The Nusseibeh-Ayalon Agreement: Final Draft
Ha’aretz, 3.9.02
The Palestinian
people and the Jewish people each recognize the other's historic rights with
respect to the same land.
The Jewish people has for
generations wanted to establish the Jewish State in all the Land of Israel,
while the Palestinian people has similarly wanted to establish a state in all
of Palestine.
The two sides hereby agree to
accept a historic compromise based on the principle of two sovereign and viable
states existing side by side. The following Stament of Intentions is an
expression of the will of the majority of the people. Both sides believe that
through this initiative they can influence their leaders and thereby open a new
chapter in the region's history. This new chapter will be realized by calling
on the international community to guarantee security in the region and to help
in rehabilitating and developing the region's economy.
The People Vote - Statement of
Intentions
1. Two states for two peoples:
Both sides will declare that Palestine is the only state of the Palestinian
people and Israel is the only state of the Jewish people.
2. Borders: Permanent borders
between the two states will be agreed on the basis of the June 4, 1967 lines,
UN resolutions and the Arab peace initiative (known as the Saudi initiative).
l Border modifications will be
based on an equal territorial exchange (1:1) in accordance with the vital needs
of both sides, including security, territorial contiguity, and demographic
considerations.
l The Palestinian State will have
a connection between its two geographic areas, the West Bank and the Gaza
Strip.
l After establishment of the
agreed borders, no settlers will remain in the Palestinian state.
3. Jerusalem: Jerusalem will be
an open city, the capital of two states. Freedom of religion and full access to
holy sites will be guaranteed to all.
l Arab neighborhoods in Jerusalem
will come under Palestinian sovereignty; Jewish neighborhoods under Israeli
sovereignty.
l Neither side will exercise
sovereignty over the holy places. The State of Palestine will be designated
Guardian of the Temple Mount for the benefit of Muslims. Israel will be the
Guardian of the Western Wall for the benefit of the Jewish people. The status
quo on Christian holy sites will be maintained. No excavation will take place
in or underneath the holy sites.
4. Right of return: Recognizing
the suffering and the plight of the Palestinian refugees, the international
community, Israel, and the Palestinian State will initiate and contribute to an
international fund to compensate them.
l Palestinian refugees will
return only to the State of Palestine; Jews will return only to the State of
Israel.
5. The Palestinian State will be
demilitarized and the international community will guarantee its security and
independence.
6. End of conflict: Upon the full
implementation of these principles, all claims on both sides and the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict will end