Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., January 02, 2008 Tevet 24, 5768 | | Israel Time: 20:24 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
  Back to Homepage
Rosner's Domain
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Advertising
Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File Magazine
Former U.S. president Bill Clinton, former prime minister Ehud Barak, and former Palestinian Authority head Yasser Arafat at the Camp David Summit in 2000. (Archives)
Last update - 21:10 13/12/2007
Document shows progress on core issues at Camp David summit
By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Camp David, Jerusalem 

A document obtained by Haaretz shows that the Palestinian Authority vehemently rejected most of Israel's security demands in negotiations at Camp David and Taba in 2000 and 2001, but contrary to what has been assumed for years, significant agreement was reached on parts of three core issues: borders, refugees and Jerusalem.

The 26-page document, signed by Gilad Sher, bureau chief to then prime minister Ehud Barak, was entitled, "The Status of the Diplomatic Process with the Palestinians Points to Update the Incoming Prime Minister."

The document, revealed as Israel and the Palestinians resume official talks following a seven-year hiatus, shows details of the Palestinians' objections for the first time, and illustrates the precise differences in the respective negotiating positions when the talks were frozen in early 2001.
Advertisement
The document also reveals that as early as June 2000, an "initiated separation" plan that would eventually become the basis for Israel's withdrawal from territories were being formulated, in the event talks with the Palestinians break down.

That plan received the cabinet's final approval in October 2000. The separation plan was to encompass all aspects of life, and would take place over a number of years, even while negotiations would be kept on the back burner as an option, should conditions change.

The document was presented to Barak two weeks after the elections on February 6, 2001, in which Barak lost to Ariel Sharon, and a few days before Sharon assumed office.

Among the PA's objections were the demilitarization of the Palestinian Authority; the proposed timeline for the Israel Defense Forces to withdraw from the territories; the IDF's right to emergency deployment in the Jordan Valley; and control of the skies.

The document notes that "at the Camp David negotiations, President [Bill] Clinton agreed on the security issue in the spirit of Israel's positions, but after the summit, the Palestinians reneged on most of the understandings."

Some of the details have been revealed over the years in books and articles, but most have remained ambiguous or unknown.

According to the plan:

* Israel would keep settlement blocs comprising 80 percent of the settlers in the West Bank.

* No evacuation of settlements was planned for the initial phase of the plan. At an appropriate time, it stated, isolated settlements outside the blocs or security zones would be transfered to one of the settlement blocks or to Israel.

* A wide security zone would be maintained along the Dead Sea as far north as Meholah in the Jordan Valley.

* Security forces would be beefed up in the Old City and East Jerusalem, and its environs.

The 26-page booklet was written during a long series of discussions by a team headed by Sher, which included former deputy head of the Shin Bet security service Israel Hasson; Barak's political adviser, Pini Meidan; the IDF chief of planning and strategy, Brigadier General Mike Herzog; head of the Military Advocate General's international law department, Colonel Daniel Reisner; the secretary of the negotiating team, Gidi Grinstein; the head of the negotiation administration, Colonel Shaul Arieli; his deputy, Moti Kristal; and Foreign Ministry representative Oded Eran. Then-head of the National Security Council, Major General Uzi Dayan, also contributed comments. The booklet summed up in almost obsessively thorough and precise detail all diplomatic action that had been taken vis-a-vis the Palestinians during Barak's term in office.

Far-reaching ideas
The main principle toward which Israel was working, according to the document prepared by Sher's team, was not to offer any more territory to the Palestinians before understandings were reached on all the core issues. Israel was prepared to discuss far-reaching ideas, but continually emphasized that "nothing is agreed until everything is agreed."

Another rule was that "no issues could be agreed upon separately from others," because of the interlocking connection among all the issues. These two messages were emphasized frequently during the talks in 2000.

In preparation for the current renewal of talks, the documents were presented to Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and her team a month before the Annapolis summit. The Israeli and the Palestinian teams, headed by Livni and Ahmed Qureia, met Wednesday in what was intended as the official reopening of talks, seven years after they were frozen.

During the talks at Camp David and Taba, the parties worked toward a Framework Agreement for Permanent Status (FAPS). The agreement was supposed to encompass all the core issues and offer guidelines and time tables to arrive at a solution.

In comparison, during the opening of talks between Israeli and Palestinian teams on Wednesday, the parties avoided defining the legal status of the document toward which they were working. The joint statement at Annapolis stated that the goal was a "peace agreement," a term open to interpretation.

Olmert has not yet given guidelines to the negotiating team on the present talks. However, the 2001 booklet documents 12 guidelines given by Barak to the negotiating teams.

Gaps revealed
The 2001 document reveals the gaps between the parties on all the core issues:
The parties were divided over when to make a declaration on the end of the conflict. Israel wanted the end-of-conflict declaration to be at the time of the signing of the FAPS. The Palestinians refused, and wanted all prisoners incarcerated in Israel to be released with the signing of the FAPS. Israel proposed that the prisoners be released with the Palestinian end-of-conflict declaration.

The document also reveals the nature of the Palestinian state, constituting the implementation of the right of the entire Palestinian people to self-determination. Among the differences noted was "a disagreement among the Palestinians with regard to formal recognition of the State of Israel as a Jewish state."

With regard to borders, the booklet states that the Palestinians were willing to show flexibility, and had agreed to adjustments to the June 4, 1967, borders, which were "equal in their extent and quality to meet Israel's demographic needs." The talks failed to reach an agreement over the Latrun area, the area annexed to Jerusalem after 1967, and the Dead Sea.

In addition, while Israel sought to exchange territory for 6 to 8 percent of the West Bank in order to keep the settlement blocks, the Palestinians demanded that all territorial exchanges be at a 1:1 ratio, and would not be greater than 2.3 percent of the West Bank.

In terms of safe passage between the West Bank and Gaza, Israel wanted the passage to remain under its sovereignty, but controlled by the Palestinians; the Palestinians wanted a land corridor through Israel that would be under its sovereignty.

Jerusalem
With regard to Jerusalem, it was determined that there would be two capitals, Jerusalem and Al-Quds, and that special arrangements would be made on matters of security, planning, construction and law enforcement. The Palestinians emphasized the idea of the "open city"  that the two capitals would constitute one urban unit separate from its surroundings, both Israeli and Palestinian.

In the areas outside the Old City walls, Israel's guiding principle was that Arab areas would be Palestinian, but presented a map with Jewish territorial contiguity that created Palestinian "bubbles." The Palestinians, for their part, demanded Palestinian territorial contiguity with Israeli "bubbles" connected to Jewish Jerusalem via roads.

In the matter of the "sacred basin" and the Old City, Israel wanted a "special regime," and to keep the Jewish and the Armenian quarters under its aegis. The Palestinians, however, wanted sovereignty over the Muslim, Christian and most of the Armenian quarters.

In terms of the Jewish holy sites outside the walls, the Palestinians proposed special arrangements that would benefit Israel but would not constitute overeignty.

An even more complicated issue was that of the Temple Mount. Israel suggested that sovereignty would be "ambiguous," and that powers of administration and control would be shared, or alternatively, that sovereignty would be determined based on the bond of each party to the site. The Palestinians refused both alternatives and rejected any compromise on the Temple Mount.

Refugees
On refugees, Israel refused to accept sole responsibility for the creation of the refugee problem and to any right of return, theoretical or actual. Israel did agree to recognize the suffering of the 1948 refugees; to take part in an international effort to bring in a small number of refugees 20,000-40,000 at its discretion based on humanitarian considerations only; and to contribute funds to refugee rehabilitation. Israel's condition was that the "implementation of the final status agreement would bring an end to demands and a solution to the problem."

The Palestinians demanded that Israel recognize its sole responsibility for the creation and perpetuation of the refugee problem, and wanted Israel to recognize the Palestinian right of return as per UN resolution 194. However a document written during the talks stated that the Palestinians "showed understanding of the sensitivity of the issue for Israel, and willingness to find a formulation that would balance these feelings with their national needs."

The gaps on the issue of water remained at a legal level, while on the practical level agreement was extensive.

On the process of ratifying the agreement, Israel declared its intention to hold a referendum, while the Palestinians said nothing about this part of the process.

Related articles:
  • Israel-PA talks resume under shadow of Camp David lessons
  • Gov't to Clinton in 2000: Special authority for J'lem's 'holy basin'
  • Past lessons cause U.S. to lower expectations for Annapolis
  • From Camp David to Annapolis
    • Bookmark to del.icio.us  
     
    Muslims study Holocaust
    For Dutch educators, Islamophobia can be a teaching aid for Holocaust studies.
    White House race
    Edwards is the angry candidate; Obama prefers conciliation.
      1.   Withdraw from ALL territory not allocated in the Partition! 03:56  |  lakshmi 13/12/07
      2.   Very interesting 03:59  |  Miguel Rodriguez 13/12/07
      3.   It is NOT "disputed", it is OCCUPIED. More shameful journalism 04:09  |  peacelover 13/12/07
      4.   So what we knew this before 04:45  |  Ibrahim 13/12/07
      5.   No such thing as a significant agreement 05:23  |  Frank 13/12/07
      6.   The truth about Camp David 05:45  |  Frank 13/12/07
      7.   Now we know Sharon acted 06:10  |  Colin Wright 13/12/07
      8.   What this document tells us.. 06:23  |  Akram Zekaria 13/12/07
      9.   Solely responsible for refugees? 06:38  |  Awake 13/12/07
      10.   Seven years of sleep 07:12  |  Fred Omran 13/12/07
      11.   Those "Peace talks" were aiming 07:17  |  Kris 13/12/07
      12.   2nd Try,withdraw from ALL territory which was not allocated to 07:48  |  lakshmi 13/12/07
      13.   Document reveals details of Camp David summit 08:12  |  Martin List,M.D. 13/12/07
      14.   Please 08:14  |  Not Falling For It 13/12/07
      15.   Arafat made Camp David null and void 08:19  |  KUTW 13/12/07
      16.   Negotiations between the weak and the powerful... 08:26  |  Mordecai 13/12/07
      17.   To Ibrahim: Do you want a state or to pose conditions? 08:43  |  AA 13/12/07
      18.   the parties were, and are, far appart 1 08:47  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/12/07
      19.   Mordecai 08:49  |  Not Falling For It 13/12/07
      20.   the parties were, and are, far appart 2 09:00  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/12/07
      21.   Fred Omran #9 Seven years of death 09:24  |  S 13/12/07
      22.   Israel must maintain its original negotiating stance 09:38  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 13/12/07
      23.   LAKSHMI Quit pretending Res.181 is NOT binding.Anyway the Arabs 09:38  |  PETER SM 13/12/07
      24.   Time Working Against the Palestinians!!! 09:53  |  DR ERIC 13/12/07
      25.   MORDECHAI.Stolen.You mean land ethnically cleansed of Jews in `48 09:53  |  PETER SM 13/12/07
      26.   FRANK #5&6 IS ON THE MONEY!!! 09:57  |  Dr Eric 13/12/07
      27.   PLEASE LETS NOT FORGET OSLOs MISTAKES!!! 10:00  |  Dr Eric 13/12/07
      28.   Waste of Time 10:03  |  David Schwartz 13/12/07
      29.   Akram Zekaria - Thank You, VERY CRITICAL!! 10:03  |  Dr Eric 13/12/07
      30.   NOT falling 4 it.Likud is NOT the Israeli govt. Hamas is the Pal 10:04  |  PETER SM 13/12/07
      31.   Thank you AA compromize or Right wing status Quo!! 10:10  |  Dr Eric 13/12/07
      32.   To Not falling for it 10:15  |  Dr Eric 13/12/07
      33.   Cipora Julianna Kohn and her first two points 10:20  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/12/07
      34.   A pathetic failure 10:24  |  David Howard 13/12/07
      35.   Hardly the Palestinians playing as if they had all the cards, Ms 10:25  |  Yaakov Sullivan 13/12/07
      36.   Miguel 10:27  |  Nephtaly 13/12/07
      37.   12#lakshmi Resolution 181 has nothing to 10:28  |  Akram Zekaria 13/12/07
      38.   #35 yaakov and back pedalling as usual 10:41  |  v ictor hardman 13/12/07
      39.   It must be clear to all, the situation today is worse than the 10:45  |  Asher 13/12/07
      40.   The facts are (much) more powerful than this document...... 10:50  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/12/07
      41.   Crying over spilt milk and worse.. 10:51  |  Esther 13/12/07
      42.   Mordecai # 16 UNGAR 194 Was Not An UNSCR 10:52  |  Jeff Northridge 13/12/07
      43.   #40 dino points the way from 60 years ago 11:05  |  victor hardman 13/12/07
      44.   Not only Sderot ..pt-l 11:11  |  Akram Zekaria 13/12/07
      45.   # 43 victor-Pauli 11:27  |  Swiss (Dino) 13/12/07
      46.   Cipora Julianna Kohn 11:38  |  Fabio 13/12/07
      47.   Barak was too weak to make deal, and Israel ran away like a babe 11:41  |  Tamir Palestine 13/12/07
      48.   #43 Victor Harman is right 11:46  |  Bo 13/12/07
      49.   DINO - Sweet dreams - do not listen to your mother 11:52  |  17 13/12/07
      50.   Akram Zekaria. Not only Sderot 11:52  |  Hubal 13/12/07
      51.   It will never work! 11:55  |  Maureen Ann 13/12/07
      52.   #43 Hi Victor Hardman. 11:59  |  Maureen Ann 13/12/07
      53.   TAMR GAZA.I do not think Armenians have a lot of love for Moslems 12:02  |  PETER SM 13/12/07
      54.   T.GAXA Barak was not weak perfidious Arafat used the intifada 12:06  |  PETER SM 13/12/07
      55.   GREAT PHOTO 12:10  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 13/12/07
      56.   Lakshimi 12:11  |  george 13/12/07
      57.   are all rights demanded by the rightful alright? 12:15  |  observer 13/12/07
      58.   MAUREEN N.What Will Arabs to use to buy guns when oil runs out? 12:21  |  PETER SM 13/12/07
      59.   Force should not be allowed to win 12:31  |  Keith T 13/12/07
      60.   Keith T 59 12:50  |  george 13/12/07
      61.   Ibrahim you`ve got your own country in the USA 12:50  |  Israeli 13/12/07
      62.   KEITH T Simplistic but no doubt. self satisfying post 12:54  |  PETER SM 13/12/07
      63.   PALESTINIANS ARE NOT HAPPY 13:01  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 13/12/07
      64.   Which one is MOST STUPID ? 13:07  |  Atilla Karagözoğlu 13/12/07
      65.   Keith: Self Defense is another situation 13:17  |  CWW 13/12/07
      66.   To: George - 60 13:25  |  Keith T. 13/12/07
      67.   Water over the Damn 13:26  |  Mark Lincoln 13/12/07
      68.   #1 Lakshmi 13:37  |  Patricia 13/12/07
      69.   # 48 bo 13:38  |  Axel 13/12/07
      70.   # 60 george 13:44  |  Axel 13/12/07
      71.   no peace ever 13:51  |  hebrew hammer 13/12/07
      72.   george to Keith T #60 Wrong. 13:55  |  Hubal 13/12/07
      73.   To: CWW - Racism?? 14:06  |  Keith T. 13/12/07
      74.   #1.Lakshmi is RIGHT 14:12  |  Zapatta 13/12/07
      75.   #2.There is no such thing as DISDPUTED. 14:16  |  Benyamin 13/12/07