Letters exchanges between PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin following the signing of the Gaza-Jericho Agreement May 4, 1994

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Country/entity: Israel
Palestine
Region: Middle East and North Africa
Agreement name: Letters exchanges between PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat and Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin following the signing of the Gaza-Jericho Agreement May 4, 1994
Date: 4 May 1994
Agreement status: Unilateral document
Interim arrangement: Yes
Agreement/conflict level: Intrastate/intrastate conflict
Arab-Israeli Conflicts (1948 - )
This conflict involves Israelis and Palestinians over territory and belonging and has long historical antecedents. The agreements post-1990 are between the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Israel, with some supporting inter-state agreements (i.e. between Israel and Jordan). More recently the importance of the once dominating Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) has diminished not in the least due to the effective disappearance of its left-wing members and the loss of the popularity of their political wing, Fatah. Hamas and other Islamic groups have attained significant relevance in Fatah’s stead, with Hamas controlling the Gaza strip (from which Israel ultimately unilaterally withdrew (not coded as a peace agreement).

Geo-political implications of the conflict have been considerable across the MENA region.
Stage: Framework/substantive - partial
Conflict nature: Government/territory
Peace process: Israel-Palestine peace process
Parties: Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the PLO; Yitzhak Rabin, Prime Minister of Israel.
Third parties: -
Description: This involves the agreed exchange of two identical letters (coded once), between the head of the PLO and the Israeli government, which accompany and provide additional commitments to the Gaza-Jericho Agreement.

Agreement document: IL_PS_940504_Gaza-Jericho Agreement Letters.pdf (opens in new tab) | Download PDF

Groups

Children/youth: No specific mention.
Disabled persons: No specific mention.
Elderly/age: No specific mention.
Migrant workers: No specific mention.
Racial/ethnic/national group: No specific mention.
Religious groups: No specific mention.
Indigenous people: No specific mention.
Other groups: No specific mention.
Refugees/displaced persons: No specific mention.
Social class: No specific mention.

Gender

Women, girls and gender: No specific mention.
Men and boys: No specific mention.
LGBTI: No specific mention.
Family: No specific mention.

State definition

Nature of state (general): Page 1, Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:
... 5. Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status of the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.

Page Page 2, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 5. Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status of the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.

Page Page 3, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 9. The two sides reiterate their commitment to commence permanent status negotiations as soon as possible, but no later than the beginning of the third year of the interim period, as provided for in Article V of the Declaration of Principles.
State configuration: No specific mention.
Self determination: No specific mention.
Referendum: No specific mention.
State symbols: No specific mention.
Independence/secession: No specific mention.
Accession/unification: No specific mention.
Border delimitation: No specific mention.
Cross-border provision: No specific mention.

Governance

Political institutions (new or reformed): Governance→Political institutions (new or reformed)→General references
Page 1, Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:
... 1. The PLO undertakes to ensure that the Palestinian Authority, including the Palestinian Police and other Palestinian Authority agencies, will function in accordance with the Agreement, and that the Palestinian Authority will activate the coordination and cooperation mechanism in a timely manner.

Page 1, Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:
... 4. When Chairman Arafat enters the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, he will use the title 'Chairman (Ra'ees in Arabic) of the Palestinian Authority' or 'Chairman of the PLO', and will not use the title 'President of Palestine.'

Page 1, Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:
... 6. Pursuant to Article IV, paragraph 3, of the Agreement, the PLO shall inform the Government of Israel of the names of the members of the Palestinian Authority in a letter that shall be provided within a week of signing the Agreement. The appointment of these members to the Palestinian Authority shall take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and the Government of Israel. Changes in the membership of the Palestinian Authority will take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and the Government of Israel.

Page Page 2, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 1. The PLO undertakes to ensure that the Palestinian Authority, including the Palestinian Police and other Palestinian Authority agencies, will function in accordance with the Agreement, and that the Palestinian Authority will activate the coordination and cooperation mechanism in a timely manner.

Page Page 2, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 4. When Chairman Arafat enters the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, he will use the title 'Chairman (Ra'ees in Arabic) of the Palestinian Authority' or 'Chairman of the PLO', and will not use the title 'President of Palestine.'

Page Page 2, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 6. Pursuant to Article IV, paragraph 3, of the Agreement, the PLO shall inform the Government of Israel of the names of the members of the Palestinian Authority in a letter that shall be provided within a week of signing the Agreement. The appointment of these members to the Palestinian Authority shall take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and the Government of Israel. Changes in the membership of the Palestinian Authority will take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and the Government of Israel.
Elections: No specific mention.
Electoral commission: No specific mention.
Political parties reform: No specific mention.
Civil society: No specific mention.
Traditional/religious leaders: No specific mention.
Public administration: No specific mention.
Constitution: Governance→Constitution→Constitutional reform/making
Page Page 2, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 3. The PLO undertakes to submit to the next meeting of the Palestinian National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the Palestinian Covenant, as undertaken in the letter dated September 9, 1993 signed by the Chairman of the PLO and addressed to the Prime Minister of Israel.

Power sharing

Political power sharing: No specific mention.
Territorial power sharing: Power sharing→Territorial power sharing→Federal or similar sub-divided government
[Summary] Letters touch on the continuation of talks regarding the 'Jericho and Gaza areas' / Palestine.
Economic power sharing: No specific mention.
Military power sharing: No specific mention.

Human rights and equality

Human rights/RoL general: No specific mention.
Bill of rights/similar: No specific mention.
Treaty incorporation: No specific mention.
Civil and political rights: No specific mention.
Socio-economic rights: No specific mention.

Rights related issues

Citizenship: No specific mention.
Democracy: No specific mention.
Detention procedures: No specific mention.
Media and communication: No specific mention.
Mobility/access: Page 1, Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:
...13. The two Parties shall continue discussions on the following issues:
... c. additional arrangement in the Rafah passage; and

Page 3, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 13. The two Parties shall continue discussions on the following issues:
... c. additional arrangement in the Rafah passage; and
Protection measures: No specific mention.
Other: No specific mention.

Rights institutions

NHRI: No specific mention.
Regional or international human rights institutions: No specific mention.

Justice sector reform

Criminal justice and emergency law: No specific mention.
State of emergency provisions: No specific mention.
Judiciary and courts: No specific mention.
Prisons and detention: No specific mention.
Traditional Laws: No specific mention.

Socio-economic reconstruction

Development or socio-economic reconstruction: No specific mention.
National economic plan: No specific mention.
Natural resources: No specific mention.
International funds: No specific mention.
Business: No specific mention.
Taxation: No specific mention.
Banks: No specific mention.

Land, property and environment

Land reform/rights: Land, property and environment→Land reform/rights→Land reform and management
Page 1, Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:
...13. The two Parties shall continue discussions on the following issues:
a. the size of the Jericho Area;

Page 3, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 13. The two Parties shall continue discussions on the following issues:
a. the size of the Jericho Area;
Pastoralist/nomadism rights: No specific mention.
Cultural heritage: No specific mention.
Environment: No specific mention.
Water or riparian rights or access: No specific mention.

Security sector

Security Guarantees: No specific mention.
Ceasefire: No specific mention.
Police: Page 1, Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:
... 1. The PLO undertakes to ensure that the Palestinian Authority, including the Palestinian Police and other Palestinian Authority agencies, will function in accordance with the Agreement, and that the Palestinian Authority will activate the coordination and cooperation mechanism in a timely manner.

Page Page 2, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 1. The PLO undertakes to ensure that the Palestinian Authority, including the Palestinian Police and other Palestinian Authority agencies, will function in accordance with the Agreement, and that the Palestinian Authority will activate the coordination and cooperation mechanism in a timely manner.
Armed forces: No specific mention.
DDR: No specific mention.
Intelligence services: No specific mention.
Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces: No specific mention.
Withdrawal of foreign forces: No specific mention.
Corruption: No specific mention.
Crime/organised crime: No specific mention.
Drugs: No specific mention.
Terrorism: No specific mention.

Transitional justice

Transitional justice general: No specific mention.
Amnesty/pardon: No specific mention.
Courts: No specific mention.
Mechanism: No specific mention.
Prisoner release: No specific mention.
Vetting: No specific mention.
Victims: No specific mention.
Missing persons: Page 1, Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:
... 2. The PLO undertakes to cooperate with Israel, and to assist it, in its efforts to locate and to return to Israel Israeli soldiers who are missing in action and the bodies of killed soldiers which have not been recovered.

Page Page 2, Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:
... 2. The PLO undertakes to cooperate with Israel, and to assist it, in its efforts to locate and to return to Israel Israeli soldiers who are missing in action and the bodies of killed soldiers which have not been recovered.
Reparations: No specific mention.
Reconciliation: No specific mention.

Implementation

UN signatory: No specific mention.
Other international signatory: No specific mention.
Referendum for agreement: No specific mention.
International mission/force/similar: No specific mention.
Enforcement mechanism: No specific mention.
Related cases: No specific mention.
Source: The Jewish Virtual Library (A Division of the American-Israeli Cooperative Enterprise), https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/gjletter.html

GAZA-JERICHO AGREEMENT - LETTERS

Letter from PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin:

May 4, 1994

Yitzhak Rabin

Prime Minister of Israel

Mr. Prime Minister,

With regard to the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, signed in Cairo on May 4, 1994 (hereinafter 'the Agreement'), the PLO hereby confirms the following:

The PLO undertakes to ensure that the Palestinian Authority, including the Palestinian Police and other Palestinian Authority agencies, will function in accordance with the Agreement, and that the Palestinian Authority will activate the coordination and cooperation mechanism in a timely manner.

The PLO undertakes to cooperate with Israel, and to assist it, in its efforts to locate and to return to Israel Israeli soldiers who are missing in action and the bodies of killed soldiers which have not been recovered.

The PLO undertakes to submit to the next meeting of the Palestinian National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the Palestinian Covenant, as undertaken in the letter dated September 9, 1993 signed by the Chairman of the PLO and addressed to the Prime Minister of Israel.

When Chairman Arafat enters the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, he will use the title 'Chairman (Ra'ees in Arabic) of the Palestinian Authority' or 'Chairman of the PLO', and will not use the title 'President of Palestine.'

Neither side shall initiate or take any step that will change the status of the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area pending the outcome of the permanent status negotiations.

Pursuant to Article IV, paragraph 3, of the Agreement, the PLO shall inform the Government of Israel of the names of the members of the Palestinian Authority in a letter that shall be provided within a week of signing the Agreement.

The appointment of these members to the Palestinian Authority shall take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and the Government of Israel.

Changes in the membership of the Palestinian Authority will take effect upon an exchange of letters between the PLO and the Government of Israel.

Immediately after the conclusion of the Agreement, early empowerment negotiations will commence pursuant to Article VI of the Declaration of Principles, and the two sides will explore possible expansion of the scope of these negotiations beyond the five spheres.

The two sides will intensify the negotiations on the interim arrangements consistant with the Declaration of Principles and guided by its target date.

The two sides reiterate their commitment to commence permanent status negotiations as soon as possible, but no later than the beginning of the third year of the interim period, as provided for in Article V of the Declaration of Principles.

As regards the relations between Israel and the PLO, and without derogating from the commitments contained in the letters dated September 9, 1993 signed by and exchanged between the Prime Minister of Israel and the Chairman of the PLO, the two sides will apply between them the provisions contained in Article XII, paragraph 1, with the necessary changes.

The two Parties shall, within one month of signing the Agreement, invite the Governments of Jordan and Egypt to establish the Continuing Committee referred to in Article XII of the Declaration of Principles and in Article XVI of the Agreement.

The Government of Israel and the Palestinian Authority shall pass all necessary legislation to implement the Agreement.

The two Parties shall continue discussions on the following issues:

the size of the Jericho Area;

the positioning of a Palestinian official at the bridge;

additional arrangement in the Rafah passage;

and

all outstanding issues specified in the Agreement.

Sincerely,

Yasser Arafat

Chairman

The Palestinian Liberation Organization

Letter from Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat:

May 4, 1994

Yasser Arafat

Chairman

The Palestine Liberation Organization

Mr. Chairman,

The Government of the State of Israel has the honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of today's date which reads as follows:

"With regard to the Agreement on the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area, signed in Cairo on May 4, 1994 (hereinafter 'the Agreement'), the PLO hereby confirms the following:

The PLO undertakes to ensure that the Palestinian Authority, including the Palestinian Police and other Palestinian Authority agencies, will function in accordacne with the Agreement, and that the Palestinian Authority will activate the coordination and cooperation mechanism in a timely manner.