View source for Oslo II Accord

{{short description|1995 agreement in the Israeli–Palestinian peace process}}
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[[File:Oslo II Accord map of Area A and B.jpg|thumb|Official map of the first phase of the "Israeli-Palestinian interim agreement", Areas A and B (with C being defined as the rest of the West Bank)]]
The '''Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip''', commonly known as '''Oslo II''' or '''Oslo 2''', was a key and complex agreement in the [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]]. Because it was signed in [[Taba, Egypt]], it is sometimes called the '''Taba Agreement'''. The [[Oslo Accords]] envisioned the establishment of a Palestinian interim self-government in the Palestinian territories. Oslo II created the [[West Bank Areas in the Oslo II Accord|Areas A, B and C]] in the West Bank. The [[Palestinian National Authority|Palestinian Authority]] was given some limited powers and responsibilities in the Areas A and B and a prospect of negotiations on a final settlement based on Security Council Resolutions [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 242|242]] and [[United Nations Security Council Resolution 338|338]]. The Accord was officially signed on 28 September 1995.

{{Israel-Palestinian peace process}}

==Historical context==
The Oslo II Accord was first signed in [[Taba (Egypt)|Taba]] (in the [[Sinai Peninsula]], [[Egypt]]) by [[Israel]] and the [[PLO]] on 24 September 1995 and then four days later on 28 September 1995 by Israeli Prime Minister [[Yitzhak Rabin]] and PLO Chairman [[Yasser Arafat]] and witnessed by [[United States|US]] President [[Bill Clinton]] as well as by representatives of [[Russia]], [[Egypt]], Jordan, [[Norway]], and the [[European Union]] in [[Washington, D.C.]]

The agreement is built on the foundations of the initial [[Oslo I Accord]], formally called the ''Declaration of Principles on Interim Self-Government Arrangements'', which had been formally signed on 13 September 1993 by Israel and the PLO, with Prime Minister Rabin and Chairman Arafat in Washington, D.C. shaking hands, and officially witnessed by the United States and Russia.

It supersedes three earlier agreements:

* the [[Gaza–Jericho Agreement]] or Cairo Agreement of 4 May 1994
* the [[Agreement on Preparatory Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities Between Israel and the PLO]] of 29 August 1994
* the [[Protocol on Further Transfer of Powers and Responsibilities]] of 27 August 1995

The Oslo II Accord is called an ''interim'' agreement because it was supposed to be the basis for subsequent negotiations and the preliminary of an eventual comprehensive peace agreement. Several [[Oslo Accords#Additional agreements|additional agreements]] were concluded following Oslo II, but negotiations did not produce a final peace agreement. The 2002 [[Road map for peace]] abandoned the Oslo Accords and envisioned a rather loose scheme of withdrawal.

== Aim of the agreement ==
[[File:Oslo II accords signature page.jpg|thumb|Signature page of the accord]]
The preamble of the agreement speaks of peaceful coexistence, mutual dignity, and security, while recognizing the mutual legitimate and political rights of the parties. The aim of the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations is, among other things, to establish a Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority for the Palestinian people in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, for a transitional period not exceeding five years, leading to a permanent settlement based on Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.

As soon as possible but not later than 4 May 1996, negotiations on the permanent status would be started, leading to the implementation of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, and settling all the main issues.<ref>[http://israelipalestinian.procon.org/view.background-resource.php?resourceID=000921 1995 ''Oslo Interim Agreement'']. Text of the Accord</ref>

The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs declared the main object of the Interim Agreement 
{{blockquote|to broaden Palestinian self-government in the West Bank by means of an elected self-governing authority [to] allow the Palestinians to conduct their own internal affairs, reduce points of friction between Israelis and Palestinians, and open a new era of cooperation and co-existence based on common interest, dignity and mutual respect. At the same time it protects Israel's vital interests, and in particular its security interests, both with regard to external security as well as the personal security of its citizens in the West Bank.<ref name=MFA_main_points>[http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/foreignpolicy/peace/guide/pages/the%20israeli-palestinian%20interim%20agreement%20-%20main%20p.aspx ''The Israeli–Palestinian Interim Agreement – Main Points'']. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 28 September 1995</ref>}}

==Content of the agreement==
[[File:Oslo Areas and barrier projection 2005.png|thumb|right|240px|Map of the Areas. Red line: a projection of the route of the [[West Bank Barrier]] as approved on 20 February 2005.]]

The Interim Agreement comprises over 300 pages containing 5 "chapters" with 31 "articles", plus 7 "annexes" and 9 attached "maps". The agreement has a "preamble" acknowledging its roots in earlier diplomatic efforts of [[UN Security Council Resolution 242]] (1967) and [[UN Security Council Resolution 338]] (1973) the [[Madrid Conference of 1991]] and the other prior agreements that came before it. Most significantly the agreement recognizes the establishment of a "Palestinian Interim Self-Government Authority," that is an elected Council, called "the Council" or "the Palestinian Council".

===Chapter 1: The Palestinian Council===
Consisting of Articles I–IX: The role and powers of a governing Palestinian "council" and committee dealing with civil affairs and the transfer of power from Israel to the Palestinian Council. The holding of [[elections]], the structure of the Palestinian Council, and that it should contain 82 representatives, the executive authority of the Council, various other committees, that meetings of the council should be open to the public, and outlining the powers and responsibilities of the Council.

===Chapter 2: Redeployment and security arrangements===
Consisting of Articles X–XVI: Phases of the redeployment of the [[Israel Defense Forces]], roles of the [[Israeli Security Forces]] and the [[Israeli police]], perspectives on the land of the [[West Bank]] and [[Gaza Strip]], definition of the [[West Bank Areas in the Oslo II Accord|Areas A, B and C]] dividing the West Bank, arrangements for security and public order, prevention of hostile acts, confidence-building measures, and the role of the Palestinian [[police]]:

{{blockquote|The Palestinian police force established under the Gaza-Jericho Agreement will be fully integrated into the Palestinian Police and will be subject to the provisions of this Agreement. Except for the Palestinian Police and the Israeli military forces, no other armed forces shall be established or operate in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.}}

===Chapter 3: Legal affairs===
Consisting of Articles XVII–XXI: The scope of the Palestinian Council's authority and jurisdiction and the resolution of conflicts, the legislative powers of the Council, that "Israel and the Council shall exercise their powers and responsibilities ... with due regard to internationally-accepted norms and principles of [[human rights]] and the [[rule of law]]", the various rights, liabilities and obligations with the transfer of powers and responsibilities from the Israeli military government and its civil administration to the Palestinian Council, dealing with financial claims, and the settlement of differences and disputes.

===Chapter 4: Cooperation===
Consisting of Articles XXII–XXVIII: Relations between Israel and the Council:

{{blockquote|... shall accordingly abstain from incitement, including hostile propaganda, against each other ... that their respective educational systems contribute to the peace between the Israeli and Palestinian peoples and to peace in the entire region, and will refrain from the introduction of any motifs that could adversely affect the process of reconciliation ... cooperate in combating criminal activity which may affect both sides, including offenses related to trafficking in illegal drugs and psychotropic substances, smuggling, and offenses against property ...}}

The rules for [[economics|economic]] relations as set out in the [[Protocol on Economic Relations]], signed in [[Paris]] on April 29, 1994, cooperation programs that will hopefully be developed, the role and functioning of the ''Joint Israeli-Palestinian Liaison Committee'' set up as part of the ''Declaration of Principles'' ([[Oslo Accords|Oslo Accords 1993]] and the setting up of a ''Monitoring and Steering Committee'', liaison and cooperation with [[Jordan]] and Egypt, and locating and returning missing persons and soldiers [[missing in action]].

===Chapter 5: Miscellaneous provisions===
Consisting of Articles XXIX–XXXI: Arrangements for safe passage of persons and transportation between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, coordination between Israel and the Council regarding passage to and from Egypt and Jordan as well as any other agreed international crossings, and then the final clauses dealing with the signing of the agreement, its implementation, that the [[Gaza–Jericho Agreement]] (May 1994), the Preparatory Transfer Agreement (August 1994), and the Further Transfer Protocol (August 1995) will be superseded by this agreement, the need and timing of permanent status negotiations, and that:

{{blockquote|The PLO undertakes that, within two months of the date of the inauguration of the Council, the Palestinian National Council will convene and formally approve the necessary changes in regard to the Palestinian Covenant, as undertaken in the letters signed by the Chairman of the PLO and addressed to the Prime Minister of Israel, dated September 9, 1993 and May 4, 1994.}}

Discussion about the release of Palestinian prisoners, agreement about the attached annexes and maps, and commencement of Israel's redeployment.

==See also==
{{Portal|Palestine|Israel}}
* [[Protocol on Economic Relations]] (Paris Protocol)
* [[Taxation in the Palestinian territories]]
* [[Oslo Accords|Oslo Accords (1993)]]
* [[2000 Camp David Summit]]
* [[Israeli–Palestinian peace process]]
* [[The Environmental Provisions of Oslo II Accords]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*jewishvirtuallibrary.org [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/interim.html Full text of ''The Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip'']
*jewishvirtuallibrary.org [http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Peace/interimtoc.html Texts of the Annexes to the ''Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement'']
*[http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/pdfid/3de5ebbc0.pdf Text at unhcr]
*[http://www.mfa.gov.il/mfa/mfa-archive/1995/pages/pm%20rabin%20in%20knesset-%20ratification%20of%20interim%20agree.aspx ''Presentation of the Accord in the Knesset by Rabin'']. MFA, 5 October 1995
*[http://americanrhetoric.com/speeches/OsloII/wjclintonosloII.htm Speeches by President Clinton and others at Israeli-Palestinian Interim Agreement] at AmericanRhetoric.com
*[http://www.reut-institute.org/Publication.aspx?PublicationId=565 Analysis of Interim Agreement – Reut Institute] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924085055/http://www.reut-institute.org/Publication.aspx?PublicationId=565 |date=2014-09-24 }}

{{Israeli-Palestinian conflict |Diplomacy}}
{{Arab–Israeli diplomacy}}

[[Category:Israeli–Palestinian peace process]]
[[Category:Israel–United States relations]]
[[Category:Palestine–United States relations]]
[[Category:Treaties of Israel]]
[[Category:Treaties of Palestine]]
[[Category:Treaties concluded in 1995]]
[[Category:Taxation in Palestine]]
[[Category:1995 in Israel]]
[[Category:1995 in Palestine]]
[[Category:1995 in Egypt]]