The following text has been placed in the
House of Commons library by the Foreign Office. This is a draft, which
officials say will be "topped and tailed" - but not substantially
altered - within the next two weeks.
The following is a performance-based and goal driven roadmap with
clear phases, timelines, target dates and benchmarks aiming at
progress through reciprocal steps by the two parties in the political,
security, economic, humanitarian and institution-building fields,
under the auspices of the Quartet.
The destination is a final and comprehensive settlement of the
Israel-Palestinian conflict by 2005, as presented in President Bush's
speech of 24 June, and welcomed by the EU, Russia, and the UN in the
16 July and 17 September Quartet Ministerial statements.
A two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict will only be
achieved through an end to violence and terrorism, when the
Palestinian people have a leadership acting decisively against terror
and willing able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance
and liberty, and through Israel's readiness to do what is necessary
for a democratic Palestinian state to be established, and a clear,
unambiguous acceptance by both parties of the goal of a negotiated
settlement as described below.
The Quartet will assist and facilitate implementation of the plan,
starting in Phase I, including direct discussions between the parties
as required.
The plan establishes a realistic timeline for implementation. However,
as a performance-based plan, progress will require and depend upon the
good faith efforts of the parties, and their compliance with each of
the obligations outlined below. Should the parties perform their
obligations rapidly, progress within and through the phases may come
sooner than indicated in the plan. Non-compliance with obligations
will impede progress.
A settlement, negotiated between the parties, will result in the
emergence of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state
living side by side in peace and security with Israel and its other
neighbors.
The settlement will resolve the Israel-Palestinian conflict and end
the occupation that began in 1967, based on the foundations on the
Madrid Conference, the principle of land for peace, UNSCRs 242, 338
and 1397, agreements previously reached by the parties, and the
initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Abdullah – endorsed by the Beirut
Arab League Summit – calling for acceptance of Israel as a neighbor
living in peace and security, in the context of a comprehensive
settlement.
This initiative is a vital element of international efforts to promote
a comprehensive peace on all tracks, including the Syrian-Israeli and
Lebanese-Israeli tracks.
The Quartet will meet regularly at senior levels to evaluate the
parties' performance on implementation of the plan. In each phase, the
parties are expected to perform their obligations in parallel, unless
otherwise indicated.
PHASE I: ENDING TERROR AND VIOLENCE, NORMALIZING PALESTINIAN LIFE
AND BUILDING PALESTINIAN INSTITUTIONS
PRESENT TO MAY 2003
In Phase I, the Palestinians immediately undertake an unconditional
cessation of violence according to the steps outlined below; such
action should be accompanied by supportive measures undertaken by
Israel.
• Palestinians and Israelis resume security cooperation based
on the Tenet work plan to end violence, terrorism, and incitement
through restructured and effective Palestinian security services.
Palestinian undertake comprehensive political reform in preparation
for statehood, including drafting a Palestinian constitution, and
free, fair and open elections upon the basis of those measures.
• Israel takes all necessary steps to help normalize
Palestinian life. Israel withdraws from Palestinian areas occupied
from September 28, 2000 and the two sides restore the status quo that
existed at that time, as security performance and cooperation
progress.
• Israel also freezes all settlement activity, consistent
with the Mitchell report.
• At the outset of Phase I, the Palestinian leadership issues
unequivocal statement reiterating Israel's right to exist in peace and
security and calling for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire to
end armed activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere.
All official Palestinian institutions end incitement against Israel.
• Israeli leadership issues unequivocal statement affirming
its commitments to the two-state vision of an independent, viable,
sovereign Palestinian state living in peace and security alongside
Israel, as expressed by President Bush, and calling for an immediate
end to violence against Palestinians everywhere. All official Israeli
institutions end incitement against Palestinians.
SECURITY
• Palestinians declare an unequivocal end to violence and
terrorism and undertake visible efforts on the ground to arrest,
disrupt, and restrain individuals and groups conducting and planning
violent attacks on Israelis anywhere.
• Rebuilt and refocused Palestinian Authority security
apparatus begins sustained, targeted, and effective operations aimed
at confronting all those engaged in terror and dismantlement of
terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. This includes commencing
confiscation of illegal weapons and consolidation of security
authority, free of association with terror and corruption.
• GOI takes no actions undermining trust, including
deportations, attack on civilians; confiscation and/or demolition of
Palestinian homes and property, as a punitive measure or to facilitate
Israeli construction; destruction of Palestinian institutions and
infrastructure; and other measures specified in the Tenet Work Plan.
• Relying on existing mechanisms and on-the-ground resources,
Quartet representatives begin informal monitoring and consult with the
parties on establishment of a formal monitoring mechanism and its
implementation.
• Implementation, as previously agreed, of U.S. rebuilding,
training and resumed security cooperation plan in collaboration with
outside oversight board (U.S. – Egypt – Jordan). Quartet support
for efforts to achieve a lasting, comprehensive cease-fire.
• All Palestinian security organizations are consolidated
into three services reporting to an empowered Interior Minister.
• Restructured/retained Palestinian security forces and IDF
counterparts progressively resume security cooperation and other
undertakings in implementation of the Tenet work plan, including
regular senior-level meetings, with the participation of U.S. security
officials.
• Arab states cut off public and private funding and all
other forms of support for groups supporting and engaging in violence
and terror.
• All donors providing budgetary support for the Palestinians
channel these funds through the Palestinian Ministry of Finance's
Single Treasury Account.
• As comprehensive security performance moves forward, IDF
withdraws progressively from areas occupied since September 28, 2000
and the two sides restore the status quo that existed prior to
September 28, 2000. Palestinian security forces re deploy to areas
vacated by IDF.
PALESTINIAN INSTITUTION-BUILDING
• Immediate action on credible process to produce draft
constitution for Palestinian statehood. As rapidly as possible,
constitutional committee circulates draft Palestinian constitution,
based on strong parliamentary democracy and cabinet with empowered
prime minister, for public comment/debate. Constitutional building
proposes draft document for submission after elections for approval by
appropriate Palestinian institutions.
• Appointment of interim prime minister or cabinet with
empowered executive authority/decision-making body.
• GOI fully facilitates travel of Palestinian officials for
PLC and Cabinet sessions, internationally supervised security
retraining, electoral and other reform activity, and other supportive
measures related to the reform efforts.
• Continued appointment of Palestinian ministers empowered to
undertake fundamental reform. Completion of further steps to achieve
genuine separation of powers, including any necessary Palestinian
legal reforms for this purpose.
• Establishment of independent Palestinian election
commission. PLC reviews and revises elections law.
• Palestinian performance on judicial, administrative and
economic benchmarks, as established by the International Task Force on
Palestinian Reform.
• As early as possible, and based upon the above measures and
in the context of open debate and transparent candidate
selection/electoral campaign based on a free, multiparty process,
Palestinians hold free, open, and fair elections.
• GOI facilitates Task Force election assistance,
registration of voters, movement of candidates and voting officials.
Support for NGOs involved in the election process.
• GOI reopens Palestinian Chamber of Commerce and other
closed Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem based on a
commitment that these institutions operate strictly in accordance with
prior agreements between the parties.
HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE
• Israel takes measures to improve the humanitarian situation.
Israel and Palestinians implement in full all recommendations of the
Bertini report to improve humanitarian conditions, lifting curfews,
and easing restrictions on movement of persons and goods, and allowing
full, safe, and unfettered access of international and humanitarian
personnel.
• AHLC reviews the humanitarian situation and prospects for
economic development in the West Bank and Gaza and launches a major
donor assistance effort, including to the reform effort.
• GOI and PA continue revenue clearance process and transfer
of funds, including areas, in accordance with agreed, transparent
monitoring mechanism.
CIVIL SOCIETY
• Continued donor support, including increased funding through
PVOs/NGOs, for people to people programmes, private sector development
and civil society initiatives.
SETTLEMENTS
• GOI immediately dismantles settlement outposts erected since
March 2001.
• Consistent with the Mitchell Report, GOI freezes all
settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements).
PHASE II: TRANSITION
JUNE 2003 – DECEMBER 2003
In the second phase, efforts are focused on the option of creating an
independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes
of sovereignty, based on the new constitution, as a way-station to a
permanent status settlement.
As has been noted, this goal can be achieved when the Palestinian
people have a leadership acting decisively against terror, willing and
able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty.
With such a leadership, reformed civil institutions and security
structures, the Palestinians will have the active support of the
Quartet and the broader international community in establishing an
independent, viable, state.
Progress into Phase II will be based upon the consensus judgment of
the Quartet of whether conditions are appropriate to proceed, taking
into account performance of both parties.
Furthering and sustaining efforts to normalize Palestinian lives and
build Palestinian institutions, Phase II starts after Palestinian
elections and ends with possible creation of an independent
Palestinian state with provisional borders in 2003.
Its primary goals are continued comprehensive security performance and
effective security cooperation, continued normalization of Palestinian
life and institution-building, further building on and sustaining of
the goals outlined in Phase I, ratification of a democratic
Palestinian constitution, formal establishment of office of prime
minister, consolidation of political reform, and the creation of a
Palestinian state with provisional borders.
INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
• Convened by the Quartet, in consultation with the parties,
immediately after the successful conclusion of Palestinian elections,
to support Palestinian economic recovery and launch a process leading
to establishment of an independent Palestinian state with provisional
borders.
• Such a meeting would be inclusive, based on the goal of a
comprehensive Middle East peace (including between Israel and Syria,
and Israel and Lebanon), and based on the principles described in the
preamble to this document.
• Arab states restore pre-intifada links to Israel (trade
offices, etc.).
• Revival of multilateral engagement on issues including
regional water resources, environment, economic development, refugees
and arms control issues.
• New constitution for democratic, independent Palestinian
state is finalized and approved by appropriate Palestinian
institutions. Further elections, if required, should follow approval
of the new constitution.
• Empowered reform cabinet with office of prime minister
formally established, consistent with draft constitution.
• Continued comprehensive security performance, including
effective security cooperation on the bases laid out in Phase I.
• Creation of an independent Palestinian state with
provisional borders through a process of Israeli-Palestinian
engagement. Launched by the international conference. As part of this
process, implementation of prior agreements, to enhance maximum
territorial contiguity, including further action on settlements in
conjunction with establishment of a Palestinian state with provisional
borders.
• Enhanced international role in monitoring transition, with
the active, sustained, and operational support of the Quartet.
• Quartet members promote international recognition of
Palestinian state, including possible UN membership.
PHASE III: PERMANENT STATUS AGREEMENT AND END OF THE ISRAELI –
PALESTINIAN CONFLICT
2004 – 2005
Progress into Phase III, based on consensus judgment of Quartet, and
taking into account actions of both parties and Quartet monitoring.
Phase III objectives are consolidation of reform and stabilization of
Palestinian institutions, sustained, effective Palestinian security
performance, and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at a permanent
status agreement in 2005.
SECOND INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
• Convened by Quartet, in consultation with the parties, at
beginning of 2004 to endorse agreement reached on an independent
Palestinian state with provisional borders and formally to launch a
process with the active, sustained, and operational support of the
Quartet, leading to a final, permanent status resolution in 2005,
including on borders, Jerusalem, refugees, settlements and to support
progress toward a comprehensive Middle East settlement between Israel
and Lebanon and Israel and Syria, to be achieved as soon as possible.
• Continued comprehensive, effective progress on the reform
agenda laid out by the Task Force in preparation for final status
agreement.
• Continued sustained and effective security performance and
sustained, effective security cooperation on the basis laid out in
Phase I.
• International efforts to facilitate reform and stabilize
Palestinian institutions and the Palestinian economic, in preparation
for final status agreement.
• Parties reach final and comprehensive permanent status
agreement that ends the Israel – Palestinian conflict in 2005,
through a settlement negotiated between the parties based on UNSCR
242, 338, and 1397, that ends the occupation that began in 1967, and
includes an agreed, just, fair, and realistic solution to the refugee
issue, and a negotiated resolution on the status of Jerusalem that
takes into account the political and religious concerns of both sides,
and protects the religious interests of Jews, Christians, and Muslims
worldwide, and fulfills the vision of two states, Israel and
sovereign, independent, democratic and viable Palestine, living
side-by-side in peace and security.
• Arab state acceptance of full normal relations with Israel
and security for all the states of the region in the context of a
compressive Arab-Israeli peace.
http://www.news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=424602003
Ecclesiasticus 5:7
Make no tarrying to turn to the Lord, and put not off from day to day:
for suddenly shall the wrath of the Lord come forth, and in thy security
thou shalt be destroyed, and perish in the day of vengeance.
1 Thessalonians 5:3
For when they shall say, Peace and safety;
then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child;
and they shall not escape.
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