The
1978 Camp David Accords
Framework
for Peace Between Egypt and
Israel
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:
1. 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:
1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:
1. 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.
2. Submitting their agreements to a
vote by the elected representatives of the inhabitants of
the West Bank and Gaza.
3. 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.
4. Participating as stated above in
the work of the committee negotiating the peace treaty
between Israel and Jordan.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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:
full recognition;
abolishing economic
boycotts;
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 the For the
Government Arab Republic of Egypt: Muhammed Anwar
al-Sadat
of Israel: Menachem Begin
Witnessed by: Jimmy Carter, President
of the United States of America
