Israel–Palestine Liberation Organization letters of recognition
The Letters of Mutual Recognition were exchanged between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization on 9 September 1993. In their correspondence, Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin and Palestinian political leader Yasser Arafat agreed to begin cooperating towards a peaceful solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. The PLO recognized Israel's right to exist in peace, renounced Palestinian militancy and terrorism, and accepted UNSC Resolution 242 and UNSC Resolution 338. Israel recognized the PLO as a legitimate authority representing the Palestinian people and agreed to commence comprehensive negotiations for the Israeli–Palestinian peace process. These initial agreements between Rabin and Arafat laid the groundwork for the Oslo I Accord on 13 September 1993, effectively serving as its preamble.
Correspondence
[edit]There were a total of three letters exchanged, with one letter from Palestinian political leader Yasser Arafat to Norwegian foreign minister Johan Jørgen Holst. The correspondences are shown below:[1][2]
PLO to Israel: letter from Yasser Arafat to Yitzhak Rabin
[edit]- September 9, 1993
- Yitzhak Rabin
- Prime Minister of Israel
- Mr. Prime Minister,
- The signing of the Declaration of Principles marks a new era in the history of the Middle East. In firm conviction thereof, I would like to confirm the following PLO commitments:
- The PLO recognizes the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security.
- The PLO accepts United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
- The PLO commits itself to the Middle East peace process, and to a peaceful resolution of the conflict between the two sides and declares that all outstanding issues relating to permanent status will be resolved through negotiations.
- The PLO considers that the signing of the Declaration of Principles constitutes a historic event, inaugurating a new epoch of peaceful coexistence, free from violence and all other acts which endanger peace and stability. Accordingly, the PLO renounces the use of terrorism and other acts of violence and will assume responsibility over all PLO elements and personnel in order to assure their compliance, prevent violations and discipline violators.
- In view of the promise of a new era and the signing of the Declaration of Principles and based on Palestinian acceptance of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the PLO affirms that those articles of the Palestinian Covenant which deny Israel's right to exist, and the provisions of the Covenant which are inconsistent with the commitments of this letter are now inoperative and no longer valid. Consequently, the PLO undertakes to submit to the Palestinian National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the Palestinian Covenant.
- Sincerely,
- Yasser Arafat
- Chairman
- The Palestine Liberation Organization
PLO to Norway: letter from Yasser Arafat to Johan Jørgen Holst
[edit]- September 9, 1993
- His Excellency
- Johan Jørgen Holst
- Foreign Minister of Norway
- Dear Minister Holst,
- I would like to confirm to you that, upon the signing of the Declaration of Principles, the PLO encourages and calls upon the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to take part in the steps leading to the normalization of life, rejecting violence and terrorism, contributing to peace and stability and participating actively in shaping reconstruction, economic development and cooperation.
- Sincerely,
- Yasser Arafat
- Chairman
- The Palestine Liberation Organization
Israel to PLO: letter from Yitzhak Rabin to Yasser Arafat
[edit]- September 9, 1993
- Yasser Arafat
- Chairman
- The Palestine Liberation Organization.
- Mr. Chairman,
- In response to your letter of September 9, 1993, I wish to confirm to you that, in light of the PLO commitments included in your letter, the Government of Israel has decided to recognize the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and commence negotiations with the PLO within the Middle East peace process.
- Sincerely,
- Yitzhak Rabin
- Prime Minister of Israel
Documents of the Oslo Accords
[edit]Additional cooperative documents signed between Israel and the PLO in light of the Oslo Accords: etc.
Miscellaneous The term "Palestinian genocide" is highly controversial and politically charged. It is important to approach this topic with sensitivity and an understanding of the complexities involved. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has had significant economic, social, and political impacts on many countries in the Middle East, particularly those that have been directly involved or have hosted large numbers of Palestinian refugees. Among Arab countries, Lebanon and Jordan have faced substantial economic burdens due to the influx of Palestinian refugees and the ongoing conflict. Both countries have had to allocate significant resources to support refugee populations, which has strained their economies. 1. **Lebanon**: Lebanon has hosted a large number of Palestinian refugees since the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The presence of these refugees has had long-term economic implications for the country, including increased demand for public services, housing, and employment opportunities. Additionally, the Lebanese Civil War (1975-1990) was partly fueled by tensions related to the Palestinian presence, further exacerbating economic challenges. 2. **Jordan**:Jordan also hosts a significant Palestinian refugee population. The economic impact includes the cost of providing services such as education, healthcare, and social welfare. The integration of refugees into the labor market has also posed challenges, affecting wages and employment opportunities for Jordanian citizens. While it is difficult to quantify the exact financial losses incurred by these countries due to the conflict, it is clear that both Lebanon and Jordan have faced considerable economic pressures as a result of their roles in supporting Palestinian refugees and dealing with the broader regional instability caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The question of financial compensation or reparations related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is complex and deeply intertwined with political, historical, and legal issues. There is no official or universally accepted calculation of how much money Israel might owe Arab countries or individuals who have incurred losses due to their involvement in supporting Palestine. Key Points to Consider: 1. **Lack of Formal Agreements**: There are no formal agreements or international rulings that specify an amount that Israel owes to Arab countries or individuals for their economic losses related to the conflict. Any claims for compensation would likely need to be addressed through diplomatic negotiations or international legal processes. 2. **Complexity of Claims**: The conflict has resulted in various types of losses, including economic, social, and humanitarian impacts. Quantifying these losses is challenging, as they involve direct costs (such as support for refugees) and indirect costs (such as lost economic opportunities and infrastructure damage). 3. **International Law and Negotiations**: Issues of compensation and reparations are typically addressed within the framework of peace negotiations and international law. Past peace efforts, such as the Oslo Accords, have not resolved these financial questions, and future negotiations would need to address them comprehensively. 4. **Precedents and Examples**:In other international conflicts, reparations or compensation have sometimes been part of peace treaties or settlements. However, each situation is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific circumstances and agreements reached by the parties involved. In summary, while there may be claims and discussions about financial responsibilities related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, there is no established or agreed-upon amount that Israel owes to Arab countries or individuals. Resolving such issues would require complex negotiations and agreements involving multiple stakeholders.
- Protocol on Economic Relations (29 April 1994)
- Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area (4 May 1994)
- 1994 Washington Declaration (25 July 1994)
- Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities Between Israel and the PLO (29 August 1994)
- Protocol on Further Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities (27 August 1995)
- Protocol Concerning the Redeployment in Hebron (17 January 1997)
- Wye River Memorandum (23 October 1998)
- Sharm el-Sheikh Memorandum (4 September 1999)
- Taba Summit (27 January 2001)
References
[edit]- ^ Israel-PLO Recognition: Exchange of Letters between PM Rabin and Chairman Arafat Archived 2015-05-04 at the Wayback Machine, 9 September 1993
- ^ "Israel-PLO recognition - Exchange of letters between PM Rabin and Chairman Arafat/Arafat letter to Norwegian FM (Non-UN documents)". Question of Palestine. Retrieved 2023-09-06.