The Palestine Papers

(2005)

In January 2011, confidential documents related to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict were leaked, including thousands of pages diplomatic correspondence, minutes from private meetings, transcripts of high level exchanges and strategy papers dated from 1999 to 2010. Documents are PDFs and listed below in chronological order.

• January 3, 2005 - Ariel Sharon's Position on Palestinian Elections

  • Summary: Document that outlines the Ariel Sharon's and the official Israeli position on the upcoming 2005 Palestinian elections.
• January 13, 2005 - Ariel Sharon's Letter to Shimon Peres

  • Summary: In this letter, Ariel Sharon outlines Shimon Peres's role as the new Vice Premier.
• January 31, 2005 - Outcomes of London Donor Conference

  • Summary: This is a summary of the issues discussed during the London Conference about acheiving Palestinian statehood. It provides an outline of the meeting topics, including security, the realization of a two-state solution, Palestinian elections, constitutional and economic reform, judicial reform, and administrative reform.
• February 3, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Saeb Erekat and Dov Weisglass

  • Summary: These are minutes from a preparatory meeting 4 days before Sharm el-Sheikh Summit of 2005. Both sides negotiate several topics, including prisoner release, removal of checkpoints, and Israeli withdrawal from 5 Palestinian cities.
• February 6, 2005 - NSU Email Re: Saeb Erekat-Dov Weisglass Meeting Follow-Up

  • Summary: Email from Hazzan to NSU staff regarding follow-up items from the Erekat-Weisglass meeting on February 3, 2005.  The email identifies issues where Palestinians need clarification from the Israelis - on detailed confidence building measures and the fate of deportees (other than Nativity Church deportees).  The email also identifies three major controversies and lists related action items.
• February 8, 2005 - Draft Conclusions from London Donor Conference

  • Summary: This is a summary of the discussions held during the London Meeting in February 2005. The major theme was institutional renewal in areas such as elections, the judiciary, economic governance, constitution, civil society. Also noted in this document was a push for a clear commitment from international community to support the PA's program.
• February 11, 2005 - Israeli Presentation on Gaza Disengagement

  • Summary: This is a powerpoint presentation regarding the disengagement plan given during an Israeli-Palestinian Ministerial meeting. It deals with the logistical aspects of movement and access, economic development, and transfer of Israeli assets.
• February 13, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Israeli-Palestinian Redeployment Committee

  • Summary: These are the minutes from a meeting discussing the transfer of Jericho's security responsibility to the Palestinian Authority, training PA forces, as well as the removal of all checkpoints in the area.
• February 14, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Saeb Erekat and Dov Weisglass

  • Summary: These are minutes from a preparatory meeting days before Sharm el-Sheikh Summit of 2005. It also includes a proposed draft written by the Israelis for 'Israeli-Palestinian understanding', which lists Israel's topics for negotiation.
• February 20, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Israel and Palestine on Handover of Tulkarem

  • Summary: Email from Dajani to NSU staff briefing the team on meetings with both Palestinian and Israeli military/security officials regarding possible handover of Tulkarem.  The Israelis are willing to handover Tulkarem with several caveats, including rights of passage and "hot pursuit" rights; the Palestinians admit that their security forces are not entirely ready for such responsibility.  Dajani also offers his assessment handover plan failures as well as harmful Israeli negotiation tactics.
• February 27, 2005 - Palestinian Guidelines for Israeli Withdrawal

  • Summary: This document presents Palestinian positions on the Israeli evacuation and withdrawal, followed by the procedural guidelines that Palestinian believe should govern the coordination process with Israel. It also offers a Palestinian agenda for coordination with a proposed structure of Palestinian-Israeli committees.
• February 28, 2005 - Protocol Security Transfer - Jericho

  • Summary: This is a list of agreed upon responsibilities in the transfer of security in Jericho from the Government of Israel to the Palestinian Authority, represented by Colonel Motti Almoz and General Ahmed Eid.
• March 21, 2005 - Israeli Protocol Transfer - Tulkarem

  • Summary: This is a letter from Senior Israeli Commander, Tamir Hayman, explaining the protocol in the handover of the Tulkarem area to Palestinian security control.
• March 22, 2005 - Concern on Security Protocol Transfer at Tulkarem

  • Summary: This is a document which outlines the points which were raised in the meeting with the Israelis regarding the transfer of security responsibility in the Tulkarem area.
• April 5, 2005 - Meeting Summaries: Mohammad Dahlan in Washington, D.C.

  • Summary: This document summarizes a series of meetings held in Washington, DC during the week of April 5th, 2005, during Minister Mohammad Dahlan's visit to the United States. Notes on each of the meetings with various think tanks and US officials are included in this paper.
• April 17, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Gaza Disengagement

  • Summary: This is a summary of meetings on Gaza development that took place during the week of April 17th, 2005. The agenda included several meetings that discussed issues such as infrastructure, access, and withdrawal in Gaza and economic development. Several of the meetings were workshops or briefings to third parties (ie. Americans, European Union) involved in the process.
• April 21, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Saeb Erekat and Dov Weisglass

  • Summary: Minutes of meeting between Dov Weisglass and Saeb Erekat. The pair along with other reps discuss security forces and Abbas' strategy. They argue over Palestinian effectiveness, Israeli interference, Hamas' gaining strength and moving forward based on previous security frameworks.
• April 23, 2005 - Meeting Summary: Movement & Passages - Karni, Erez, Rafah

  • Summary: Summary of a meeting between Israeli and Palestinian Authorities on improving crossing points' security, equipment, logistics and other protocols.
• May 1, 2005 - U.S. Lobbyist Report: Palestinian Strategies Post-Abbas' Visit to Washington

  • Summary: A memorandum from Bannerman to the PLO that outlines strategies for the Palestinians to capitalize on the goodwill generated by Mahmoud Abbas' recent visit to Washington, D.C.  The memo focuses on concrete steps the PLO can take to engage the Bush Administration, put Israel on the defensive, and gather international support in their favor.  Such measures include establishing a Palestinian referendum on peace; transferring sovereignty over the West Bank from Jordan to Palestine; and taking concrete steps to dismantle terrorism.  The memo does stress the importance of getting commitment from the Bush administration to force a full settlement freeze. 
• May 2, 2005 - British Security Plan: Military Project Synopsis on Palestinian Security

  • Summary: This is a report from the UK's Military Liaison Office (Jerusalem) summarizing British projects to bolster the Palestinian security forces. The majority of the projects concern are logistics and infrastructure, e.g. air conditioning, vehicles, office space, furniture, and other essentials.  They also outline specific amounts funded for Palestinian intelligence forces, including General Intelligence (GI) and Preventative Security Services (PSS)
• May 3, 2005 - Israeli Presentation on Economic and Civilian Disengagement

  • Summary: Powerpoint presentation to James Wolfensohn on co-operation with PA Ministers Cabinet and international donor community during and after Gaza disengagement. This document provides discussion points on improving border crossings, trade relations, facilitating economic development, and short term projects (training of health care personnel, development of electricity distribution).
• May 8, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Negotiation on Prisoners Release

  • Summary: In these minutes, the Israelis said that there would be no prisoner release until the Palestinian Authority halts the armed operations against Israel, in particular, the Kassam rocket firing on Israeli settlements. Their release would be considered if the calm was restored. The government of Israel is willing to waive the 5th condition for prisoners release- prisoners would be released only after serving 2/3 of their sentence. This would enable the release of prisoners which were sentenced to long sentences and are due to be released only after a long time – up to 2013, on the condition that the calm is restored. The Israeli Minister of Justice will review the procedure for renewing the administrative detention. Also mentioned was that the Minister of Justice and the Palestinian Minister of Prisoners Affairs will coordinate a joint visit to verify the detention and visit conditions in the Israeli prisons.
• May 18, 2005 - Clearance Process For Imports to Palestinian Territories

  • Summary: This is a USSC drafted summary of the procedures to ensure the successful import of commodities (humanitarian aid) to the West Bank and Gaza.
• May 19, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Dov Weisglass and Saeb Erekat

  • Summary: The minutes of a meeting between Saeb Erekat and Dov Weisglass in Tel Aviv on May 19, 2005. The main issue they discussed was Israeli security.
• June 1, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Dov Weisglass and Saeb Erekat

  • Summary: Minutes of meeting among Weisglass, Erekat, Tourgeman and Hazzan in Tel Aviv where the parties discussed the recent moves by Erekat to block execution of prisoners, upcoming elections, Gaza Disengagement, home demolitions.
• June 14, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Israeli-Palestinian Security Meeting - Tel Aviv Conference

  • Summary: These are minutes from a June 14th, 2005 meeting in Tel Aviv about security coordination between Israeli and Palestinian forces. Arabic version available.
• June 15, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Dov Weisglass and Saeb Erekat

  • Summary: The parties discuss several issues prior to the summit, including work on joint documents, Gaza airport, Rafah, cease fire, access/movement and home demolition. Erekat entertains the idea of PA being paid for home demolitions and subsequent removal. Weisglass reiterates the need for PA to stop Qassam rockets as they destroy Israeli support for disengagement.
• June 22, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Mahmoud Abbas and Ariel Sharon Summit Meeting

  • Summary: Minutes from a two-hour meeting at Sharon's residence in Jerusalem, after which each side held a separate press conference. They discussed minimal progress on coordinating the Gaza withdrawal, and the Israeli government made several small promises regarding crossing points and the release of prisoners. The PA called it a "frustrating" meeting.
• July 1, 2005 - Meeting Summary: Shaul Mofaz and Nasr Yousef

  • Summary: An English translation of a mid-2005 meeting between Israeli general Shaul Mofaz and Palestinian interior minister Nasr Yousef, in which they discuss security cooperation, notably the Israeli request that the PA assassinate Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades figure Hassan al-Madhoun.
• July 5, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Security Coordination

  • Summary: This is a summary of a security coordination meeting that took place among Israeli and Palestinian commanders before the Gaza disengagement. In this document, the Palestinians present their plan for maintaining security and order to help Israeli withdrawal in a successful manner.
• July 25, 2005 - World Bank Report: The Gaza Settlement Houses

  • Summary: This note summarizes the status of the existing Gaza settlement houses and examines issues related to the removal of hazardous materials, partial demolition, reuse of the material for future building and road construction, and the disposal of unusable rubble.
• October 1, 2005 - Meeting Summary: Shaul Mofaz and Nasr Yousef

  • Summary: An English translation of a 2005 meeting between Israeli general Shaul Mofaz and Palestinian interior minister Nasr Yousef, in which they discuss security cooperation, notably the Israeli request that the PA assassinate Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades figure Hassan al-Madhoun.
• October 9, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Customs Arrangements at Rafah

  • Summary: Minutes of meeting in Jerusalem on October 9, 2005. The Israeli, Palestinian and international delegates discuss customs arrangements, mechanisms and concerns regarding the opening of the Rafah crossing.
• October 10, 2005 - Meeting Summary: Trilateral Meeting on Rafah Crossing

  • Summary: A trilateral meeting was held on 10 October 2005 in Jerusalem for three hours headed by James Wolfensohn. Various points discussed; some were agreed upon by all parties, including the need to have a study done on the requirements for operating the crossing (equipment), and accordingly set a date for operating the crossing, the necessity to have security coordination to prevent terrorists from using the crossing, and have a third party supervise the performance of the Palestinian Authority at the crossing. Israelis disagreed on the third party role in Kerem Shalom for assistance and monitoring, and exiting goods from Rafah crossing without giving logical reasons.
• October 14, 2005 - Meeting Minutes: Saeb Erekat and Shimon Peres

  • Summary: Minutes of meeting among Peres, Erekat and PA/GoI delegations on border crossings, Rafah and elections. After PA pointed out deterioration of functioning of the crossing points, GoI promised to resolve their issues soon.
• October 31, 2005 - Agreement between Israel Tax Authority & Palestinian Custom and Excise Directorate - Rafah Crossing

  • Summary: This is an agreement between the Israeli Tax Authority and the Customs and Excise Directorate of the Palestinian Authority on the operation of the Rafah crossing point.
• November 20, 2005 - Letter from Wolfensohn to Sharon and Abbas Re: AMA

  • Summary: This is a letter from the US Special Envoy for Disengagement thanking President Abbas and PM Sharon in finalizing the Agreement on Access and Movement.
• November 24, 2005 - U.S. Security Draft: Protocol on Security at Rafah Border

  • Summary: This agreement lays out the protocol of security implementation procedures at the Rafah Border Crossing, in accordance with international standards, and Palestinian law.
• November 24, 2005 - UNTSO - Protocol on Security Implementation Procedures

  • Summary: Proposal by UNTSO entitled "Protocol on Security Implementation Procedures," dated November 24, 2005. The document lays out the guidelines and responsibilities for each party ta Rafah Crossing. Includes appendix on operation of cameras.