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The Hussein-Arafat Accord

(February 11, 1985)

Both King Hussein and Yasser Arafat were trying to find a common ground to bring about a formula that would be acceptable to the United States. Arafat because the fortunes of the PLO have sunk very low since the war in Lebanon and their expulsion to Tunisia. Syria's hostile attitude to Arafat and the fragmentation of the PLO have also weakened that organization. For his part, Hussein sought reconciliation with the PLO, an organization that almost succeeded in overthrowing him in September 1970. With Egyptian mediation, Hussein and Arafat met in November 1984 at the session of the Palestine National Council. The following agreement, released on 23 February, called for total Israel withdrawal, the right of self-determination to Palestinians within the context of the formation of the proposed confederated Arab states of Jordan and Palestine, resolution of the UN resolutions, resolution of the Palestine question in all its aspects and the convening of an international conference with the participation of the parties (including the PLO) and the permanent members of the Security Council. There will be a joint Palestinian-Jordanian delegation. Text:

Emanating from the spirit of the Fez summit resolutions, approved by Arab states, and from United Nations resolutions relating to the Palestine question,

In accordance with international legitimacy, and deriving from a common understanding on the establishment of a special relationship between the Jordanian and Palestinian peoples,

The Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and the Palestine Liberation Organization have agreed to move together toward the achievement of a peaceful and just settlement of the Middle East crisis and the termination of Israeli occupation of the occupied Arab territories, including Jerusalem, on the basis of the following principles:

1. Total withdrawal from the territories occupied in 1967 for comprehensive peace as established in United Nations and Security Council resolutions.

2. Right of self-determination for the Palestinian people: Palestinians will exercise their inalienable right of self-determination when Jordanians and Palestinians will be able to do so within the context of the formation of the proposed confederated Arab states of Jordan and Palestine.

3. Resolution of the problem of Palestinian refugees in accordance with United Nations resolutions.

4. Resolution of the Palestine question in all its aspects.

5. And on this basis, peace negotiations will be conducted under the auspices of an international conference in which the five permanent members of the Security Council and all the parties to the conflict will participate, including the Palestine Liberation Organization, the sole legitimate representative of the Palestine people, within a joint delegation (joint Jordanian-Palestinian delegation).


Source: Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs