November 18, 2010

1993 - Declaration of Principles (Oslo 1)

The Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements (the DOP, also known as Oslo I) - signed by Prime Minister Rabin and Chairman Arafat on the White House Lawn on September 13, 1993 - outlined a framework for the transfer of self-governing authority to the Palestinians. The DOP called for (1) a staged Israeli withdrawal from two areas, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank town of Jericho, (2) the creation of a Palestinian Authority to govern Palestinians in those areas until the election of a governing council to conduct affairs for five years while a permanent settlement was negotiated, (3) creation of a Palestinian police force, and (4) Israeli control over external security and foreign relations and Palestinian control over domestic affairs during the five-year interim period. Permanent status negotiations were to commence by the beginning of third year of the interim period. The agreement on contentious issues - Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, security arrangements, borders, relations and cooperation with other neighbours, and other issues of common interest - were to be resolved in permanent status negotiations, reserved for discussion at a later stage. Oslo I, contrary to common misperception, did not set out plans for the establishment of a Palestinian state west of the Jordan River.

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