From the spokesman

Principles for the Permanent Agreement

Introduction

The accepted premise that the Israeli Palestinian conflict is inherently territorial is fundamentally flawed.  It has already   been unquestionably established that in cases where Israel conceded territory, as in Lebanon and Gaza, that the reward was not peace or security but rather terror and missiles.  If in the beginning of the twentieth century the conflict was primarily of a nationalistic nature, with the passage of time it evolved into a primarily religious one.  As a result, in recent years, the Israeli Palestinian conflict has become a part of the global clash between the free world and radical Islam.  Furthermore, this conflict contains the additional element of friction which characterizes the minorities phenomenon in places such as Kosovo, the Balkan region, the Caucasus in Russia or even Northern Ireland.  Therefore, the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians is particularly complex and the use of a simplistic approach will result, at best, in a stalemate.

The Objectives

Israel Beytenu has set out the State of Israel's objectives in regard to solving the Israeli Palestinian conflict as follows:

1.    The permanent borders of the state of Israel will be based on historical, secure, demographic and geographic parameters. 

2.    Any permanent future agreement must ensure the Jewish, Zionist and democratic character of the State of Israel.

3.    Any future agreement will include the recognition of the permanent borders by the international community; Israel's neighboring countries and the Palestinians.

4.    Any future agreement will include a provision which will ensure the finality of the conflict, i.e. the absence of mutual claims in the future.

Guiding Principles

1.    The assurance of security for the State of Israel and a substantive economic improvement for the Palestinians is necessary before the commencement of negotiations for the permanent agreement.  Any attempt to impose a political settlement before securing the termination of terrorist activity, particularly the launching of the Kasam missiles is destined to fail.

2.    The permanent agreement must be based on the principle of territory and population exchange, as well as the creation of two nationally homogeneous states.  The end result must not be a state and a half for Palestinians and half a state for the Jews.  This principle is paramount, especially in light of the recent publication of the National Committee for the Heads of the Arab local Authorities in Israel (entitled "The Future Vision of the Palestinian Arabs in Israel").  It would be unjustifiable to create a Palestinian state that would exclude Jews while Israel became a bi-national state with more than 20% of its citizens an Arab minority.

3.    The permanent borders of the state of Israel must ensure the continuation of the Jewish majority and the democratic system of government. Borders must be set that will provide security for generations to come for all of the state's citizens.

4.    The signed permanent agreement will reflect joint and international agreement and will supersede Security Council resolutions 242 and 338.

5.    The international community will commit to play a role in the agreement and provide guarantees and active involvement in the issues of security, policy and economic development.  Should the Palestinians encounter difficulty in creating an effective security mechanism to stop terrorist activity, NATO will fill the vacuum.  The United States and the European Union will directly invest in the Palestinian economy to ensure a satisfactory standard of living and places of employment for the Palestinians.

6.    Jerusalem is the eternal capital of Israel. The Holy basin area, whose borders range from the east-Mount of Olives and Mount Scopus; At the North from Sheikh Jeerach; and at the south Silwaan and Mount Zion will remain under full Israeli sovereignty.  The Israeli government will implement arrangements enabling the freedom of worship for all religions.  In the permanent agreement, the principle of exchange of territory and populations will also apply to the refugee camps and the villages proximate to Jerusalem.

7.    The State of Israel will not allow passage between Gaza and Judea and Samaria through its sovereign territory.  This situation is consistent with the reality that existed before June, 1967 and before the foundation of the State of Israel.  There has never been a territorial continuity between the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria.

8.    Refugees -  The State of Israel will not allow the claim of return as a matter of principle and without exception to humanitarian cases.  This issue is absolute and is not subject to negotiation.