Annapolis Conference
The Annapolis Conference was a Middle East
Attendees
The United States organized and hosted the conference.[1] Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, and U.S. President George W. Bush attended the meeting.[2] A partial list of over 40 invitees was released on 20 November 2007, including China, the Arab League, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations;[3] most of whom accepted the invitation.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni headed the Israeli negotiating team, with her diplomatic and legal adviser Tal Becker as lead negotiator and counterpart to Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat. Notes regarding Erekat and Becker's talks were later leaked as part of the Palestine Papers.[4][5]
Objectives and background
Part of a series on the Israeli–Palestinian conflict |
Israeli–Palestinian peace process |
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The conference aimed to revive the
Positions
Americans
Palestinian
Abbas stated that a clear agenda was necessary for the conference.[10] He demanded a Palestinian state comprising an area equal to the territory of the West Bank and Gaza Strip.[11] He further demanded that all six central issues be debated at the conference: Jerusalem, refugees and right of return, borders, settlements, water and security.[12]
Abbas said that he hoped to reach an agreement with Israel by the end of November 2007,[13] which Abbas would then put to a referendum.[14] Furthermore, he expressed his hope that a final agreement with Israel would be possible within six months of the conference.[15]
Israeli
In October 2007, Prime Minister Olmert indicated that he would be willing to give up parts of East Jerusalem as part of a broader peace settlement at Annapolis,
On 27 November 2007, Ovadia Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas party, announced that his party would leave the government coalition, thereby ending the coalition's majority in the Knesset, if Ehud Olmert agreed to divide Jerusalem. Shas minister Eli Yishai explained: "Jerusalem is above all political considerations. I will not help enable concessions on Jerusalem."[20] Olmert's ability to follow through on his earlier comments about concessions in East Jerusalem is therefore in question.
Joint statement
Prior to the conference, President Bush met with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the White House.
Result
A joint understanding, read by US president George Bush, stated that "In furtherance of the goal of two states, Israel and Palestine, living side by side in peace and security" the parties agreed to"immediately launch good-faith bilateral negotiations in order to conclude a peace treaty, resolving all outstanding issues, including all core issues without exception, as specified in previous agreements". A steering committee would meet from 12 December 2007, followed by biweekly negotiations between President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert.
The parties also committed to immediately implement their respective obligations under the
Negotiations over borders, Jerusalem and refugees
President Abbas and Prime Minister Olmert had six meetings since June 2007 to try to agree on some basic issues ahead of the summit.[25] A final round of discussions between Olmert and Abbas was held in Washington, D.C., on 26 November 2007, the day prior to the conference. After the Annapolis Conference, the negotiations were continued.[26]
Accounts on these negotiations differ. Israeli author Bernard Avishai talked to both Olmert and Abbas. Abbas proposed to Olmert a map in which Israel would annex 1.9% of the West Bank (which would contain over 60% of the settlements) in exchange for same size of land inside Israel of equal quality.[27] Olmert countered by proposing to annex 6.3% of the West Bank and giving Palestinians 5.8%. Abbas hoped Americans would propose a compromise number.[27] The Israeli settlement of Ariel, deep inside a potential Palestinian state, was a controversial issue for Olmert and Abbas.[27]
Avishai writes that in Jerusalem both sides agreed the Old City of Jerusalem would be governed by an international body (consisting of Israel, Palestine, United States, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and possibly Egypt and the Vatican). Both sides agreed that Israel would get all Jewish neighbourhoods and Palestne would get almost all Arab neighbourhoods, but Abbas also wanted sovereignty over the Arab neighbourhood of Silwan, which Olmert proposed should instead be governed by the international body.[27] On refugees, Abbas agreed that all of them couldn't return, and that Israel's Jewish majority should be preserved, but considered Olmert's offer of 5,000 as being too low.[27] According to one source, he counter-offered that Israel take 15,000 refugees per year, over 10 years.[28]
Negotiations were formally suspended in January 2009, when Israel invaded the Gaza Strip.[27] But Abbas continued to call on the US to broker a deal.[27]
Reaction
Protests and boycotts
On the other hand, Jewish activists and organizations opposed to Israel's concession in a peace settlement of any part of
Support
Organizations that approved of the conference also mobilized and prepared to demonstrate their support for the summit.[35][36] The United Nations prepared a resolution to be adopted by the Security Council on November 30, 2007, expressing support for the outcome of the conference. The resolution was withdrawn after Israel raised complaints. In addition to Israel's complaints, the Palestinian Authority also said it wasn't interested in a resolution, according to UN sources.[37]
See also
References
- ^ a b U.S. State Department, 20 November 2007,"Announcement of Annapolis Conference". Retrieved 2013-06-25.
- ^ "Abbas says upcoming Mideast conference 'a new beginning'", People's Daily, Sept. 29, 2007.
- ^ Associated, The (April 2, 2008). "Haaretz, 20 November 2007, Partial list of confirmed invitees to Annapolis peace summit". Haaretz.com. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ Black, Ian (2011-01-24). "Palestine papers: Tal Becker". Guardian. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Ravid, Barak (2008-08-09). "The Diplomat's Diplomat". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2024-01-12. Retrieved 12 January 2024.
- ^ Aluf Benn, "Annapolis joint declaration to focus on goals of final status talks". Haaretz, 14 November 2007
- ^ Haaretz, 17 November 2007, "Draft, subject to approval, King David Hotel"
- ^ Ravid, Barak (2007-10-18). "Source: Joint Israel-PA statement to address 'all core issues'". Haaretz. Archived from the original on 2009-12-15. Retrieved 2021-06-09.
- ^ Davidovitz, Grig (November 13, 2007). "Rice: Israelis are prepared to give up West Bank for peace". Haaretz. Archived from the original on September 5, 2009. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "Abbas calls for clear agenda for Mideast peace conference", People's Daily, October 1, 2007.
- ^ "Abbas spells out land demand", October 10, 2007
- ^ (in German) "Hamas bietet der Fatah Gespräche an Archived 2009-02-14 at the Wayback Machine", die Presse.com, Nov 10. 2007
- ^ "Abbas, Olmert look into way of launching final negotiations: PLO official", People's Daily, October 3, 2007,
- ^ "Abbas to call for referendum in case deal reached with Israel:official", People's Daily, October 3, 2007
- ^ "Abbas, Olmert likely to meet Tuesday: Erekat", People's Daily, September 30, 2007
- ^ Kershner, Isabel (November 15, 2007). "Israelis Press Plan to Block the Division of Jerusalem". The New York Times. Jerusalem (Israel). Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ Besser, James (October 18, 2007). "New Coalition To Fight Any Jerusalem Division, Orthodox, Evangelicals join forces to oppose Olmert's intentions in advance of Annapolis summit". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on February 12, 2009.
- ^ Mitchell, Chris (November 13, 2007). "Is Mideast Peace Conference a Mistake". Christian Broadcast Network. Archived from the original on November 17, 2007.
- ^ Zippor, Amihai (November 15, 2007). "Coalition MKs, Opposition Support United Jerusalem Bill". IHC News. Archived from the original on January 26, 2008.
- ^ Sela, Neta (June 20, 1995). "Yosef: Shash will quit government if J'lem divided, By Neta Sela, November 27, 2007". Ynetnews. Ynetnews.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "Mideast Peace Conference Opens". Los Angeles Times. November 27, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "Israel, PA agree to reach accord by end of 2008" Archived 2007-11-28 at the Wayback Machine. Haaretz, 27 November 2007
- ^ Joint Understanding Read by President Bush at Annapolis Conference Archived September 22, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Memorial Hall, United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland; 27 November 2007
- ^ Federman, Josef (November 19, 2015). "Abbas admits he rejected 2008 peace offer from Olmert". Times of Israel.
- ^ Al Jazeera, Palestine Papers, 15 October 2007, "Meeting Minutes: 2nd Negotiation Team Meeting"
- ^ Al Jazeera, Palestine Papers, 24 February 2008, "Meeting Minutes: 1st Final Status Negotiations Meeting"
- ^ ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ "Refugees First: A New Approach to Middle East Peace". Middle East Institute. Retrieved 2023-11-02.
- ^ "Haniya urges conference boycott", BBC News, October 6, 2007.
- ^ "Iran leader urges summit boycott". BBC News. October 13, 2007. Retrieved April 25, 2010.
- ^ "Youtube.com clip"
- ^ "Ahmadinejad: Support Annapolis - support Zionist occupation". Ynetnews. Ynetnews.com. June 20, 1995. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "Realistic Dove, Dan Fleshler". Realisticdove.org. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ Nahshoni, Kobi (June 20, 1995). "Rabbi: Cleanse country of Arabs - Israel Jewish Scene, Ynetnews". Ynetnews. Ynetnews.com. Archived from the original on June 29, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ Amos, Daled (November 15, 2007). "Rally to Protest Against The Division of Jerusalem". Daledamos.blogspot.com. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ "UPF Statement on Annapolis Peace Talks". Archive.upf.org. November 27, 2007. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
- ^ Shamir, Shlomo (November 30, 2007). "U.S. withdraws UN Annapolis resolution after Israel objects". Haaretz. Archived from the original on February 11, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2011.