Israel and PLO Sign Gaza-Jericho Autonomy Agreement in Cairo
Detailed accord implements first phase of Oslo Accords, establishing Palestinian self-rule in Gaza Strip and Jericho.
Israel and the PLO signed a detailed agreement in Cairo today implementing Palestinian self-rule in the Gaza Strip and West Bank town of Jericho, marking the first concrete step toward ending 27 years of Israeli occupation.
The ceremony, hosted by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, saw Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Chairman Yasser Arafat sign the 300-page document after last-minute haggling over the size of the Jericho area and control over border crossings.
Under the agreement, Israeli forces will withdraw from most of Gaza and Jericho within three weeks, transferring authority to a Palestinian police force. Arafat is expected to return from exile in Tunisia to establish the Palestinian Authority headquarters in Gaza.
The accord grants Palestinians control over education, health, taxation, and most civil affairs, while Israel retains authority over Jewish settlements, external security, and foreign relations. A 9,000-strong Palestinian police force will maintain internal order.
The signing comes despite continued violence, including Hamas suicide bombings that have killed dozens of Israelis since Oslo. Rabin warned that Israel would not tolerate terrorism, while Arafat pledged to combat extremists opposing peace.
For Palestinians, the agreement represents the first taste of self-governance, though many are disappointed by its limited scope. Israeli opponents denounce any territorial concessions, with settlers vowing to resist future withdrawals.
The Gaza-Jericho agreement is intended as the first step in a five-year process leading to a final settlement, though the most difficult issues - Jerusalem, refugees, and settlements - remain unresolved.