Statement on Joint Understanding at Annapolis Conference
(November 27, 2007)
The representatives of the government of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Liberation Organization, represented respective by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and President Mahmoud Abbas in his capacity as Chairman of the PLO Executive Committee and President of the Palestinian Authority, have convened in Annapolis, Maryland, under the auspices of President George W. Bush of the United States of America, and with the support of the participants of this international conference, having concluded the following joint understanding.
We express our determination
to bring an end to bloodshed, suffering and
decades of conflict between our peoples;
to usher in a new era of peace, based on
freedom, security, justice, dignity, respect
and mutual recognition; to propagate a culture
of peace and nonviolence; to confront terrorism
and incitement, whether committed by Palestinians
or Israelis. In furtherance of the goal
of two states, Israel and Palestine, living
side by side in peace and security, we agree
to immediately launch good-faith bilateral
negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty,
resolving all outstanding issues, including
all core issues without exception, as specified
in previous agreements.
We agree
to engage in vigorous, ongoing and continuous
negotiations, and shall make every effort
to conclude an agreement before the end of
2008. For this purpose, a steering
committee, led jointly by the head of the
delegation of each party, will meet continuously,
as agreed. The steering committee
will develop a joint work plan and establish
and oversee the work of negotiations teams
to address all issues, to be headed by one
lead representative from each party. The
first session of the steering committee will
be held on 12 December 2007.
President Abbas and
Prime Minister Olmert will
continue to meet on a bi-weekly basis to
follow up the negotiations in order to offer
all necessary assistance for their advancement.
The parties also commit to immediately implement their respective obligations under the performance-based road map to a permanent two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, issued by the Quartet on 30 April 2003 -- this is called the road map -- and agree to form an American, Palestinian and Israeli mechanism, led by the United States, to follow up on the implementation of the road map.
The parties further commit
to continue the implementation of the ongoing
obligations of the road
map until they reach a peace treaty. The
United States will monitor and judge the
fulfillment of the commitment of both sides
of the road
map. Unless otherwise agreed by
the parties, implementation of the future
peace treaty will be subject to the implementation
of the road
map, as judged by the United States.
Sources: The White House |