Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements

Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements
Name	Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements
Type	Bilateral treaty
Date signed	13 September 1993
Location signed	White House, Washington, D.C., United States
Date effective	13 October 1993
Signatories	Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Mahmoud Abbas
Parties	Israel, Palestine Liberation Organization
Languages	English

Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements. Commonly known as Oslo I Accord, this foundational agreement was signed in 1993 between the Government of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). It established a framework for Palestinian self-governance in parts of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and initiated a five-year interim period of negotiations. The ceremony, hosted by U.S. President Bill Clinton, famously featured a handshake between Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat.

Background and Context

The declaration emerged from a period of intense conflict, notably the First Intifada, which underscored the unsustainable status of Israeli occupation. Secret backchannel negotiations, facilitated by Norway and its foreign minister Johan Jørgen Holst, began in Oslo in early 1993, bypassing the stalled official Madrid Conference of 1991 talks. These clandestine discussions were led by Israeli academics Yair Hirschfeld and Ron Pundak, later joined by official Israeli Foreign Ministry director-general Uri Savir and Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin. For the Palestinians, the team was led by Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) and included senior Fatah official Hassan Asfour. The election of Yitzhak Rabin in 1992 created a political environment more amenable to a breakthrough, driven by a mutual, though cautious, recognition between the two longtime adversaries.

Key Provisions and Agreements

The core of the agreement outlined a phased transfer of authority from the Israel Defense Forces to a newly created Palestinian Authority. It stipulated an interim period not exceeding five years, beginning with the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Gaza Strip and the West Bank city of Jericho. The document established a Palestinian Legislative Council to be elected, and created several joint committees, such as the Israeli–Palestinian Joint Water Committee, to manage civil affairs. Critically, it deferred negotiations on Jerusalem, Palestinian refugees, Israeli settlements, and final borders to "permanent status negotiations" to conclude by 1999. Security coordination was to be managed by a Palestinian Police force.

Signatories and Negotiating Parties

The agreement was formally signed on the White House lawn by Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and PLO executive committee member Mahmoud Abbas. The ceremony was witnessed by Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat, with Bill Clinton presiding. The Norwegian mediators, including Foreign Minister Johan Jørgen Holst and diplomat Mona Juul, were instrumental. Key Israeli negotiators included Uri Savir and Joel Singer, while the Palestinian delegation was spearheaded by Ahmed Qurei. The United States Department of State, under Warren Christopher, played a crucial supporting role in finalizing the public agreement.

Implementation and the Oslo Accords

Implementation began with the 1994 Cairo Agreement, which detailed the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and Jericho. This was followed by the 1995 Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (Oslo II Accord), which divided the West Bank into Areas A, B, and C. The Palestinian Authority, with Yasser Arafat as its president, was established in Ramallah. Subsequent agreements included the 1997 Hebron Protocol and the 1998 Wye River Memorandum, negotiated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. However, the timeline for final status talks was repeatedly delayed.

Immediate Reactions and Impact

The announcement was met with global acclaim; Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, and Yasser Arafat were jointly awarded the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize. Within Israel, it deeply divided public opinion, strengthening both the Peace Now movement and right-wing opposition led by figures like Ariel Sharon. Among Palestinians, while many celebrated, factions like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad vehemently rejected it, launching a campaign of suicide bombings. The agreement also led to the mutual recognition between Israel and the PLO, with Israel recognizing the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people.

Long-term Consequences and Legacy

The process ultimately failed to achieve a final status agreement, collapsing with the outbreak of the Second Intifada in 2000. The unresolved issues, especially concerning Israeli settlements in Area C, East Jerusalem, and the right of return for Palestinian refugees, became more entrenched. The framework established by the declaration, however, defined the structure of the Palestinian Authority and institutionalized security cooperation with Israel. It remains a critical, though controversial, reference point in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, symbolizing both the high-water mark of the peace process and its subsequent unraveling.

Category:Israeli–Palestinian peace process Category:Treaties of Israel Category:Treaties of the Palestine Liberation Organization Category:1993 in Israel Category:1993 in Palestine