Israeli-Palestinian Declaration of Principles Signed at the White House

Early in 1993, American officials thought an Israeli–Syrian agreement might be more attainable and paid limited attention to the confidential Israeli–Palestinian talks in Norway. [1]

Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat shook hands on the White House lawn on 13 September 1993, with Bill Clinton standing behind them. The public ceremony for the Israeli–Palestinian Declaration of Principles followed secret negotiations in Norway. [2] [1]

Those contacts brought Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization into direct agreement. Before the Washington ceremony, the PLO recognized Israel’s right to exist in peace and security, while Israel recognized the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people. The United States hosted the public signing of an agreement it had not originally negotiated. [1]

The declaration envisaged Palestinian self-government during a five year interim period, postponing Jerusalem, refugees, settlements, borders, and other difficult questions for later negotiations. Further agreements followed, but violence and political opposition obstructed the search for a lasting peace. [1]

The 1994 Cairo Agreement addressed withdrawal from most of Gaza and Jericho, and Oslo II in 1995 divided the West Bank into areas with differing Israeli and Palestinian responsibilities. The United States had no monitoring role under the original accord and became increasingly involved in crisis management and assistance to the Palestinian Authority. [1]

Related Diplomats

1. Yitzhak Rabin [2] [1]
2. Itamar Rabinovich [3] [4] [5]

Related Reading

• Israel and the United States