=====================================================================
Israel Information Service Gopher
Director: Chaim Shacham, First Secretary
Information Division Israel Foreign Ministry - Jerusalem
Mail all Queries to ask@israel-info.gov.il
=====================================================================
ISRAEL-PLO RECOGNITION
1. LETTER FROM YASSER ARAFAT TO PRIME MINISTER RABIN:
September 9, 1993
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 pormise 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of this letter are now inoperative and no longer valid.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
Yitzhak Rabin
Prime Minister of Israel
2. LETTER FROM YASSER ARAFAT TO NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTER:
September 9, 1993
Dear Minister Holst,
I would like top 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 develoment and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Yasser Arafat
Chairman
The Palestine Liberation Organization
His Excellency
Johan Jorgen Holst
Foreign Minister of Norway
3. LETTER FROM PRIME MINISTER RABIN TO YASSER ARAFAT:
September 9, 1993
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 nof 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.
Yitzhak Rabin
Prime Minister of Israel
Yasser Arafat
Chairman
The Palestinian Liberation Organization
|