Israel and Palestinians Sign Oslo II Accord Expanding Autonomy
Comprehensive agreement extends Palestinian self-rule to major West Bank cities and divides territory into three zones of control.
Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat signed the Oslo II Agreement in Washington today, significantly expanding Palestinian self-rule to include major West Bank cities and establishing a complex framework for territorial division.
The 400-page accord, witnessed by President Clinton, Egyptian President Mubarak, and Jordan’s King Hussein, transfers control of six major West Bank cities - Bethlehem, Jenin, Nablus, Qalqilya, Ramallah, and Tulkarem - to the Palestinian Authority. Hebron will follow under special arrangements due to its Jewish settler presence.
The agreement divides the West Bank into three zones: Area A under full Palestinian control, Area B under Palestinian civil control with Israeli security oversight, and Area C remaining under full Israeli control. This patchwork arrangement covers about 30% of the West Bank population while leaving most territory under Israeli authority.
Palestinian elections for a legislative council and presidency are scheduled within three months. The accord also details security cooperation, economic relations, and prisoner releases, while deferring final status issues including Jerusalem, refugees, and settlements.
Rabin, facing fierce domestic opposition, defended the agreement: “Peace requires painful compromises from both sides.” Arafat hailed it as another step toward Palestinian statehood, though many Palestinians criticize the limited territorial gains.
The signing comes amid continued violence, with Hamas vowing to intensify attacks. Israeli settlers denounce Rabin as a traitor, while Palestinian rejectionists accuse Arafat of accepting “bantustans.” The agreement’s complexity reflects the enormous challenges of disentangling two peoples sharing the same land.