“Gaza-Jericho” Fourth Anniversary: Four Years of Palestinian Violations

“Gaza-Jericho” Fourth Anniversary: Four Years of Palestinian Violations

Communicated by the Israel Government Press Office, May 3, 1998

At a ceremony in Cairo on May 4, 1994, Israel and the Palestinians signed the Gaza-Jericho
Agreement. The accord led to the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) shortly
thereafter. Each side undertook numerous obligations, chief among them Israel’s commitment to
turn territory over to the PA, and the Palestinian commitment to combat terror and prevent
violence. Following is a summary of the two sides’ actions in the past four years:

Israeli Concessions

In the four years since the Gaza-Jericho Agreement, Israel has made tangible concessions to the
Palestinians:

1. Israeli forces withdrew from Jericho and most of the Gaza Strip
   (May 1994)
2. After the signing of the September 1995 Oslo 2 Accords, Israeli forces withdrew from six
   cities in the West Bank: Jenin, Tulkarem, Kalkilya, Nablus, Ramallah, Bethlehem
3. After the signing of the January 1997 Hebron Accord, Israeli forces withdrew from 80%
   of Hebron, one of Judaism’s holiest cities.
4. On March 6, 1997, the Israeli Cabinet approved the first phase of the further West Bank
   redeployments, consisting of 9.1% of the territory.

   This included 7% of territory that is currently Area B (Israeli security control, Palestinian
   civilian control) and 2.1% of Area C (exclusive Israeli control). The redeployment would have
   tripled the size of West Bank territory under exclusive Palestinian control. The PA rejected the
   Israeli Cabinet decision.

5. On March 19, 1997, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that Israel is prepared
   to enter final status talks with the Palestinians immediately, offering an accelerated timetable
   under which the negotiations would be completed within six to nine months. The PA rejected
   the Israeli proposal.
6. On November 30, 1997, the Israeli Cabinet approved in principle the second stage of the
   further redeployments in the West Bank. Subsequent meetings have been held to work out the
   conditions and details of the move.

As a result of Israel’s withdrawals, more than 95% of Palestinians in Judea, Samaria and
Gaza now live under Palestinian administration.

Palestinian Violations

The four years since the Gaza-Jericho Agreement have been marked by systematic Palestinian
non-compliance with their main obligations under the accords. Various Palestinian commitments
contained in the May 1994 Gaza-Jericho Agreement were recycled in the September 1995 Oslo
2 Accord and reaffirmed in the January 1997 Hebron Accord, yet remain unfulfilled.

Following is a table outlining the Palestinian non-compliance with their

obligations:

– Commitment –

Eliminate Articles in the PLO Covenant Calling for Israel’s Destruction

– First Undertaken –

1) Oslo 1 – 9/93

– Reaffirmed –

2) Gaza-Jericho Accord – 5/94

3) Oslo 2 Accord – 9/95

4) Hebron Protocol – 1/97

– Action Taken –

In April 1996, the PNC empowered a legal committee to redraft the Covenant. No PNC action
taken since to effectuate changes.

– Conclusion –

Commitment Unfulfilled

– Commitment –

Uproot Terrorist Infrastructure

– First Undertaken –

1) Gaza-Jericho Accord – 5/94

– Reaffirmed –

2) Oslo 2 Accord – 9/95

3) Hebron Protocol – 1/97

– Action Taken –

Some terrorists arrested but almost always freed.

Some terror attacks prevented, but no action against terrorists military infrastructure.

– Conclusion –

Commitment Unfulfilled

– Commitment –

Transfer of Terror Fugitives

– First Undertaken –

1) Gaza-Jericho Accord – 5/94

– Reaffirmed –

2) Oslo 2 Accord – 9/95

3) Hebron Protocol – 1/97

– Action Taken –

All of Israel’s requests for 33 fugitives ignored

– Conclusion –

Commitment Unfulfilled

– Commitment –

Disarm/Disband Terror Groups

– First Undertaken –

1) Gaza-Jericho Accord – 5/94

– Reaffirmed –

2) Oslo 2 Accord – 9/95

3) Hebron Protocol – 1/97

– Action Taken –

PA has disbanded none of the major terror groups

– Conclusion –

Commitment Unfulfilled

– Commitment –

Confiscate All Illegal Weapons

– First Undertaken –

1) Gaza-Jericho Accord – 5/94

– Reaffirmed –

2) Oslo 2 Accord – 9/95

3) Hebron Protocol – 1/97

– Action Taken –

Weapons caches uncovered with great fanfare, but tens of thousands of weapons still in
terrorists hands

– Conclusion –

Commitment Unfulfilled

– Commitment –

No anti-Israel incitement

– First Undertaken –

1) Oslo 1 – 9/93

– Reaffirmed –

2) Gaza-Jericho Accord – 5/94

3) Oslo 2 Accord – 9/95

4) Hebron Protocol – 1/97

– Action Taken –

PA officials and media regularly incite hatred and violence against Israel

– Conclusion –

Commitment Unfulfilled

– Commitment –

No PA Activity in Jerusalem

– First Undertaken –

1) Gaza-Jericho Accord 5/94

– Reaffirmed –

2) Oslo 2 Accord – 9/95

3) Hebron Protocol – 1/97

– Action Taken –

Several PA offices operate in Jerusalem

– Conclusion –

Commitment Unfulfilled