The 1978 Camp
David Accords
Framework for Peace Between
Egypt and Israel
Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat, President of the Arab
Republic of Egypt, and Menachem Begin, Prime Minister of
Israel, met with Jimmy Carter, President of the United
States of America, at Camp David from September 5 to
September 17, 1978, and have agreed on the following
framework for peace in the Middle East. They invite other
parties to the Arab-Israel conflict to adhere to it.
Preamble
The search for peace in the Middle East must be guided
by the following:
The agreed basis for a peaceful settlement of the
conflict between Israel and its neighbors is United
Nations Security Council Resolution 242, in all its
parts.
After four wars during 30 years, despite intensive
human efforts, the Middle East, which is the cradle of
civilization and the birthplace of three great religions,
does not enjoy the blessings of peace. The people of the
Middle East yearn for peace so that the vast human and
natural resources of the region can be turned to the
pursuits of peace and so that this area can become a
model for coexistence and cooperation among nations.
The historic initiative of President Sadat in visiting
Jerusalem and the reception accorded to him by the
parliament, government and people of Israel, and the
reciprocal visit of Prime Minister Begin to Ismailia, the
peace proposals made by both leaders, as well as the warm
reception of these missions by the peoples of both
countries, have created an unprecedented opportunity for
peace which must not be lost if this generation and
future generations are to be spared the tragedies of
war.
The provisions of the Charter of the United Nations
and the other accepted norms of international law and
legitimacy now provide accepted standards for the conduct
of relations among all states.
To achieve a relationship of peace, in the spirit of
Article 2 of the United Nations Charter, future
negotiations between Israel and any neighbor prepared to
negotiate peace and security with it are necessary for
the purpose of carrying out all the provisions and
principles of Resolutions 242 and 338.
Peace requires respect for the sovereignty,
territorial integrity and political independence of every
state in the area and their right to live in peace within
secure and recognized boundaries free from threats or
acts of force. Progress toward that goal can accelerate
movement toward a new era of reconciliation in the Middle
East marked by cooperation in promoting economic
development, in maintaining stability and in assuring
security.
Security is enhanced by a relationship of peace and by
cooperation between nations which enjoy normal relations.
In addition, under the terms of peace treaties, the
parties can, on the basis of reciprocity, agree to
special security arrangements such as demilitarized
zones, limited armaments areas, early warning stations,
the presence of international forces, liaison, agreed
measures for monitoring and other arrangements that they
agree are useful.
Framework
Taking these factors into account, the parties are
determined to reach a just, comprehensive, and durable
settlement of the Middle East conflict through the
conclusion of peace treaties based on Security Council
resolutions 242 and 338 in all their parts. Their purpose
is to achieve peace and good neighborly relations. They
recognize that for peace to endure, it must involve all
those who have been most deeply affected by the conflict.
They therefore agree that this framework, as appropriate,
is intended by them to constitute a basis for peace not
only between Egypt and Israel, but also between Israel
and each of its other neighbors which is prepared to
negotiate peace with Israel on this basis. With that
objective in mind, they have agreed to proceed as
follows:
1. West Bank and Gaza
1. Egypt, Israel, Jordan and the representatives of
the Palestinian people should participate in negotiations
on the resolution of the Palestinian problem in all its
aspects. To achieve that objective, negotiations relating
to the West Bank and Gaza should proceed in three
stages:
1. Egypt and Israel agree that, in order to ensure a
peaceful and orderly transfer of authority, and taking
into account the security concerns of all the parties,
there should be transitional arrangements for the West
Bank and Gaza for a period not exceeding five years. In
order to provide full autonomy to the inhabitants, under
these arrangements the Israeli military government and
its civilian administration will be withdrawn as soon as
a self-governing authority has been freely elected by the
inhabitants of these areas to replace the existing
military government. To negotiate the details of a
transitional arrangement, Jordan will be invited to join
the negotiations on the basis of this framework. These
new arrangements should give due consideration both to
the principle of self-government by the inhabitants of
these territories and to the legitimate security concerns
of the parties involved.
2. Egypt, Israel, and Jordan will agree on the
modalities for establishing elected self-governing
authority in the West Bank and Gaza. The delegations of
Egypt and Jordan may include Palestinians from the West
Bank and Gaza or other Palestinians as mutually agreed.
The parties will negotiate an agreement which will define
the powers and responsibilities of the self-governing
authority to be exercised in the West Bank and Gaza. A
withdrawal of Israeli armed forces will take place and
there will be a redeployment of the remaining Israeli
forces into specified security locations. The agreement
will also include arrangements for assuring internal and
external security and public order.
A strong local police force will be established, which
may include Jordanian citizens. In addition, Israeli and
Jordanian forces will participate in joint patrols and in
the manning of control posts to assure the security of
the borders.
3. When the self-governing authority (administrative
council) in the West Bank and Gaza is established and
inaugurated, the transitional period of five years will
begin. As soon as possible, but not later than the third
year after the beginning of the transitional period,
negotiations will take place to determine the final
status of the West Bank and Gaza and its relationship
with its neighbors and to conclude a peace treaty between
Israel and Jordan by the end of the transitional period.
These negotiations will be conducted among Egypt, Israel,
Jordan and the elected representatives of the inhabitants
of the West Bank and Gaza. Two separate but related
committees will be convened, one committee, consisting of
representatives of the four parties which will negotiate
and agree on the final status of the West Bank and Gaza,
and its relationship with its neighbors, and the second
committee, consisting of representatives of Israel and
representatives of Jordan to be joined by the elected
representatives of the inhabitants of the West Bank and
Gaza, to negotiate the peace treaty between Israel and
Jordan, taking into account the agreement reached in the
final status of the West Bank and Gaza. The negotiations
shall be based on all the provisions and principles of UN
Security Council Resolution 242. The negotiations will
resolve, among other matters, the location of the
boundaries and the nature of the security arrangements.
The solution from the negotiations must also recognize
the legitimate right of the Palestinian peoples and their
just requirements. In this way, the Palestinians will
participate in the determination of their own future
through:
1. The negotiations among Egypt, Israel, Jordan and
the representatives of the inhabitants of the West Bank
and Gaza to agree on the final status of the West Bank
and Gaza and other outstanding issues by the end of the
transitional period.
2. Submitting their agreements to a vote by the
elected representatives of the inhabitants of the West
Bank and Gaza.
3. Providing for the elected representatives of the
inhabitants of the West Bank and Gaza to decide how they
shall govern themselves consistent with the provisions of
their agreement.
4. Participating as stated above in the work of the
committee negotiating the peace treaty between Israel and
Jordan.
2. All necessary measures will be taken and provisions
made to assure the security of Israel and its neighbors
during the transitional period and beyond. To assist in
providing such security, a strong local police force will
be constituted by the self-governing authority. It will
be composed of inhabitants of the West Bank and Gaza. The
police will maintain liaison on internal security matters
with the designated Israeli, Jordanian, and Egyptian
officers.
3. During the transitional period, representatives of
Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and the self-governing authority
will constitute a continuing committee to decide by
agreement on the modalities of admission of persons
displaced from the West Bank and Gaza in 1967, together
with necessary measures to prevent disruption and
disorder. Other matters of common concern may also be
dealt with by this committee.
4. Egypt and Israel will work with each other and with
other interested parties to establish agreed procedures
for a prompt, just and permanent implementation of the
resolution of the refugee problem.
2. Egypt-Israel
1. Egypt-Israel undertake not to resort to the threat
or the use of force to settle disputes. Any disputes
shall be settled by peaceful means in accordance with the
provisions of Article 33 of the U.N. Charter.
2. In order to achieve peace between them, the parties
agree to negotiate in good faith with a goal of
concluding within three months from the signing of the
Framework a peace treaty between them while inviting the
other parties to the conflict to proceed simultaneously
to negotiate and conclude similar peace treaties with a
view the achieving a comprehensive peace in the area. The
Framework for the Conclusion of a Peace Treaty between
Egypt and Israel will govern the peace negotiations
between them. The parties will agree on the modalities
and the timetable for the implementation of their
obligations under the treaty.
3. Associated Principles
1. Egypt and Israel state that the principles and
provisions described below should apply to peace treaties
between Israel and each of its neighbors - Egypt, Jordan,
Syria and Lebanon.
2. Signatories shall establish among themselves
relationships normal to states at peace with one another.
To this end, they should undertake to abide by all the
provisions of the U.N. Charter. Steps to be taken in this
respect include:
full recognition;
abolishing economic boycotts;
guaranteeing that under their jurisdiction the
citizens of the other parties shall enjoy the
protection of the due process of law.
3. Signatories should explore possibilities for
economic development in the context of final peace
treaties, with the objective of contributing to the
atmosphere of peace, cooperation and friendship which is
their common goal.
4. Claims commissions may be established for the
mutual settlement of all financial claims.
5. The United States shall be invited to participated
in the talks on matters related to the modalities of the
implementation of the agreements and working out the
timetable for the carrying out of the obligations of the
parties. 6. The United Nations Security Council shall be
requested to endorse the peace treaties and ensure that
their provisions shall not be violated. The permanent
members of the Security Council shall be requested to
underwrite the peace treaties and ensure respect or the
provisions. They shall be requested to conform their
policies an actions with the undertaking contained in
this Framework.
For the Government of the For the Government Arab
Republic of Egypt: Muhammed Anwar al-Sadat
of Israel: Menachem Begin
Witnessed by: Jimmy Carter, President of the United
States of America
