A Framework for Peace in the Middle East Agreed at Camp David [Draft]

(September 10, 1978)


Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Menachim Begin, Prime Minister of Israel, met with Jimmy Carter, President of the United States of America, at Camp David from September 5 to--, 1978, and have agreed on the following framework for peace in the Middle East. They invite other parties to the Arab-Israeli conflict to adhere to it.

 

Preamble

The search for peace in the Middle East must be guided by the following:

  • After four wars during thirty years, despite intensive human efforts, the Middle East, which is the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of three great religions, does not yet enjoy the blessings of peace. The people of the Middle East yearn for peace so that the vast human and natural resources of the region can be turned to the pursuits of peace and so that this area can become a model for coexistence and cooperation among nations.

  • The historic initiative of President Sadat in visiting Jerusalem and the reciprocal visit of Prime Minister Begin to Ismailia, the constructive peace proposals made by both leaders, as well as the warm reception of these missions by the peoples of both countries, have created an unprecedented opportunity for peace which must not be lost if this generation and future generations are to be spared the tragedies of war.

  • The provisions of the Charter of the United Nations and the other accepted norms of international law and legitimacy now provide accepted standards for the conduct of relations among all states.

  • The only agreed basis for a peaceful settlement of the Arab- Israeli conflict is United Nations Security Council Resolution 242, supplemented by Resolution 338. Resolution 242 in its preamble emphasizes the obligation of Member States in the United Nations to act in accordance with Article 2 of the Charter. Article 2, among other points, calls for the settlement of disputes by peaceful means and for Members to refrain from the threat or use of force. Egypt and Israel in their agreement signed September 4, 1975, agreed:
    "The Parties hereby undertake not to resort to the threat or use of force or military blockade against each other." They have both also stated that there shall be no more war between them. In a relationship of peace, in the spirit of Article 2, negotiations between Israel and any neighbor prepared to negotiate peace and security with it should be based on all the provisions and principles of Resolution 242, including the inadmissibility of the acquisition of territory by war and the need to work for a just and lasting peace in which every state in the area can live in security within secure and recognized borders. Negotiations based on these principles are necessary with respect to all fronts of the conflict--the Sinai, the Golan Heights, the West Bank and Gaza, and Lebanon.

  • Peace is more than the juridical end of the state of belligerency. It should encompass the full range of normal relations between nations. Progress toward that goal can accelerate movement toward a new era of reconciliation in the Middle East marked by cooperation in promoting economic development, in maintaining stability, and in assuring security.

  • Security is enhanced by a relationship of peace and by cooperation between nations which enjoy normal relations. In addition, under the terms of peace treaties, the sovereign parties can agree to special security arrangements such as demilitarized zones, limited armaments areas, early warning stations, special security forces, liaison, agreed measures for monitoring, and other arrangements that they agree are useful.

    Agreement

    Taking these factors into account, Egypt and Israel are determined to reach a just, comprehensive, and durable settlement of the Middle East conflict through the conclusion of peace treaties on the basis of the full implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338 in all their parts. Their purpose is to achieve peace and good neighborly relations. They recognize that, for peace to endure, it must involve all those who have been principal parties to the Arab- Israeli conflict; it must provide security; and it must give the peoples who have been most deeply affected by the conflict, including the Palestinians, a sense that they have been dealt with fairly in the peace agreement. They therefore agree that this Framework as appropriate is intended by them to constitute a basis for peace not only between Egypt and Israel, but also between Israel and each of its other neighbors which is prepared to negotiate peace with Israel on this basis. With that objective in mind, they have agreed to proceed as follows:

       

    1. Egypt-Israel

         

      1. Egypt and Israel undertake not to resort to the threat or the use of force to settle disputes. Any disputes shall be settled by peaceful means in accordance with the provisions of Article 33 of the Charter of the United Nations. In the event of disputes arising from the application or interpretation of their contractual agreements, the two parties will seek to reach a settlement by direct negotiations. Failing agreement, the parties accept the compulsory jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice with respect to all disputes emanating from the application or the interpretation of their contractual arrangements.

      2. In order to achieve peace between them, they have agreed to negotiate without interruption with a goal of concluding within three months from the signing of this Framework a peace treaty between them, while inviting the other parties to the conflict to proceed simultaneously to negotiate and conclude similar peace treaties with a view to achieving a comprehensive peace in the area. Israel has agreed to the restoration of the exercise of full Egyptian sovereignty in the Sinai up to the internationally recognized border between Egypt and Israel, and Egypt has agreed to establish full peace and normal relations with Israel. Security arrangements, the timing of withdrawal of all Israeli forces from the Sinai, and the elements of a normal, peaceful relationship between them have been discussed and will be defined in the peace treaty.

      3. Egypt and Israel agree that freedom of passage through the Suez Canal, the Strait of Tiran, and the Gulf of Suez should be assured for ships of all flags, including Israel.

       

    2. West Bank and Gaza

         

      1. Egypt and Israel will participate in negotiatinos on resolution of the Palestinian problem in all its aspects. The solution must recognize the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and enable the Palestinians to participate in the determination of their own future.

      2. To this end, negotiations relating to the West Bank and Gaza should provide for links between these areas and Jordan and should proceed in three stages:

        1. Egypt and Israel hereby agree that the following should be the main elements of a settlement in the West Bank and Gaza: In order to ensure a peaceful and orderly transfer of authority, there should be transitional arrangements for the West Bank and Gaza for a period not exceeding five years. In order to provide full autonomy to the inhabitants, under these arrangements the Israeli military government and administration will be abolished and withdrawn as soon as a self-governing authority can be freely elected by the inhabitants of these areas to replace the existing military government. This transitional arrangement should derive its authority for self-government from Egypt and Israel, and Jordan, when Jordan joins the negotiations. To negotiate the details of a transitional arrangement, the Government of Jordan will be invited to join the negotiations on the basis of this Framework. These new arrangements should give due consideration both to the principle of self-government by the inhabitants of these territories and to the legitimate security concerns of Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the inhabitants of the West Bank and Gaza.

        2. Egypt, Israel, and Jordan will determine the modalities for establishing the elected self-governing authority in the West Bank and Gaza. The delegations may include Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza. The parties will negotiate an agreement which will define the powers and responsibilities of the self-governing authority. The agreement will provide for the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces and the redeployment of some of them to limited and specified security points. It will also include arrangements for assuring internal and external security and public order, including the respective roles of Israeli armed forces and local police.

        3. When the self-governing authority in the West Bank and Gaza is inaugurated, the transitional period will begin. Within three years after the beginning of the transitional period, Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the self-governing authority in the West Bank and Gaza will undertake negotiations for a peace treaty which will settle the final status of the West Bank and Gaza after the transitional period and its relationship with its neighbors on the basis of all of the principles of UN Security Council Resolution 242, including the mutual obligations of peace, the necessity for security arrangements for all parties concerned following the transitional period, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, a just settlement of the refugee problem, and the establishment of secure and recognized boundaries. The boundaries and security arrangements must both satisfy the aspirations of the Palestinians and meet Israel's security needs. They may incorporate agreed minor modifications in the temporary armistice lines which existed between 1949 and 1967. The peace treaty will define the rights of the citizens of each of the parties to do business, to work, to live, and to carry on other transactions in each other's territory on a reciprocal basis.

      3. All necessary measures will be taken and provisions made to assure Israel's security during the transitional period and beyond. To assist in providing security during and beyond the transitional period:

        1. Egypt and Israel propose that Jordan and Egypt assign personnel to the police forces of the self-governing authority in the West Bank and Gaza, respectively. They will also maintain continuing liaison on internal security matters with the designated Israeli authorities to ensure that no hostile threats or acts against Israel or its citizens originate from the West Bank or Gaza. The numbers, equipment, and responsibilities of such Egyptian and Jordanian personnel will be defined by the agreement. By mutual agreement, United Nations forces or observers may also be introduced during the transitional period.

        2. The nature of the Israeli security presence during the transitional period and beyond will be agreed in the negotiations described in paragraphs B2(b) and (c) above.

      4. During the transitional period, the negotiating parties (Egypt, Israel, Jordan, the self-governing authority) will constitute a continuing committee to reach mutual agreements applicable during that period on:

        1. issues involving interpretation of the agreement or issues unforeseen during the negotiation of the agreement, if not resolvable by the self-governing authority;

        2. the return of agreed numbers of persons displaced from the West Bank in 1967 and of Palestinian refugees together with necessary measures in connection with their return to prevent disruption and disorder.

      5. Jerusalem, the city of peace, shall not be divided. It is a city holy to Jew, Muslim, and Christian and all peoples must have free access to it and enjoy the free exercise of worship and the right to visit and transit to the holy places without distinction or discrimination. The holy places of each faith will be under the administration of their representatives. For peace to endure, each community in Jerusalem must be able to express freely its cultural and religious values in an acceptable political framework. A representative municipal council shall supervise essential functions in the city. An agreement on relationships in Jerusalem should be reached in the negotiations dealing with the final status of the West Bank and Gaza.

      6. Egypt and Israel agree to work with each other and with other interested parties to achieve a just and permanent solution of the problems of Palestinian and Jewish refugees.

      7. If Jordan is unable to join these negotiations, Egypt, Israel, and the inhabitants of the West Bank and Gaza will proceed to establish and administer the self-governing authority.

       

    3. Settlements
      (Language to be inserted)

       

    4. Associated Principles

         

      1. Egypt and Israel believe that the principles and provisions described below should apply to peace treaties on all fronts.

      2. Synchronized with the implementation of the provisions related to withdrawal, signatories shall proceed to establish among themselves relationships normal to states at peace with one another. To this end, they should undertake to abide by all the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations. Steps to be taken in this respect include:

        1. full recognition, including diplomatic, economic and cultural relations;

        2. abolishing economic boycotts and barriers to the free movement of goods and people;

        3. guaranteeing that under their jurisdiction the citizens of the other parties shall enjoy the protection of the due process of law.

      3. Signatories should agree to provide for the security and respect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and inviolability and the political independence of each state negotiating peace through measures such as the following:

        1. the establishment of demilitarized zones;

        2. the establishment of limited armament zones;

        3. the stationing of United Nations forces or observer groups as agreed;

        4. the stationing of early warning systems on the basis of reciprocity;

        5. regulating the size of their armed forces and the types of their armament and weapons systems.

      4. Signatories should explore possibilities for regional economic development in the context of both traditional arrangements and final peace treaties, with the objective of contributing to the atmosphere of peace, cooperation and friendship which is their common goal.

      5. Claims Commissions may be established for the mutual settlement of all financial claims.

      6. The United States shall be invited to participate in the talks on matters related to the modalities of the implementation of the agreements and working out the timetable for the carrying out of the obligations of the parties.

      7. The United Nations Security Council shall be requested to endorse the peace treaties and ensure that their provisions shall not be violated. The permanent members of the Security Council shall be requested to underwrite the peace treaties and ensure respect for their provisions. They shall also be requested to conform their policies and actions with the undertakings contained in this Framework.

      Source: Camp David Accords — Framework for Peace.