THE MIDEAST PEACE PROCESS
CAMP DAVID ACCORDS
September 17, 1978
The Framework for Peace in the Middle East
Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and
Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of Israel, met with Jimmy Carter, President
of the United States of America, at Camp David from September 5 to
September 17, 1978, and have agreed on the following framework for peace in
the Middle East. They invite other parties to the Arab-Israel conflict to
adhere to it.
Preamble
The search for peace in the Middle East must be guided by the following:
* The agreed basis for a peaceful settlement of the conflict between
Israel and its neighbors is United Nations Security Council Resolution
242, in all its parts.
* After four wars during 30 years, despite intensive human efforts, the
Middle East, which is the cradle of civilization and the birthplace of
three great religions, does not 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 reception accorded to him by the parliament, government and people
of Israel, and the reciprocal visit of Prime Minister Begin to
Ismailia, the 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.
* To achieve a relationship of peace, in the spirit of Article 2 of the
United Nations Charter, future negotiations between Israel and any
neighbor prepared to negotiate peace and security with it are
necessary for the purpose of carrying out all the provisions and
principles of Resolutions 242 and 338.
* Peace requires respect for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and
political independence of every state in the area and their right to
live in peace within secure and recognized boundaries free from
threats or acts of force. 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 parties can, on the basis of reciprocity,
agree to special security arrangements such as demilitarized zones,
limited armaments areas, early warning stations, the presence of
international forces, liaison, agreed measures for monitoring and
other arrangements that they agree are useful.
Framework
Taking these factors into account, the parties are determined to reach a
just, comprehensive, and durable settlement of the Middle East conflict
through the conclusion of peace treaties based on 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 most deeply affected by the
conflict. 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:
A. West Bank and Gaza
1. Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the representatives of the Palestinian
people should participate in negotiations on the resolution of
the Palestinian problem in all its aspects. To achieve that
objective, negotiations relating to the West Bank and Gaza should
proceed in three stages:
a. Egypt and Israel agree that, in order to ensure a peaceful
and orderly transfer of authority, and taking into account
the security concerns of all the parties, 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 its civilian administration
will be withdrawn as soon as a self-governing authority has
been freely elected by the inhabitants of these areas to
replace the existing military government. To negotiate the
details of a transitional arrangement, 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 the parties involved.
b. Egypt, Israel, and Jordan will agree on the modalities for
establishing elected self-governing authority in the West
Bank and Gaza. The delegations of Egypt and Jordan may
include Palestinians from the West Bank and Gaza or other
Palestinians as mutually agreed. The parties will negotiate
an agreement which will define the powers and
responsibilities of the self-governing authority to be
exercised in the West Bank and Gaza. A withdrawal of Israeli
armed forces will take place and there will be a
redeployment of the remaining Israeli forces into specified
security locations. The agreement will also include
arrangements for assuring internal and external security and
public order. A strong local police force will be
established, which may include Jordanian citizens. In
addition, Israeli and Jordanian forces will participate in
joint patrols and in the manning of control posts to assure
the security of the borders.
c. When the self-governing authority (administrative council)
in the West Bank and Gaza is established and inaugurated,
the transitional period of five years will begin. As soon as
possible, but not later than the third year after the
beginning of the transitional period, negotiations will take
place to determine the final status of the West Bank and
Gaza and its relationship with its neighbors and to conclude
a peace treaty between Israel and Jordan by the end of the
transitional period. These negotiations will be conducted
among Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the elected representatives
of the inhabitants of the West Bank and Gaza. Two separate
but related committees will be convened, one committee,
consisting of representatives of the four parties which will
negotiate and agree on the final status of the West Bank and
Gaza, and its relationship with its neighbors, and the
second committee, consisting of representatives of Israel
and representatives of Jordan to be joined by the elected
representatives of the inhabitants of the West Bank and
Gaza, to negotiate the peace treaty between Israel and
Jordan, taking into account the agreement reached in the
final status of the West Bank and Gaza. The negotiations
shall be based on all the provisions and principles of UN
Security Council Resolution 242. The negotiations will
resolve, among other matters, the location of the boundaries
and the nature of the security arrangements. The solution
from the negotiations must also recognize the legitimate
right of the Palestinian peoples and their just
requirements. In this way, the Palestinians will participate
in the determination of their own future through:
i. The negotiations among Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the
representatives of the inhabitants of the West Bank and
Gaza to agree on the final status of the West Bank and
Gaza and other outstanding issues by the end of the
transitional period.
ii. Submitting their agreements to a vote by the elected
representatives of the inhabitants of the West Bank and
Gaza.
iii. Providing for the elected representatives of the
inhabitants of the West Bank and Gaza to decide how
they shall govern themselves consistent with the
provisions of their agreement.
iv. Participating as stated above in the work of the
committee negotiating the peace treaty between Israel
and Jordan.
d. All necessary measures will be taken and provisions made to
assure the security of Israel and its neighbors during the
transitional period and beyond. To assist in providing such
security, a strong local police force will be constituted by
the self-governing authority. It will be composed of
inhabitants of the West Bank and Gaza. The police will
maintain liaison on internal security matters with the
designated Israeli, Jordanian, and Egyptian officers.
e. During the transitional period, representatives of Egypt,
Israel, Jordan, and the self-governing authority will
constitute a continuing committee to decide by agreement on
the modalities of admission of persons displaced from the
West Bank and Gaza in 1967, together with necessary measures
to prevent disruption and disorder. Other matters of common
concern may also be dealt with by this committee.
f. Egypt and Israel will work with each other and with other
interested parties to establish agreed procedures for a
prompt, just and permanent implementation of the resolution
of the refugee problem.
B. Egypt-Israel
1. Egypt-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 U.N. Charter.
2. In order to achieve peace between them, the parties agree to
negotiate in good faith with a goal of concluding within three
months from the signing of the 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 the achieving a comprehensive peace in the area. The
Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty between Egypt and
Israel will govern the peace negotiations between them. The
parties will agree on the modalities and the timetable for the
implementation of their obligations under the treaty.
C. Associated Principles
1. Egypt and Israel state that the principles and provisions
described below should apply to peace treaties between Israel and
each of its neighbors - Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
2. Signatories shall 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 U.N. Charter.
Steps to be taken in this respect include:
a. full recognition;
b. abolishing economic boycotts;
c. guaranteeing that under their jurisdiction the citizens of
the other parties shall enjoy the protection of the due
process of law.
3. Signatories should explore possibilities for economic development
in the context of final peace treaties, with the objective of
contributing to the atmosphere of peace, cooperation and
friendship which is their common goal.
4. Claims commissions may be established for the mutual settlement
of all financial claims.
5. The United States shall be invited to participated 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.
6. 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 or
the provisions. They shall be requested to conform their policies
an actions with the undertaking contained in this Framework.
For the Government of Israel:
Menachem Begin
For the Government of
the Arab Republic of Egypt
Muhammed Anwar al-Sadat
Witnessed by
Jimmy Carter,
President of the United States of America
Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty
between Egypt and Israel
In order to achieve peace between them, Israel and Egypt agree to negotiate
in good faith with a goal of concluding within three months of the signing
of this framework a peace treaty between them:
It is agreed that:
* The site of the negotiations will be under a United Nations flag at a
location or locations to be mutually agreed.
* All of the principles of U.N. Resolution 242 will apply in this
resolution of the dispute between Israel and Egypt.
* Unless otherwise mutually agreed, terms of the peace treaty will be
implemented between two and three years after the peace treaty is
signed.
The following matters are agreed between the parties:
1. the full exercise of Egyptian sovereignty up to the internationally
recognized border between Egypt and mandated Palestine;
2. the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from the Sinai;
3. the use of airfields left by the Israelis near al-Arish, Rafah, Ras
en-Naqb, and Sharm el-Sheikh for civilian purposes only, including
possible commercial use only by all nations;
4. the right of free passage by ships of Israel through the Gulf of Suez
and the Suez Canal on the basis of the Constantinople Convention of
1888 applying to all nations; the Strait of Tiran and Gulf of Aqaba
are international waterways to be open to all nations for unimpeded
and nonsuspendable freedom of navigation and overflight;
5. the construction of a highway between the Sinai and Jordan near Eilat
with guaranteed free and peaceful passage by Egypt and Jordan; and
6. the stationing of military forces listed below.
Stationing of Forces
No more than one division (mechanized or infantry) of Egyptian armed forces
will be stationed within an area lying approximately 50 km. (30 miles) east
of the Gulf of Suez and the Suez Canal.
Only United Nations forces and civil police equipped with light weapons to
perform normal police functions will be stationed within an area lying west
of the international border and the Gulf of Aqaba, varying in width from 20
km. (12 miles) to 40 km. (24 miles).
In the area within 3 km. (1.8 miles) east of the international border there
will be Israeli limited military forces not to exceed four infantry
battalions and United Nations observers.
Border patrol units not to exceed three battalions will supplement the
civil police in maintaining order in the area not included above.
The exact demarcation of the above areas will be as decided during the
peace negotiations.
Early warning stations may exist to insure compliance with the terms of the
agreement.
United Nations forces will be stationed:
1. in part of the area in the Sinai lying within about 20 km. of the
Mediterranean Sea and adjacent to the international border, and
2. in the Sharm el-Sheikh area to insure freedom of passage through the
Strait of Tiran; and these forces will not be removed unless such
removal is approved by the Security Council of the United Nations with
a unanimous vote of the five permanent members.
After a peace treaty is signed, and after the interim withdrawal is
complete, normal relations will be established between Egypt and Israel,
including full recognition, including diplomatic, economic and cultural
relations; termination of economic boycotts and barriers to the free
movement of goods and people; and mutual protection of citizens by the due
process of law.
Interim Withdrawal
Between three months and nine months after the signing of the peace treaty,
all Israeli forces will withdraw east of a line extending from a point east
of El-Arish to Ras Muhammad, the exact location of this line to be
determined by mutual agreement.
For the Government of
the Arab Republic of Egypt:
Muhammed Anwar al-Sadat
For the Government of Israel:
Menachem Begin
Witnessed by:
Jimmy Carter,
President of the United States of America