Summary
The protocol signed in Jerusalem on 17 January 1997, brokered by the United States with the assistance of Egypt and Jordan, which divided Hebron into H-1 (about 80 per cent of the municipal area, transferred to the Palestinians) and H-2 (under full Israeli control, including the Old City) (Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem: Part V (1989-2000), PDF p.60-61).
Details
- Redeployment from Hebron had been due by the end of March 1996 under the Interim Agreement and was delayed after the suicide operations of February and March 1996 and other events (Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem: Part V (1989-2000), PDF p.60).
- The Knesset approved it on 16 January 1997 by 87 votes to 17, with 15 abstentions (Shlaim); transfer of authority commenced on the day of signing; its accompanying instruments included a mediator’s letter, a note for the record and an agreed minute (Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem: Part V (1989-2000), PDF p.60).
- H-2 was inhabited by about 450 Israeli settlers and more than 20,000 Palestinians; the “Note for the record” of 15 January 1997, prepared by Dennis Ross, set out further redeployment phases, prisoner releases, airport and sea port negotiations, safe passage construction and Charter revision, and permanent status negotiations were to resume within two months (Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem: Part V (1989-2000), PDF p.60-61).
- The Temporary International Presence in Hebron was an important component of the Protocol (Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem: Part V (1989-2000), PDF p.61).
Related pages
Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem: Part V (1989-2000), Hebron, Interim Agreement, Temporary International Presence in Hebron, Benjamin Netanyahu, Dennis Ross