Round One – Documents

The “Mind of Peace Experiment” – December 2008
Palestinian-Israeli Public Assembly
Declaration of Principles

 

We, the undersigned representatives of the following two Delegations, agree to the following principles:
1. That both the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right to self-determination; specifically, that Israel has a right to exist as a sovereign nation within secure, internationally recognized borders, and that Palestine has a right to exist as a sovereign nation within secure, internationally recognized borders.
2. That we will work toward a peaceful resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, with the understanding that the resolution we will achieve will represent a permanent solution to the conflict and the end of all grievances and demands between the two nations.
3. That we will suspend violence, violent struggle and incitement, in which (1) violence is defined as: unlawful use of physical force, as defined by international law, specifically, but not limited to, the Hague Regulations of 1907 and the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, exerted for the purpose of harming, violating, damaging, or abusing people; (2) violent struggle is defined as: political struggle that uses violence to achieve its objectives; and (3) incitement to violence is defined as: provoking or urging others to commit violence, using means that include, but are not limited to, public speeches, textbooks, television programming and any act that would inherently cause humiliation.
4. In the event that an act of violence is committed by members of either nation, that we will unequivocally condemn the violence; that we will not halt the negotiation process despite the act of violence; and that we will ask the authority of the side that committed the act to take the necessary steps to capture and imprison perpetrators of violence who have acted unlawfully. The “Mind of Peace Experiment” – December 2008
Palestinian-Israeli Public Assembly
Confidence Building Measures

We, the undersigned representatives of the following two Delegations, agree to actively promote mutual respect and open conversation between Israelis and Palestinians via the following confidence building measures:
1. We will actively protest the unnecessary humiliation of Palestinians and all instances of collective punishment by the Israeli military and attacks on Palestinian civilians by either the Israeli military or by Israeli settlers, using a variety of means that include, but are not limited to: participating in public demonstrations; issuing press releases; posting statements on websites; etc.
2. We will actively protest all instances in which Palestinians launch rockets or commit other acts of violence against Israeli civilians. Forms of protest that we will use will include, but not be limited to: participating in public demonstrations; issuing press releases; posting statements on websites; etc.
3. We will actively protest the continued imprisonment of Palestinians who are currently being held by Israel without having been formally charged with any crime, as well as the continued imprisonment of IDF Soldier, Gilad Shalit, who is currently being held by Hamas without having been formally charged with any crime. Forms of protest that we will use will include, but not be limited to: participating in public demonstrations; issuing press releases; posting statements on websites; etc.
4. We will call on the government of Israel to reduce the number of checkpoints that connect areas under Palestinian control to the minimum number of checkpoints that are necessary to ensure security, and to establish additional checkpoints at crossings into Israel, to permit a more efficient flow of traffic. We will also call on the government of Israel to allow international peace monitors to function as observers at checkpoints, to ensure that Palestinians requesting passage into Israel are not unduly humiliated.
5. We will call on the governments of Israel and Egypt to immediately enable the unrestricted and unconditional passage of food, medicine and humanitarian supplies into Gaza, both via sea and via the border crossing with Egypt at Rafiah. We agree that a third-party observer, such as the U.N., will inspect all shipments entering Gaza, to ensure that shipments consist solely of food, medicine and humanitarian supplies, and to ensure that any fuel allowed into Gaza is intended for civilian use, and not for the purpose of launching rockets.
6. We will call on the government of Israel and the Palestinian leadership to ensure that all areas of Palestine have a constant water supply, and we will call for the establishment of a joint committee to help the Israeli Water Authority and the Palestinian Water Authority create a process of equal water distribution, to ensure a constant supply of water to people living in Palestine.
7. We will call on the government of Israel to issue more work permits for Palestinians to work in Israel. We would like to see the government of Israel commit to the specific number of additional work permits that will be issued each month.
8. We will call on the government of Israel to not interfere with Palestinian internal affairs by not prohibiting the Palestinians from building their own economic infrastructure and to allow the Palestinians to facilitate trade with the rest of the world in coordination with Israel, Egypt and Jordan.
9. We will call on the government of Israel not to allow the establishment of any additional Israeli settlements in Palestine.
10. We support the immediate establishment of peace-oriented educational campaigns in both Palestine and Israel. Plans for the educational campaigns should include the identification of: goals, target audiences, approaches/media, distribution methods, and timelines. The educational campaigns should be monitored by a joint committee of Palestinian, Israeli and international observers. The campaigns should include the following information:
¬ Education regarding the process for Palestinian civilians who would like to file grievances against the Israeli military.
¬ Peace education for both nations that promotes the establishment of a two-state solution as a permanent solution to the conflict.
¬ All maps used by both nations should be revised within a defined timeline to illustrate a two-state solution.
Distribution methods should include, but not be limited to: TV programming, popular songs and music videos, school textbooks, Internet sites, etc.
11. We recognize the historic rights of Jews, Muslims, and Christians to holy places in both Israel and Palestine.
12. We will encourage more avenues for cultural, social, and scientific exchange between Israel and Palestine, including, but not limited to: medical training; economic cooperation; special interest camps for youth; etc.
13. We will publicize existing avenues for cultural, social, and scientific exchange through press releases, internet sites, newsletters, etc.
14. We will promote tourism in both Israel and Palestine. The “Mind of Peace Experiment” – December 2008

Palestinian-Israeli Public Assembly
Agreement on Borders and Jerusalem

We, the undersigned, delegations from Israel and Palestine, after serious, honest and difficult deliberation:
Proclaim our conviction to end the violence and conflict between Israelis and Palestinians
Recognize the right of the people to live in peace and without fear from threats and acts of violence
Are determined to achieve reconciliation, based on a comprehensive, just, and enforceable agreement, which will guarantee security, peace, and stability for all of the people in the region
Reaffirm our commitment to establish relations based on mutual respect, trust and cooperation
Acknowledge that our role as unofficial, free-willing individuals is limited, but not without enormous significance. Furthermore, that as people we have a responsibility to take actions (such as those to which we agreed in the “Confidence-Building Measures”) that in themselves mark the realization of a new relationship
Urge our leaders to hear the voice of the people and take heed of our achievement in this document
Have agreed to the following:
A. Purpose
1. That both the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right to self-determination; specifically, that Israel has a right to exist as a sovereign nation within secure, internationally recognized borders, and that Palestine has a right to exist as a sovereign nation within secure, internationally recognized borders.
2. That the parties recognize Palestine and Israel as the homelands of their respective peoples. The Parties are committed not to interfere in each other’s internal affairs.
3. To the formation of a People’s Joint Assembly for the Advancement of Peace and Economic Growth, in which elected people from both nations shall serve as an advisory body of reconciliation, and shall promote cooperation in areas of common interest, such as, but not limited to, joint programs and exchange in the areas of culture, youth, science, education, environment, health, agriculture, and tourism.
4. That we support achieving an agreement that will represent a permanent solution to the conflict and the end of all grievances and demands between the two nations.
B. Territory
1. That, in accordance with the United Nation Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, the border between Israel and Palestine will be based on the withdrawal of Israeli armed forces from the Gaza and West Bank territories occupied by Israel in the June 1967 War, with reciprocal minor adjustments on 1:1 basis (“land swap”), which will be determined by the Palestinian and Israeli leadership following the advisory recommendations of the Joint Assembly.
2. In our opinion the “Land Swap” should meet the following conditions:
• It should occur only on areas that are contiguous to the border.
• It should be kept to a minimum.
• It should be equivalent in size, significance, and potential land value.
• It should guarantee connectivity and contiguous access between the Palestinian cities and villages within the West Bank, specifically around Jerusalem.
3. That the parties recognize the border as the permanent boundary between them.
4. That the parties recognize and respect each other’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence.
5. That Palestine shall assume responsibility and authority over all of the territory from which Israel shall withdraw, including the Gaza Strip.
6. That a safe passage between the West Bank and Gaza Strip should be guaranteed.
This passage shall:
• Be under Israeli sovereignty, but under Palestinian management, control and administration
• Not disrupt Israeli transportation and other infrastructure, nor shall it endanger the environment, public safety or public health
• Not serve as border crossing: Palestinians shall not enter Israel from this passage, nor shall Israelis enter Palestine from it
E. Access to Holy Places
1. We call on the government of Palestine to allow Jews to have access to holy places that will be part of Palestine, specifically, the Cave of the Patriarchs, (Me’arat HaMachpela, a.k.a “the Ibrahimi Mosque”) and Rachel’s Tomb (a.k.a. Qubbat Rakhil), outside Bethlehem. Both Jews and others should have the right to pray in these places.
C. Jerusalem
1. That we recognize Jerusalem’s universal historical, cultural and religious significance to Judaism, Islam, and Christianity.
2. That in light of its significance, any solution we recommend should guarantee free and secure access to the holy and historical sites of these three religions.
3. That we reaffirm our commitment to see Jerusalem as a model for coexistence and cooperation.
4. That Israel and Palestine shall have their mutually recognized capitals in the areas of Jerusalem under their respective sovereignty.
5. That as dictated by the principle of “Land Swap,” some Jewish neighborhoods and municipalities in East Jerusalem will remain under Israeli sovereignty.
6. That the Old City
• Has a unique character, which both parties shall work to preserve
• Shall enjoy joint administration, monitoring and policing
• Shall be a weapon-free zone
7. That the movement in and around Jerusalem, especially within the Old City, shall be easy and unimpeded.
8. That the Jewish Quarter, the Western Wall (and its tunnels) will remain under Israeli management, control and administration.
9. That the al-Haram al-Sharif/ Har Habayit/ Temple Mount will be under Palestinian management, control and administration.
10. That we recommend the creation of a Joint Municipal Committee to coordinate activities in the Old City.
11. That in view of its sanctity to the Jewish people, there shall be no digging, excavation, or construction on the Haram/Har/Temple unless approved by the Joint Municipal Committee.
12. That Palestinian Jerusalemites who currently are permanent residents of Israel shall lose this status upon the transfer of authority to Palestine of those areas in which they reside.
13. That the transfer of authority in East Jerusalem from Israel to Palestine shall be the final piece of the implementation of the agreement, and shall be conducted in stages in order to ensure the security of all its inhabitants.
• We call on Israel to complete the transfer of East Jerusalem as quickly as possible. We recognize that prior to the transfer, Palestine must demonstrate that it is a peaceful neighbor to Israel, with a stable government, and that it is willing and able to control violence from its borders, and it must disarm extreme militant groups, such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, and any other groups that operate outside the authority of the Palestinian government.
14. Prior to the time that East Jerusalem is transferred from Israel to Palestine, we call on Israel to abide by the following:
• To immediately freeze all building activities on new land (i.e., no new ground breaking), in the areas subject to be swapped, in order to avoid creating new realities on the ground.
• To immediately stop demolishing homes that have been built without permission in areas that will eventually become part of the Palestinian entity.
D. Refugees
1. That we recognize the necessity of resolving the Palestinian refugee problem.
2. That we further recognize the suffering and the plight of the Palestinian refugees.
3. That in light of the global nature of the Palestinian refugee problem, we urge the participation of the entire international community in its resolution.
4. That the Palestinian refugees shall be entitled to compensation and for loss of property, as part of an international solution to the problem.
• That Israel will contribute a share in an international effort to fairly and completely resolve the problem.
5. That the Palestinian refugees shall be entitled to permanent residence (to end to their state of refugehood), in a place of their choosing in accordance with the following stipulations:
• To the State of Palestine in keeping with the laws of the State of Palestine.
• To the State of Israel at the sovereign discretion of the State of Israel and its laws.
• To third countries in keeping with their laws and with an eye to any international agreements to resolve the problem to which these countries may be signatory.
• To remain in host countries in keeping with their laws and with an eye to any international agreements to resolve the problem to which these countries may be signatory.
6. That with the above mentioned we have provided complete resolution of the Palestinian refugee problem, and that no further claims in the matter may be raised except for those related to the implementation of this resolution.

Note: Note: This agreement expresses the views of the individuals who participated in the “Mind of Peace Experiment” at the University of Missouri – St. Louis in December 2008 and whose signatures appear below.