The Peace Now Plan: After the Disengagement

Renewing channels of dialogue - Dismantling outposts -
Continuing to evacuate settlements
Background

The realization of the Disengagement Plan, the evacuation of the settlements and the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza and the northern West Bank open a window of opportunity for the renewal of the peace process and the creation of a new reality for the Israeli and Palestinian people. The Disengagement Plan proved, first and foremost, that Israeli society is willing and ready to accept the dismantling of settlements. The attempts by the Israeli right to thwart the precedent-setting process of dismantling settlements did not work and Israeli democracy won out.

The completion of the Disengagement opens to Israel and the Palestinians a new diplomatic horizon and a window of opportunity to restart negotiations and renew the peace process aimed at ending the occupation and achieving peace.

In order to continue the positive dynamic in the region, both sides need to take a number of political and security measures, while renewing the channels of dialogue and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples along the 1967 borders.

The Peace Now plan is based on three principles:

Renewing political negotiations, security coordination, and opening channels of dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.
Evacuating the outposts and freezing construction of settlements.
Continuing the process of dismantling the settlements in phases in coordination with the PA and within the framework of negotiations for a final agreement.
Renewing negotiations, coordination and dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians

Negotiations with the Palestinians should take place on three parallel channels:

1. A political channel - renewing diplomatic negotiations on the basis of the Road Map's simultaneously implemented stages for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the achievement of a final settlement based on the 1967 borders

2. A security channel - renewing the security cooperation and coordination between Israel and the Palestinians, mutual maintenance of the ceasefire while halting terror attacks and violence, unifying and restoring the strength of the PA security apparatuses, combating terrorism,freeing Palestinian prisoners, and removing checkpoints.

3. An administrative channel - determining interim arrangements for PA control of the areas Israel has evacuated, control of borders and crossings, economic coordination and opening passages between Gaza and the West Bank.

Dismantling outposts and freezing construction in settlements

The settlers, and for different reasons, most Israelis, the Palestinians and the international community view the settlement enterprise as a unilateral Israeli measure obstructing any chance for reaching a peace agreement and causing escalation of the daily friction and hostility between Israel and the PA.

Therefore, stopping the expansion of the settlements and dismantling the outposts has an important political significance and could shape the face of the whole region.

Dismantling outposts - The Government of Israel must instruct the IDF and the police to immediately dismantle all 105 outposts in the territories, which were built in contravention of official Israeli policy that opposes creating new settlements in the West Bank (see map of outposts). The outposts are not only a political issue but also a legal issue. Failing to dismantle them will continue to signal to the settlers that beyond the Green Line the rule of law is not binding.

Freezing construction in settlements - The Government of Israel must freeze all construction beyond the Green Line. Any additional construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem complicates the existing situation, increases friction and hatred between the peoples and comprises a key element in causing violence and mistrust between Israel and the Palestinians. The final settlement must be reached by a political process and not by creating facts on the ground.

The continued evacuation of settlements in phases

Peace Now has always viewed the settlements as the main obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Evacuating most if not all of the settlements is a necessity, without which neither a real agreement with the Palestinians nor the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel will be possible.

The price of the existence of the settlements in general and the isolated settlements in the heart of the Palestinian area in particular has long beenintolerable both for the Palestinian population and for Israeli society. The Disengagement Plan has proven that Israel is able to evacuate settlements and hand over to Palestinian control areas that are sure not to stay under Israeli control in any future final settlement.

Under the framework of negotiations for a final settlement, the government of Israel must continue the process of evacuating the settlements in stages as a trust-building measure towards the Palestinian leadership that will improve the situation on the ground, strengthen the moderates on both sides and improve Israel's security and economic situation. The Government of Israel must evacuate the settlements in coordination with the Palestinian side, and not unilaterally as done previously.

The continued evacuation of settlements is a primarily Israeli interest and can improve Israel's security, economic and political situation in the present and future.

Peace Now has set the following criteria for evacuation: proximity to Palestinian population centers, distance from the Green Line, size of settlement and possibility of safe access to it, the desire of the residents of the settlement to leave, excluding those most likely to be accorded to Israel in a future agreement on land swaps..

Phase I (immediate) - evacuation of 26 isolated settlements surrounded by Palestinian communities (see map of settlements):
Northern West Bank: Hermesh, Mevo Dotan, Elon More, Yitzhar, Itamar, Bracha
Central West Bank: Kfar Tapuach, Talmon, Dolev, Halamish, Nahaliel, Ateret
Hebron Mountain: Jewish settlement in Hebron, Telem, Adora, Negohot, Asfar, Ma'ale Amos, Nokdim, Tko'a, Kfar Eldad
South Hebron Mountain: Otniel, Haggai, Pnei Hever, Carmel, Ma'on

The realization of Phase I will allow the IDF to withdraw from large areas of the West Bank and give the Palestinians contiguous control of most of the areas of the northern West Bank, most of the Hebron Mountain area (except for Kiryat Arba) and control of the Southern Hebron Mountain area.

Phase II - Dismantling 17 settlements from heart of West Bank:

Shavei Shomron, Kedumim, Eli, Shiloh, Ma'ale Levona, Beit El, Ofra, Psagot, Kochav Ya'akov, Geva Binyamin (Adam), Enav, Avnei Hefetz, Ma'ale Michmash, Almon (Anatot), Keidar, Karmei Tzur, Migdalim

Phase III - Evacuation of settlements as part of signing final settlement:

As part of negotiations on the final settlement the fate of all the settlements that were not evacuated in the interim period will be decided, with the goal of removing the smallest number of settlers possible from their homes and giving the Palestinians alternative land as part of a land swap deal. The Green line (1967 borders) will be utilized as the guideline to determine fixed boundaries between the Israeli and Palestinian states. Both sides will consider the facts on the ground and reevaluate the borders accordingly; changes will be made only through mutual agreement.

Conclusion

Now more than ever the government of Israel has the ability, as well as the responsibility to continue the process of shaping the country's permanent borders while maintaining its security interests and constantly striving to achieve peace in the region.

The government must continue the process of withdrawing from the territories through constant dialogue with the Abu Mazen government and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples.

Both sides must resolutely fight terror elements and ensure the political process is accompanied by security calm, economic recovery and the restoration of trust between the sides.

Powered by
Movable Type 3.16

The Peace Now Plan: After the Disengagement

Renewing channels of dialogue - Dismantling outposts -
Continuing to evacuate settlements
Background

The realization of the Disengagement Plan, the evacuation of the settlements and the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza and the northern West Bank open a window of opportunity for the renewal of the peace process and the creation of a new reality for the Israeli and Palestinian people. The Disengagement Plan proved, first and foremost, that Israeli society is willing and ready to accept the dismantling of settlements. The attempts by the Israeli right to thwart the precedent-setting process of dismantling settlements did not work and Israeli democracy won out.

The completion of the Disengagement opens to Israel and the Palestinians a new diplomatic horizon and a window of opportunity to restart negotiations and renew the peace process aimed at ending the occupation and achieving peace.

In order to continue the positive dynamic in the region, both sides need to take a number of political and security measures, while renewing the channels of dialogue and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples along the 1967 borders.

The Peace Now plan is based on three principles:

Renewing political negotiations, security coordination, and opening channels of dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.
Evacuating the outposts and freezing construction of settlements.
Continuing the process of dismantling the settlements in phases in coordination with the PA and within the framework of negotiations for a final agreement.
Renewing negotiations, coordination and dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians

Negotiations with the Palestinians should take place on three parallel channels:

1. A political channel - renewing diplomatic negotiations on the basis of the Road Map's simultaneously implemented stages for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the achievement of a final settlement based on the 1967 borders

2. A security channel - renewing the security cooperation and coordination between Israel and the Palestinians, mutual maintenance of the ceasefire while halting terror attacks and violence, unifying and restoring the strength of the PA security apparatuses, combating terrorism,freeing Palestinian prisoners, and removing checkpoints.

3. An administrative channel - determining interim arrangements for PA control of the areas Israel has evacuated, control of borders and crossings, economic coordination and opening passages between Gaza and the West Bank.

Dismantling outposts and freezing construction in settlements

The settlers, and for different reasons, most Israelis, the Palestinians and the international community view the settlement enterprise as a unilateral Israeli measure obstructing any chance for reaching a peace agreement and causing escalation of the daily friction and hostility between Israel and the PA.

Therefore, stopping the expansion of the settlements and dismantling the outposts has an important political significance and could shape the face of the whole region.

Dismantling outposts - The Government of Israel must instruct the IDF and the police to immediately dismantle all 105 outposts in the territories, which were built in contravention of official Israeli policy that opposes creating new settlements in the West Bank (see map of outposts). The outposts are not only a political issue but also a legal issue. Failing to dismantle them will continue to signal to the settlers that beyond the Green Line the rule of law is not binding.

Freezing construction in settlements - The Government of Israel must freeze all construction beyond the Green Line. Any additional construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem complicates the existing situation, increases friction and hatred between the peoples and comprises a key element in causing violence and mistrust between Israel and the Palestinians. The final settlement must be reached by a political process and not by creating facts on the ground.

The continued evacuation of settlements in phases

Peace Now has always viewed the settlements as the main obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Evacuating most if not all of the settlements is a necessity, without which neither a real agreement with the Palestinians nor the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel will be possible.

The price of the existence of the settlements in general and the isolated settlements in the heart of the Palestinian area in particular has long beenintolerable both for the Palestinian population and for Israeli society. The Disengagement Plan has proven that Israel is able to evacuate settlements and hand over to Palestinian control areas that are sure not to stay under Israeli control in any future final settlement.

Under the framework of negotiations for a final settlement, the government of Israel must continue the process of evacuating the settlements in stages as a trust-building measure towards the Palestinian leadership that will improve the situation on the ground, strengthen the moderates on both sides and improve Israel's security and economic situation. The Government of Israel must evacuate the settlements in coordination with the Palestinian side, and not unilaterally as done previously.

The continued evacuation of settlements is a primarily Israeli interest and can improve Israel's security, economic and political situation in the present and future.

Peace Now has set the following criteria for evacuation: proximity to Palestinian population centers, distance from the Green Line, size of settlement and possibility of safe access to it, the desire of the residents of the settlement to leave, excluding those most likely to be accorded to Israel in a future agreement on land swaps..

Phase I (immediate) - evacuation of 26 isolated settlements surrounded by Palestinian communities (see map of settlements):
Northern West Bank: Hermesh, Mevo Dotan, Elon More, Yitzhar, Itamar, Bracha
Central West Bank: Kfar Tapuach, Talmon, Dolev, Halamish, Nahaliel, Ateret
Hebron Mountain: Jewish settlement in Hebron, Telem, Adora, Negohot, Asfar, Ma'ale Amos, Nokdim, Tko'a, Kfar Eldad
South Hebron Mountain: Otniel, Haggai, Pnei Hever, Carmel, Ma'on

The realization of Phase I will allow the IDF to withdraw from large areas of the West Bank and give the Palestinians contiguous control of most of the areas of the northern West Bank, most of the Hebron Mountain area (except for Kiryat Arba) and control of the Southern Hebron Mountain area.

Phase II - Dismantling 17 settlements from heart of West Bank:

Shavei Shomron, Kedumim, Eli, Shiloh, Ma'ale Levona, Beit El, Ofra, Psagot, Kochav Ya'akov, Geva Binyamin (Adam), Enav, Avnei Hefetz, Ma'ale Michmash, Almon (Anatot), Keidar, Karmei Tzur, Migdalim

Phase III - Evacuation of settlements as part of signing final settlement:

As part of negotiations on the final settlement the fate of all the settlements that were not evacuated in the interim period will be decided, with the goal of removing the smallest number of settlers possible from their homes and giving the Palestinians alternative land as part of a land swap deal. The Green line (1967 borders) will be utilized as the guideline to determine fixed boundaries between the Israeli and Palestinian states. Both sides will consider the facts on the ground and reevaluate the borders accordingly; changes will be made only through mutual agreement.

Conclusion

Now more than ever the government of Israel has the ability, as well as the responsibility to continue the process of shaping the country's permanent borders while maintaining its security interests and constantly striving to achieve peace in the region.

The government must continue the process of withdrawing from the territories through constant dialogue with the Abu Mazen government and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples.

Both sides must resolutely fight terror elements and ensure the political process is accompanied by security calm, economic recovery and the restoration of trust between the sides.

Powered by
Movable Type 3.16

The Peace Now Plan: After the Disengagement

Renewing channels of dialogue - Dismantling outposts -
Continuing to evacuate settlements
Background

The realization of the Disengagement Plan, the evacuation of the settlements and the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza and the northern West Bank open a window of opportunity for the renewal of the peace process and the creation of a new reality for the Israeli and Palestinian people. The Disengagement Plan proved, first and foremost, that Israeli society is willing and ready to accept the dismantling of settlements. The attempts by the Israeli right to thwart the precedent-setting process of dismantling settlements did not work and Israeli democracy won out.

The completion of the Disengagement opens to Israel and the Palestinians a new diplomatic horizon and a window of opportunity to restart negotiations and renew the peace process aimed at ending the occupation and achieving peace.

In order to continue the positive dynamic in the region, both sides need to take a number of political and security measures, while renewing the channels of dialogue and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples along the 1967 borders.

The Peace Now plan is based on three principles:

Renewing political negotiations, security coordination, and opening channels of dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.
Evacuating the outposts and freezing construction of settlements.
Continuing the process of dismantling the settlements in phases in coordination with the PA and within the framework of negotiations for a final agreement.
Renewing negotiations, coordination and dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians

Negotiations with the Palestinians should take place on three parallel channels:

1. A political channel - renewing diplomatic negotiations on the basis of the Road Map's simultaneously implemented stages for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the achievement of a final settlement based on the 1967 borders

2. A security channel - renewing the security cooperation and coordination between Israel and the Palestinians, mutual maintenance of the ceasefire while halting terror attacks and violence, unifying and restoring the strength of the PA security apparatuses, combating terrorism,freeing Palestinian prisoners, and removing checkpoints.

3. An administrative channel - determining interim arrangements for PA control of the areas Israel has evacuated, control of borders and crossings, economic coordination and opening passages between Gaza and the West Bank.

Dismantling outposts and freezing construction in settlements

The settlers, and for different reasons, most Israelis, the Palestinians and the international community view the settlement enterprise as a unilateral Israeli measure obstructing any chance for reaching a peace agreement and causing escalation of the daily friction and hostility between Israel and the PA.

Therefore, stopping the expansion of the settlements and dismantling the outposts has an important political significance and could shape the face of the whole region.

Dismantling outposts - The Government of Israel must instruct the IDF and the police to immediately dismantle all 105 outposts in the territories, which were built in contravention of official Israeli policy that opposes creating new settlements in the West Bank (see map of outposts). The outposts are not only a political issue but also a legal issue. Failing to dismantle them will continue to signal to the settlers that beyond the Green Line the rule of law is not binding.

Freezing construction in settlements - The Government of Israel must freeze all construction beyond the Green Line. Any additional construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem complicates the existing situation, increases friction and hatred between the peoples and comprises a key element in causing violence and mistrust between Israel and the Palestinians. The final settlement must be reached by a political process and not by creating facts on the ground.

The continued evacuation of settlements in phases

Peace Now has always viewed the settlements as the main obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Evacuating most if not all of the settlements is a necessity, without which neither a real agreement with the Palestinians nor the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel will be possible.

The price of the existence of the settlements in general and the isolated settlements in the heart of the Palestinian area in particular has long beenintolerable both for the Palestinian population and for Israeli society. The Disengagement Plan has proven that Israel is able to evacuate settlements and hand over to Palestinian control areas that are sure not to stay under Israeli control in any future final settlement.

Under the framework of negotiations for a final settlement, the government of Israel must continue the process of evacuating the settlements in stages as a trust-building measure towards the Palestinian leadership that will improve the situation on the ground, strengthen the moderates on both sides and improve Israel's security and economic situation. The Government of Israel must evacuate the settlements in coordination with the Palestinian side, and not unilaterally as done previously.

The continued evacuation of settlements is a primarily Israeli interest and can improve Israel's security, economic and political situation in the present and future.

Peace Now has set the following criteria for evacuation: proximity to Palestinian population centers, distance from the Green Line, size of settlement and possibility of safe access to it, the desire of the residents of the settlement to leave, excluding those most likely to be accorded to Israel in a future agreement on land swaps..

Phase I (immediate) - evacuation of 26 isolated settlements surrounded by Palestinian communities (see map of settlements):
Northern West Bank: Hermesh, Mevo Dotan, Elon More, Yitzhar, Itamar, Bracha
Central West Bank: Kfar Tapuach, Talmon, Dolev, Halamish, Nahaliel, Ateret
Hebron Mountain: Jewish settlement in Hebron, Telem, Adora, Negohot, Asfar, Ma'ale Amos, Nokdim, Tko'a, Kfar Eldad
South Hebron Mountain: Otniel, Haggai, Pnei Hever, Carmel, Ma'on

The realization of Phase I will allow the IDF to withdraw from large areas of the West Bank and give the Palestinians contiguous control of most of the areas of the northern West Bank, most of the Hebron Mountain area (except for Kiryat Arba) and control of the Southern Hebron Mountain area.

Phase II - Dismantling 17 settlements from heart of West Bank:

Shavei Shomron, Kedumim, Eli, Shiloh, Ma'ale Levona, Beit El, Ofra, Psagot, Kochav Ya'akov, Geva Binyamin (Adam), Enav, Avnei Hefetz, Ma'ale Michmash, Almon (Anatot), Keidar, Karmei Tzur, Migdalim

Phase III - Evacuation of settlements as part of signing final settlement:

As part of negotiations on the final settlement the fate of all the settlements that were not evacuated in the interim period will be decided, with the goal of removing the smallest number of settlers possible from their homes and giving the Palestinians alternative land as part of a land swap deal. The Green line (1967 borders) will be utilized as the guideline to determine fixed boundaries between the Israeli and Palestinian states. Both sides will consider the facts on the ground and reevaluate the borders accordingly; changes will be made only through mutual agreement.

Conclusion

Now more than ever the government of Israel has the ability, as well as the responsibility to continue the process of shaping the country's permanent borders while maintaining its security interests and constantly striving to achieve peace in the region.

The government must continue the process of withdrawing from the territories through constant dialogue with the Abu Mazen government and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples.

Both sides must resolutely fight terror elements and ensure the political process is accompanied by security calm, economic recovery and the restoration of trust between the sides.

The Peace Now Plan: After the Disengagement

Renewing channels of dialogue - Dismantling outposts -
Continuing to evacuate settlements
Background

The realization of the Disengagement Plan, the evacuation of the settlements and the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza and the northern West Bank open a window of opportunity for the renewal of the peace process and the creation of a new reality for the Israeli and Palestinian people. The Disengagement Plan proved, first and foremost, that Israeli society is willing and ready to accept the dismantling of settlements. The attempts by the Israeli right to thwart the precedent-setting process of dismantling settlements did not work and Israeli democracy won out.

The completion of the Disengagement opens to Israel and the Palestinians a new diplomatic horizon and a window of opportunity to restart negotiations and renew the peace process aimed at ending the occupation and achieving peace.

In order to continue the positive dynamic in the region, both sides need to take a number of political and security measures, while renewing the channels of dialogue and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples along the 1967 borders.

The Peace Now plan is based on three principles:

Renewing political negotiations, security coordination, and opening channels of dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.
Evacuating the outposts and freezing construction of settlements.
Continuing the process of dismantling the settlements in phases in coordination with the PA and within the framework of negotiations for a final agreement.
Renewing negotiations, coordination and dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians

Negotiations with the Palestinians should take place on three parallel channels:

1. A political channel - renewing diplomatic negotiations on the basis of the Road Map's simultaneously implemented stages for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the achievement of a final settlement based on the 1967 borders

2. A security channel - renewing the security cooperation and coordination between Israel and the Palestinians, mutual maintenance of the ceasefire while halting terror attacks and violence, unifying and restoring the strength of the PA security apparatuses, combating terrorism,freeing Palestinian prisoners, and removing checkpoints.

3. An administrative channel - determining interim arrangements for PA control of the areas Israel has evacuated, control of borders and crossings, economic coordination and opening passages between Gaza and the West Bank.

Dismantling outposts and freezing construction in settlements

The settlers, and for different reasons, most Israelis, the Palestinians and the international community view the settlement enterprise as a unilateral Israeli measure obstructing any chance for reaching a peace agreement and causing escalation of the daily friction and hostility between Israel and the PA.

Therefore, stopping the expansion of the settlements and dismantling the outposts has an important political significance and could shape the face of the whole region.

Dismantling outposts - The Government of Israel must instruct the IDF and the police to immediately dismantle all 105 outposts in the territories, which were built in contravention of official Israeli policy that opposes creating new settlements in the West Bank (see map of outposts). The outposts are not only a political issue but also a legal issue. Failing to dismantle them will continue to signal to the settlers that beyond the Green Line the rule of law is not binding.

Freezing construction in settlements - The Government of Israel must freeze all construction beyond the Green Line. Any additional construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem complicates the existing situation, increases friction and hatred between the peoples and comprises a key element in causing violence and mistrust between Israel and the Palestinians. The final settlement must be reached by a political process and not by creating facts on the ground.

The continued evacuation of settlements in phases

Peace Now has always viewed the settlements as the main obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Evacuating most if not all of the settlements is a necessity, without which neither a real agreement with the Palestinians nor the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel will be possible.

The price of the existence of the settlements in general and the isolated settlements in the heart of the Palestinian area in particular has long beenintolerable both for the Palestinian population and for Israeli society. The Disengagement Plan has proven that Israel is able to evacuate settlements and hand over to Palestinian control areas that are sure not to stay under Israeli control in any future final settlement.

Under the framework of negotiations for a final settlement, the government of Israel must continue the process of evacuating the settlements in stages as a trust-building measure towards the Palestinian leadership that will improve the situation on the ground, strengthen the moderates on both sides and improve Israel's security and economic situation. The Government of Israel must evacuate the settlements in coordination with the Palestinian side, and not unilaterally as done previously.

The continued evacuation of settlements is a primarily Israeli interest and can improve Israel's security, economic and political situation in the present and future.

Peace Now has set the following criteria for evacuation: proximity to Palestinian population centers, distance from the Green Line, size of settlement and possibility of safe access to it, the desire of the residents of the settlement to leave, excluding those most likely to be accorded to Israel in a future agreement on land swaps..

Phase I (immediate) - evacuation of 26 isolated settlements surrounded by Palestinian communities (see map of settlements):
Northern West Bank: Hermesh, Mevo Dotan, Elon More, Yitzhar, Itamar, Bracha
Central West Bank: Kfar Tapuach, Talmon, Dolev, Halamish, Nahaliel, Ateret
Hebron Mountain: Jewish settlement in Hebron, Telem, Adora, Negohot, Asfar, Ma'ale Amos, Nokdim, Tko'a, Kfar Eldad
South Hebron Mountain: Otniel, Haggai, Pnei Hever, Carmel, Ma'on

The realization of Phase I will allow the IDF to withdraw from large areas of the West Bank and give the Palestinians contiguous control of most of the areas of the northern West Bank, most of the Hebron Mountain area (except for Kiryat Arba) and control of the Southern Hebron Mountain area.

Phase II - Dismantling 17 settlements from heart of West Bank:

Shavei Shomron, Kedumim, Eli, Shiloh, Ma'ale Levona, Beit El, Ofra, Psagot, Kochav Ya'akov, Geva Binyamin (Adam), Enav, Avnei Hefetz, Ma'ale Michmash, Almon (Anatot), Keidar, Karmei Tzur, Migdalim

Phase III - Evacuation of settlements as part of signing final settlement:

As part of negotiations on the final settlement the fate of all the settlements that were not evacuated in the interim period will be decided, with the goal of removing the smallest number of settlers possible from their homes and giving the Palestinians alternative land as part of a land swap deal. The Green line (1967 borders) will be utilized as the guideline to determine fixed boundaries between the Israeli and Palestinian states. Both sides will consider the facts on the ground and reevaluate the borders accordingly; changes will be made only through mutual agreement.

Conclusion

Now more than ever the government of Israel has the ability, as well as the responsibility to continue the process of shaping the country's permanent borders while maintaining its security interests and constantly striving to achieve peace in the region.

The government must continue the process of withdrawing from the territories through constant dialogue with the Abu Mazen government and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples.

Both sides must resolutely fight terror elements and ensure the political process is accompanied by security calm, economic recovery and the restoration of trust between the sides.

The Peace Now Plan: After the Disengagement

Renewing channels of dialogue - Dismantling outposts -
Continuing to evacuate settlements
Background

The realization of the Disengagement Plan, the evacuation of the settlements and the withdrawal of IDF forces from Gaza and the northern West Bank open a window of opportunity for the renewal of the peace process and the creation of a new reality for the Israeli and Palestinian people. The Disengagement Plan proved, first and foremost, that Israeli society is willing and ready to accept the dismantling of settlements. The attempts by the Israeli right to thwart the precedent-setting process of dismantling settlements did not work and Israeli democracy won out.

The completion of the Disengagement opens to Israel and the Palestinians a new diplomatic horizon and a window of opportunity to restart negotiations and renew the peace process aimed at ending the occupation and achieving peace.

In order to continue the positive dynamic in the region, both sides need to take a number of political and security measures, while renewing the channels of dialogue and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples along the 1967 borders.

The Peace Now plan is based on three principles:

Renewing political negotiations, security coordination, and opening channels of dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians.
Evacuating the outposts and freezing construction of settlements.
Continuing the process of dismantling the settlements in phases in coordination with the PA and within the framework of negotiations for a final agreement.
Renewing negotiations, coordination and dialogue between Israel and the Palestinians

Negotiations with the Palestinians should take place on three parallel channels:

1. A political channel - renewing diplomatic negotiations on the basis of the Road Map's simultaneously implemented stages for the establishment of a Palestinian state and the achievement of a final settlement based on the 1967 borders

2. A security channel - renewing the security cooperation and coordination between Israel and the Palestinians, mutual maintenance of the ceasefire while halting terror attacks and violence, unifying and restoring the strength of the PA security apparatuses, combating terrorism,freeing Palestinian prisoners, and removing checkpoints.

3. An administrative channel - determining interim arrangements for PA control of the areas Israel has evacuated, control of borders and crossings, economic coordination and opening passages between Gaza and the West Bank.

Dismantling outposts and freezing construction in settlements

The settlers, and for different reasons, most Israelis, the Palestinians and the international community view the settlement enterprise as a unilateral Israeli measure obstructing any chance for reaching a peace agreement and causing escalation of the daily friction and hostility between Israel and the PA.

Therefore, stopping the expansion of the settlements and dismantling the outposts has an important political significance and could shape the face of the whole region.

Dismantling outposts - The Government of Israel must instruct the IDF and the police to immediately dismantle all 105 outposts in the territories, which were built in contravention of official Israeli policy that opposes creating new settlements in the West Bank (see map of outposts). The outposts are not only a political issue but also a legal issue. Failing to dismantle them will continue to signal to the settlers that beyond the Green Line the rule of law is not binding.

Freezing construction in settlements - The Government of Israel must freeze all construction beyond the Green Line. Any additional construction in the West Bank and East Jerusalem complicates the existing situation, increases friction and hatred between the peoples and comprises a key element in causing violence and mistrust between Israel and the Palestinians. The final settlement must be reached by a political process and not by creating facts on the ground.

The continued evacuation of settlements in phases

Peace Now has always viewed the settlements as the main obstacle to peace between Israel and the Palestinians. Evacuating most if not all of the settlements is a necessity, without which neither a real agreement with the Palestinians nor the creation of a Palestinian state alongside Israel will be possible.

The price of the existence of the settlements in general and the isolated settlements in the heart of the Palestinian area in particular has long beenintolerable both for the Palestinian population and for Israeli society. The Disengagement Plan has proven that Israel is able to evacuate settlements and hand over to Palestinian control areas that are sure not to stay under Israeli control in any future final settlement.

Under the framework of negotiations for a final settlement, the government of Israel must continue the process of evacuating the settlements in stages as a trust-building measure towards the Palestinian leadership that will improve the situation on the ground, strengthen the moderates on both sides and improve Israel's security and economic situation. The Government of Israel must evacuate the settlements in coordination with the Palestinian side, and not unilaterally as done previously.

The continued evacuation of settlements is a primarily Israeli interest and can improve Israel's security, economic and political situation in the present and future.

Peace Now has set the following criteria for evacuation: proximity to Palestinian population centers, distance from the Green Line, size of settlement and possibility of safe access to it, the desire of the residents of the settlement to leave, excluding those most likely to be accorded to Israel in a future agreement on land swaps..

Phase I (immediate) - evacuation of 26 isolated settlements surrounded by Palestinian communities (see map of settlements):
Northern West Bank: Hermesh, Mevo Dotan, Elon More, Yitzhar, Itamar, Bracha
Central West Bank: Kfar Tapuach, Talmon, Dolev, Halamish, Nahaliel, Ateret
Hebron Mountain: Jewish settlement in Hebron, Telem, Adora, Negohot, Asfar, Ma'ale Amos, Nokdim, Tko'a, Kfar Eldad
South Hebron Mountain: Otniel, Haggai, Pnei Hever, Carmel, Ma'on

The realization of Phase I will allow the IDF to withdraw from large areas of the West Bank and give the Palestinians contiguous control of most of the areas of the northern West Bank, most of the Hebron Mountain area (except for Kiryat Arba) and control of the Southern Hebron Mountain area.

Phase II - Dismantling 17 settlements from heart of West Bank:

Shavei Shomron, Kedumim, Eli, Shiloh, Ma'ale Levona, Beit El, Ofra, Psagot, Kochav Ya'akov, Geva Binyamin (Adam), Enav, Avnei Hefetz, Ma'ale Michmash, Almon (Anatot), Keidar, Karmei Tzur, Migdalim

Phase III - Evacuation of settlements as part of signing final settlement:

As part of negotiations on the final settlement the fate of all the settlements that were not evacuated in the interim period will be decided, with the goal of removing the smallest number of settlers possible from their homes and giving the Palestinians alternative land as part of a land swap deal. The Green line (1967 borders) will be utilized as the guideline to determine fixed boundaries between the Israeli and Palestinian states. Both sides will consider the facts on the ground and reevaluate the borders accordingly; changes will be made only through mutual agreement.

Conclusion

Now more than ever the government of Israel has the ability, as well as the responsibility to continue the process of shaping the country's permanent borders while maintaining its security interests and constantly striving to achieve peace in the region.

The government must continue the process of withdrawing from the territories through constant dialogue with the Abu Mazen government and striving to reach a final settlement on the basis of two states for two peoples.

Both sides must resolutely fight terror elements and ensure the political process is accompanied by security calm, economic recovery and the restoration of trust between the sides.

Powered by
Movable Type 3.16