1. In
responding to the request of the Sharm El-Sheikh Fact-Finding
Committee for comments on its Report dated April 30, 2001, the
Government of Israel wishes to express its sincere appreciation to
the distinguished members of the Committee for the evident care
with which they have gone about the delicate task of providing an
assessment of the events since late September 2000. Israel
considers that the Committee’s Report provides a constructive
and positive attempt to break the cycle of violence and facilitate
a resumption of bilateral negotiations for peace.
2. Israel welcomes, in particular,
the unqualified call for an unconditional cessation of violence,
the establishment of a meaningful cooling off period and the
resumption of negotiations.
3. Amongst other elements worthy
of note in the Committee’s Report are:
-
the visit by Mr. Sharon to the
Temple Mount did not cause the violence;
-
the PA must "make an
all-out effort to enforce a complete cessation of violence and
be clearly seen by the Government of Israel as doing so";
-
both sides must make clear that
violent demonstrations will not be tolerated;
-
the condemnation of firing by
Palestinian gunmen;
-
terrorism is condemned.
"The PA should make clear through concrete action to
Palestinians and Israelis alike that terrorism is
reprehensible and unacceptable, and that the PA will make 100
per cent effort to prevent terrorist operations and to punish
perpetrators. This effort should include immediate steps to
apprehend and incarcerate terrorists operating within the PA’s
jurisdiction";
-
"the immediate resumption
of security co-operation is mandatory";
-
"The PA should resume
co-operation with Israeli security agencies to ensure that
Palestinian workers employed within Israel are fully vetted
and free of connections to terrorists and terrorist
organisations";
-
"the PA [should] institute
and enforce effective standards of conduct and
accountability";
4. The written statements to the
Committee made by the Government of Israel [1] observed that the
outbreak of Palestinian violence was not a spontaneous act but
rather reflected a strategic decision on the part of the
Palestinian leadership to achieve results through violence that
could not be achieved through negotiations - negotiations in which
the Palestinian side adopted inflexible and uncompromising
positions.
5. Furthermore, Israel’s
statements noted as the cause of the violence a number of basic
and serious respects in which the Palestinians have failed to meet
the undertakings that they gave in no less than eleven agreements
concluded with Israel since the Oslo peace process began in 1993.
The continuing violence is yet further evidence of the failure on
the part of the Palestinian side to adopt the measures they
committed themselves to in the agreements with Israel.
6. Israel’s statements pointed
to such aspects of Palestinian activity as the targeting of
Israeli civilians both in direct attacks and by indiscriminate
bombings; the illegal spread of weapons amongst Palestinians;
their use in attacks on Israeli security forces; the failure of
the Palestinian Police to restrain such attacks and, indeed, their
active involvement in them; the release of terrorist detainees;
the continuance of hostile propaganda and incitement to violence,
not least that directed at Palestinian children from the earliest
age; the involvement of children in episodes of violence, often
using them as a screen for offensive weapon fire from Palestinian
snipers sheltering behind them; and the denial of access to,
attacks on, and destruction of Jewish Holy Sites. The Palestinian
leadership continues to instigate and direct such hostile
activities.
7. Israel values the important
work of the Committee and its important contribution to the effort
to end the violence and rebuild trust between the sides. At the
same time, it remains gravely concerned at the continuation, and
even escalation, of the conflict. The indiscriminate terror
attacks against innocent civilians have intensified. Mortars
continue to be fired at civilian communities. A significant
indication of this escalation was the recent seizure by the Israel
Navy of a vessel carrying large quantities of illegal weapons and
ammunition, including Katyusha rockets, anti-aircraft missiles,
mortars and mines to the Palestinian Authority, just days
following the submission of the Report to the sides.
8. Israel’s statements, in
reference to the Palestinian violence, provided a detailed
description of the life threatening circumstances facing the
Israel Defense Forces on a daily basis in the West Bank and the
Gaza Strip. This has not been a civilian uprising but rather an
ongoing situation in which Israeli forces are coming under
intensive live-fire attack. The statements gave full and careful
explanations of the methods used by Israel in dealing with such
attacks and outbreaks of violence, stressing that the violence was
not initiated by Israel and that Israeli actions were exclusively
responsive to Palestinian attacks. Needless to say, the security
measures adopted by Israel would have been unnecessary had the
Palestinian violence come to an end. Israeli security personnel
have acted, and continue to act, according to the highest ethical
standards, military orders and a well defined chain of command,
all in the most difficult conditions.
9. Over the recent months Israel
has been confronted with Palestinian attempts to achieve political
goals through the use of violence and terror. Terror is the very
antithesis of the peace process. It indiscriminately targets
innocent civilians. The Israeli people who, having gone a long way
for the sake of peace have been repaid with terror and violence.
The frustration of the Israeli people is understandable.
10. The Committee also suggested
corresponding or reciprocal action by Israel pursuant to the
cessation of violence. Israel is giving careful and immediate
consideration to these matters, some of which have already been
proposed by Israel in its statements and even unilaterally
implemented. Subject to the principle requirement that the
Palestinian Authority first brings all violence to an end followed
by a meaningful cooling-off period, Israel is ready to resume
negotiations within the framework of the signed agreements between
the sides and on the basis of reciprocity. Israel wishes to note
that the cessation of violence by the Palestinian side should be
accompanied by concrete measures on the ground which are capable
of appraisal, such as the prevention of terror activities and the
arrest of terrorists. Israel is confident that a clear decision by
the Palestinian leadership in this regard will result in full and
effective implementation of such measures on the ground.
11. Israel welcomes the Committee’s
statement that the parties "should reaffirm their commitment
to existing agreements and undertakings and should immediately
implement an unconditional cessation of violence". In this
light, Israel must recall that the question of the settlements is
a matter that, together with, principally, Jerusalem, refugees,
and borders, has specifically been agreed by Israel and the
Palestinian side as one for treatment in the permanent status
negotiations.[2] There is nothing in the bilateral agreements
between the two sides that suggests that the question of
settlements is to be regarded as one that could be separated from
the others and unrelated to the overall solution of those other
problems. Indeed, the Committee itself noted that the issue of
settlements is one of the core issues to be negotiated between the
sides. The outcome of such negotiations, in which each side has
legitimate positions and claims, should not be prejudged.
12. On the substance, it must be
recalled that it is already part of the policy of the Government
of Israel not to establish new settlements. At the same time, the
current and everyday needs of the development of such communities
must be taken into account.
13. The international community
should reject outright any attempt to interpret the Committee’s
Report as a legitimization of violence and terror. There should be
clear support for the Committee’s call for an
"unconditional cessation of violence". As soon as it has
become clear that the Palestinian Authority has brought the
violence to an end and there has been a meaningful cooling-off
period, Israel is ready to resume negotiations. The speed at which
negotiations can be resumed is not, however, a matter for Israel
alone.
14. Despite the events of the past
months, Israel remains committed to peace and is hopeful that
positive steps will be taken so that this goal, which has been a
central pillar of every Israeli government since its founding
fifty-three years ago, can be realized.
15. Israel recalls Chairman Arafat’s
letter to Prime Minister Rabin of September 9, 1993 in which he
stated that:
"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 principle of the peaceful
settlement of disputes is the cornerstone of the relationship
between Israel and the Palestinians. It has been recognized and
supported by the international community. Israel calls on the
Palestinian side to renew this fundamental commitment, to
immediately abandon the path of terror and violence so that the
sides may resume negotiations for the benefit of the Israeli and
Palestinian people.
16. Israel recognizes the need for
a rebuilding of trust and confidence between the two sides
following several months of armed hostilities. It is prepared to
do its part to contribute to this process and has already adopted
unilateral measures to improve the situation. Israel fully
supports the Committee’s opinion that negotiations should
"manifest a spirit of compromise, reconciliation and
partnership" and calls on the Palestinian side to act in this
spirit. Israel will continue to study the Report closely with a
view to assessing how it might assist in opening a pathway back to
bilateral negotiations within the framework of the signed
agreements.
15 May, 2001
22 Iyar 5761
FOOTNOTES
1. The texts of the statements of
the Government of Israel to the Committee may be found on the
website of Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, www.mfa.gov.il
2. Declaration of Principles on
Interim Self-Government Arrangements, 1993, at Article V (3). |