Israel/PLO Recognition - Exchange of Letters
Export agreement coding (PDF)- Country/entityIsrael
Palestine - RegionMiddle East and North Africa
Middle East and North Africa - Agreement nameIsrael/PLO Recognition - Exchange of Letters
- Date9 Sep 1993
- Agreement statusMultiparty signed/agreed
- Interim arrangementYes
- Agreement/conflict levelIntrastate/intrastate conflict ( )
- StagePre-negotiation/process
- Conflict natureGovernment/territory
- Peace processIsrael-Palestine peace process
- PartiesIsrael, PLO
- Third partiesNorway
- DescriptionAgreement consists of three letters: (1) Letter from Yasser Arafat recognizing, on behalf of PLO, Israel's right to exist. (2) Letter from Yasser Arafat to Norwegian Foreign Minister confirming same. (3) Letter from Israeli PM Rabin to Yasser Arafat recognising PLO as representative of the Palestinian people.
- Agreement document
Groups
- Children/youth
No specific mention.
- Disabled persons
No specific mention.
- Elderly/age
No specific mention.
- Migrant workers
No specific mention.
- Racial/ethnic/national group
No specific mention.
- Religious groups
No specific mention.
- Indigenous people
No specific mention.
- Other groups
No specific mention.
- Refugees/displaced persons
No specific mention.
- Social class
No specific mention.
Gender
- Women, girls and gender
No specific mention.
- Men and boys
No specific mention.
- LGBTI
No specific mention.
- Family
No specific mention.
State definition
- Nature of state (general)Page 1, Letter from Yasser Arafat:
In view of the promise of a new era and the signing of the Declaration of Principles and based on Palestinian acceptance of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the PLO affirms that those articles of the Palestinian Covenant which deny Israel’s right to exist, and the provisions of the Covenant which are inconsistent with the commitments of this letter are now inoperative and no longer valid. Consequently, the PLO undertakes to submit to the Palestinian National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the Palestinian Covenant.
Page 2, Letter from Israeli PM Rabin to Yasser Arafat:
Mr. Chairman,
In response to your letter of September 9, 1993, I wish to confirm to you that, in light of the PLO commitments included in your letter, the Government of Israel has decided to recognize the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and commence negotiations with the PLO within the Middle East peace process.
Yitzhak Rabin - State configuration
No specific mention.
- Self determination
No specific mention.
- Referendum
No specific mention.
- State symbols
No specific mention.
- Independence/secession
No specific mention.
- Accession/unification
No specific mention.
- Border delimitation
No specific mention.
- Cross-border provision
No specific mention.
Governance
- Political institutions (new or reformed)
No specific mention.
- Elections
No specific mention.
- Electoral commission
No specific mention.
- Political parties reform
No specific mention.
- Civil society
No specific mention.
- Traditional/religious leaders
No specific mention.
- Public administration
No specific mention.
- Constitution
No specific mention.
Power sharing
- Political power sharing
No specific mention.
- Territorial power sharing
No specific mention.
- Economic power sharing
No specific mention.
- Military power sharing
No specific mention.
Human rights and equality
- Human rights/RoL general
No specific mention.
- Bill of rights/similar
No specific mention.
- Treaty incorporation
No specific mention.
- Civil and political rightsHuman rights and equality→Civil and political rights→OtherPage 1, 1. Letter from Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Rabin: In view of the promise of a new era and the signing of the Declaration of Principles and based on Palestinian acceptance of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the PLO affirms that those articles of the Palestinian Covenant which deny Israel’s right to exist, and the provisions of the Covenant which are inconsistent with the commitments of this letter are now inoperative and no longer valid. Consequently, the PLO undertakes to submit to the Palestinian National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in regard to the Palestinian Covenant.
Page 2, 3. Letter from Prime Minister Rabin to Yasser Arafat: In response to your letter of September 9, 1993, I wish to confirm to you that, in light of the PLO commitments included in your letter, the Government of Israel has decided to recognize the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and commence negotiations with the PLO within the Middle East peace process. - Socio-economic rights
No specific mention.
Rights related issues
- Citizenship
No specific mention.
- Democracy
No specific mention.
- Detention procedures
No specific mention.
- Media and communication
No specific mention.
- Mobility/access
No specific mention.
- Protection measures
No specific mention.
- Other
No specific mention.
Rights institutions
- NHRI
No specific mention.
- Regional or international human rights institutions
No specific mention.
Justice sector reform
- Criminal justice and emergency law
No specific mention.
- State of emergency provisions
No specific mention.
- Judiciary and courts
No specific mention.
- Prisons and detention
No specific mention.
- Traditional Laws
No specific mention.
Socio-economic reconstruction
- Development or socio-economic reconstructionSocio-economic reconstruction→Development or socio-economic reconstruction→Socio-economic developmentPage 2, Dear Minister Holst,
I would like top confirm to you that, upon the signing of the Declaration of Principles, the PLO encourages and calls upon the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to take part in the steps leading to the normalization of life, rejecting violence and terrorism, contributing to peace and stability and participating actively in shaping reconstruction, economic development and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Yasser Arafat - National economic plan
No specific mention.
- Natural resources
No specific mention.
- International funds
No specific mention.
- Business
No specific mention.
- Taxation
No specific mention.
- Banks
No specific mention.
Land, property and environment
- Land reform/rights
No specific mention.
- Pastoralist/nomadism rights
No specific mention.
- Cultural heritage
No specific mention.
- Environment
No specific mention.
- Water or riparian rights or access
No specific mention.
Security sector
- Security Guarantees
No specific mention.
- Ceasefire
No specific mention.
- Police
No specific mention.
- Armed forces
No specific mention.
- DDR
No specific mention.
- Intelligence services
No specific mention.
- Parastatal/rebel and opposition group forces
No specific mention.
- Withdrawal of foreign forces
No specific mention.
- Corruption
No specific mention.
- Crime/organised crime
No specific mention.
- Drugs
No specific mention.
- TerrorismPage 1, The PLO considers that the signing of the Declaration of Principles constitutes a historic event, inaugurating a new epoch of peaceful coexistence, free from violence and all other acts which endanger peace and stability. Accordingly, the PLO renounces the use of terrorism and other acts of violence and will assume responsibility over all PLO elements and personnel in order to assure their compliance, prevent violations and discipline violators.
Page 2, Dear Minister Holst,
I would like top confirm to you that, upon the signing of the Declaration of Principles, the PLO encourages and calls upon the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip to take part in the steps leading to the normalization of life, rejecting violence and terrorism, contributing to peace and stability and participating actively in shaping reconstruction, economic development and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Yasser Arafat
Transitional justice
- Transitional justice generalPage 1, The PLO considers that the signing of the Declaration of Principles constitutes a historic event, inaugurating a new epoch of peaceful coexistence, free from violence and all other acts which endanger peace and stability. Accordingly, the PLO renounces the use of terrorism and other acts of violence and will assume responsibility over all PLO elements and personnel in order to assure their compliance, prevent violations and discipline violators.
- Amnesty/pardon
No specific mention.
- Courts
No specific mention.
- Mechanism
No specific mention.
- Prisoner release
No specific mention.
- Vetting
No specific mention.
- Victims
No specific mention.
- Missing persons
No specific mention.
- Reparations
No specific mention.
- Reconciliation
No specific mention.
Implementation
- UN signatory
No specific mention.
- Other international signatory
No specific mention.
- Referendum for agreement
No specific mention.
- International mission/force/similar
No specific mention.
- Enforcement mechanism
No specific mention.
- Related cases
No specific mention.
- SourceINCORE - http://www.incore.ulst.ac.uk/services/cds/agreements/pdf/is4.pdf
Israel-PLO Recognition – Exchange of Letters
1. Letter from Yasser Arafat to Prime Minister Rabin:
9 September 1993
Yitzhak Rabin
Prime Minister of Israel
Mr. Prime Minister,
The signing of the Declaration of Principles marks a new era in the history of the Middle
East.
In firm conviction thereof, I would like to confirm the following PLO
commitments:
The PLO recognizes the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and security.
The PLO accepts United Nations Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338.
The PLO commits itself to the Middle East peace process, and to a peaceful resolution of
the conflict between the two sides and declares that all outstanding issues relating to
permanent status will be resolved through negotiations.
The PLO considers that the signing of the Declaration of Principles constitutes a historic
event, inaugurating a new epoch of peaceful coexistence, free from violence and all other
acts which endanger peace and stability.
Accordingly, the PLO renounces the use of
terrorism and other acts of violence and will assume responsibility over all PLO elements
and personnel in order to assure their compliance, prevent violations and discipline
violators.
In view of the promise of a new era and the signing of the Declaration of Principles and
based on Palestinian acceptance of Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the PLO
affirms that those articles of the Palestinian Covenant which deny Israel’s right to exist,
and the provisions of the Covenant which are inconsistent with the commitments of this
letter are now inoperative and no longer valid.
Consequently, the PLO undertakes to
submit to the Palestinian National Council for formal approval the necessary changes in
regard to the Palestinian Covenant.
Sincerely,
Yasser Arafat
Chairman
The Palestine Liberation Organization
2. Letter from Yasser Arafat to Norwegian Foreign Minister:
9 September 1993
His Excellency
Johan Jorgen Holst
Foreign Minister of Norway
Dear Minister Holst,
I would like top confirm to you that, upon the signing of the Declaration of Principles, the
PLO encourages and calls upon the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
to take part in the steps leading to the normalization of life, rejecting violence and
terrorism, contributing to peace and stability and participating actively in shaping
reconstruction, economic development and cooperation.
Sincerely,
Yasser Arafat
Chairman
The Palestine Liberation Organization
3. Letter from Prime Minister Rabin to Yasser Arafat:
9 September 1993
Yasser Arafat
Chairman
The Palestinian Liberation Organization
Mr. Chairman,
In response to your letter of September 9, 1993, I wish to confirm to you that, in light of
the PLO commitments included in your letter, the Government of Israel has decided to
recognize the PLO as the representative of the Palestinian people and commence
negotiations with the PLO within the Middle East peace process.
Yitzhak Rabin
Prime Minister of Israel