Summary
The Shultz-authored peace initiative launched by President Reagan on September 1, 1982, proposing autonomy for West Bank and Gaza Palestinians during a five-year transition leading to final-status negotiations, an immediate settlement freeze, affirming that Resolution 242’s withdrawal provision applied to all fronts including the West Bank and Gaza, permitting East Jerusalem Palestinians to vote for a self-governing authority, and stating the United States would support neither independent Palestinian statehood nor permanent Israeli sovereignty — while ignoring the PLO altogether and taking no note of exiled Palestinians’ claims; Israel rejected it virtually in whole and approved ten new West Bank settlements, and the administration never again mentioned it to Israel for all intents and purposes (Perceptions of Palestine, lines 2102-2110, 2130-2141).
Details
- Reagan acknowledged in the launching speech that the Palestinians “feel strongly that their cause is more than a question of refugees” (Perceptions of Palestine, lines 2102-2104).
- The PLO and Jordan considered the plan for several months before finally rejecting it in April 1983, largely out of concern the United States would not be able to bring Israel to the negotiating table (Perceptions of Palestine, lines 2142-2147).
- Responsibility for the plan’s failure has generally been placed on the Arabs, Christison writes — Steven Spiegel concluded “once again an American Mideast initiative was sacrificed on the altar of intra-Arab rivalry” (Perceptions of Palestine, lines 2148-2149).
Related pages
Ronald Reagan, George Shultz, Fez Plan, Menachem Begin, Palestine Liberation Organization