites for members of all faiths.
Special arrangements to guarantee freedom of access and worship were negotiated with regard to Rache’s Tomb in Bethlehem and Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus.
The status quo of Israeli control over the Tomb of the Patriarchs in Hebron will remain in effect. * Observers: The Palestinian elections will be open to international observers in an effort to ensure that the voting is free and fair.
A temporary international observer presence will be established in Hebron to monitor security and human rights issues. * Water: Israel agreed to increase the amount of water allocated to West Bank Palestinians by 36.4 million cubic yards. Any other addition in allocations to either side will be based on an increase in the available water resources. * Incitement: Israel and the Palestinians agreed to use all the legal means at their disposal to prevent incitement on the part of groups or individuals.
They also agreed that their educational systems would act to advance the cause of peace among Israelis and Palestinians.
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