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What's in the accord?
By DANNA HARMAN
WASHINGTON (October 25) - There is a specific schedule for the implementation of the Wye Memorandum, based on reciprocity and outlining in detail when commitments must be fulfilled. If any stage goes unfulfilled - and this will be determined by a trilateral committee - the next stage will not be launched. Weeks 1-2
Final-status talks will begin.
Israel, the Palestinians, and the CIA will prepare a security plan that includes the imprisonment by the Palestinian Authority of 30 murderers wanted by Israel.
Originally, Israel had discussed the transfer of 36 men. However, five who are wanted solely for criminal activities - as opposed to terror attacks - were left out of the final deal.
The arrest of Palestinian police chief Ghazi Jabali is still a matter of contention, with the Palestinians refusing to arrest him on the grounds that he is an important player in the fight against Hamas.
Israel, officially, says it sees imprisonment as the first step towards extradition. But it is unlikely there will be a transfer of prisoners. The Palestinians continue to refuse the transfer demand and it is unclear whether the Israeli security services even want the burden of holding the men in Israeli prisons.
The Palestine Liberation Organization executive will convene to begin amending the Palestinian Covenant.
The joint anti-incitement committee will meet. The committee is responsible for the writing of regulations prohibiting all forms of incitement to violence or terror in the Palestinian Authority's jurisdiction, similar to existing Israeli legislation on the subject.
At least one "safe passage" route between Gaza to Jericho will be opened within a week.
Once these are done, Israel will complete an initial redeployment of 2 percent.
Weeks 3-6
The PLO's Central Committee will convene to amend the Covenant.
A plan for illegal weapons collection in Palestinian-ruled areas will be completed and a list will be prepared of illegal members of the Palestinian Police whom Israel accuses of being terrorists. Under the supervision of the United States, these policemen will be thrown off the force.
During week six, the expanded Palestinian National Council, along with all public bodies representing the Palestinians, will convene to amend the covenant. US President Bill Clinton said he would attend this meeting.
At the end of all these stages, Israel will begin to carry out the second redeployment, transferring 5 percent from Area C (Israeli-controlled territory) to Area B (land jointly controlled by Israel and the Palestinians).
Weeks 7-12
Collection of weapons in Palestinian-run areas will begin. Israel will hear a report from US inspectors that the Palestinian Police has been cut from the current 40,000 to the 24,000 policemen set in the Oslo Accords.
The second redeployment will be completed, so that 13 percent of the West Bank will be transferred to the Palestinians (10 percent, plus 3 percent as a nature reserve).
In addition, at the end of 12 weeks, 14.2 percent of Area B will become Area A, in which the PA has sole control.
Israel also will release 750 Palestinian prisoners on condition they were not members of Hamas and do not have Jewish or Arab blood on their hands.
The airport at Dahaniya in Gaza and the Karni industrial zone will be opened. The Gaza seaport will open within two months.
Other main points of the Wye Memorandum include:
Acceptable security assurances: The working paper on combating terrorism - which has not been, nor will probably ever be published - was found to be sufficient by the Israelis. Its implementation will be overseen by the CIA.
Palestinian statehood: There is a commitment by all the sides to reconvene for another summit if the final-status talks are not concluded by May 4. As it is almost certain the talks will not be concluded by that time, this is in effect a commitment to postpone the declaration of a Palestinian state.
Third redeployment: A letter of assurance - as yet unpublished - was issued by the Americans, to the effect that Israel has the sole right to determine the scope and timing of the third redeployment. Netanyahu plans to announce at the next cabinet meeting that the third redeployment will involve only 1 percent of the West Bank.
Both sides agree to immediately open accelerated final-status negotiations covering issues of borders, Jerusalem, Jewish settlements and Palestinian refugees.
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