Israel, Palestinians Agree to Cease-Fire

(October 17, 2000)

Israel and the Palestinians agreed to a cease-fire after U.S.-mediated negotiations at the Egyptian resort of Sharm e-Sheikh. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Jordan's King Abdullah II also participated in the summit. Clinton met four times with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and three times with Palestine Authority Chairman Yasir Arafat from the beginning of the summit Monday morning (October 16) through 3:45 a.m. Tuesday, when the final session broke off. Three hours later, the leaders appeared before reporters and stood on either side of the President Bill Clinton as he announced the agreement.

Here are the major points agreed upon:

Both sides will act immediately to calm the situation.

The two leaders accept that there will be an immediate cease-fire and a pullback of Israeli forces to their positions prior to the latest wave of violence.

Israel's closure of all Palestinian autonomous areas is to be immediately rescinded.

Israel has agreed to the re-opening of Dahaniyie Airport in Gaza.

The United States agreed to lead a fact-finding committee to the region to investigate Palestinian claims of Israel human rights abuses in conjunction with the Israelis and Palestinians and in consultation with the United Nations. Clinton said the results would be shared with the U.N. and released under the auspices of his office.

There is to be a resumption of peace-making efforts efforts and to this end the US will consult with Israel and the Palestinians over the course of the next two weeks.

There was no mention of Israeli demands that the Palestinian Authority restrain or disarm the 'Tanzim' Fatah brigades.

Sources: Jerusalem Post, CNN, (October17, 2000)