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Sunday, May 31, 2009
Background: The documents President Obama apparently decided to ignore

Background: The documents President Obama apparently decided to ignore
Dr. Aaron Lerner - IMRA 31 May 2009

"In light of new realities on the ground, including already existing major
Israeli populations centers, it is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of
final status negotiations will be a full and complete return to the
armistice lines of 1949, and all previous efforts to negotiate a two-state
solution have reached the same conclusion. It is realistic to expect that
any final status agreement will only be achieved on the basis of mutually
agreed changes that reflect these realities."
President Bush

"On behalf of the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Mr. Ariel Sharon,
I wish to reconfirm the following understanding, which had been reached
between us:
1. Restrictions on settlement growth: within the agreed principles of
settlement activities, an effort will be made in the next few days to have a
better definition of the construction line of settlements in Judea &
Samaria. An Israeli team, in conjunction with Ambassador Kurtzer, will
review aerial photos of settlements and will jointly define the construction
line of each of the settlements."
Dov Weissglas, Chief of the PM's Bureau

In return for PM Sharons unilateral retreat from the Gaza Strip, President
Bush agreed to the following exchange of letters which provided for
settlement construction to continue within building lines with recognition
that these "realities" would be reflected in an agreement. The exchange of
letters was critical in gaining approval for Sharon's proposed retreat by
the various Israeli authorities.

It should be noted that the construction lines were never set. By the same
token, a list of unauthorized outposts was never prepared.

The complete text of the letters follow:

Letter from US President George W. Bush to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
14 April 2004
www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Reference+Documents/Exchange+of+letters+Sharon-Bush+14-Apr-2004.htm

His Excellency
Ariel Sharon
Prime Minister of Israel
Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
Thank you for your letter setting out your disengagement plan.
The United States remains hopeful and determined to find a way forward
toward a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian dispute. I remain committed
to my June 24, 2002 vision of two states living side by side in peace and
security as the key to peace, and to the roadmap as the route to get there.
We welcome the disengagement plan you have prepared, under which Israel
would withdraw certain military installations and all settlements from Gaza,
and withdraw certain military installations and settlements in the West
Bank. These steps described in the plan will mark real progress toward
realizing my June 24, 2002 vision, and make a real contribution towards
peace. We also understand that, in this context, Israel believes it is
important to bring new opportunities to the Negev and the Galilee. We are
hopeful that steps pursuant to this plan, consistent with my vision, will
remind all states and parties of their own obligations under the roadmap.
The United States appreciates the risks such an undertaking represents. I
therefore want to reassure you on several points.
First, the United States remains committed to my vision and to its
implementation as described in the roadmap. The United States will do its
utmost to prevent any attempt by anyone to impose any other plan. Under the
roadmap, Palestinians must undertake an immediate cessation of armed
activity and all acts of violence against Israelis anywhere, and all
official Palestinian institutions must end incitement against Israel. The
Palestinian leadership must act decisively against terror, including
sustained, targeted, and effective operations to stop terrorism and
dismantle terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. Palestinians must
undertake a comprehensive and fundamental political reform that includes a
strong parliamentary democracy and an empowered prime minister.
Second, there will be no security for Israelis or Palestinians until they
and all states, in the region and beyond, join together to fight terrorism
and dismantle terrorist organizations. The United States reiterates its
steadfast commitment to Israel's security, including secure, defensible
borders, and to preserve and strengthen Israel's capability to deter and
defend itself, by itself, against any threat or possible combination of
threats.
Third, Israel will retain its right to defend itself against terrorism,
including to take actions against terrorist organizations. The United States
will lead efforts, working together with Jordan, Egypt, and others in the
international community, to build the capacity and will of Palestinian
institutions to fight terrorism, dismantle terrorist organizations, and
prevent the areas from which Israel has withdrawn from posing a threat that
would have to be addressed by any other means. The United States understands
that after Israel withdraws from Gaza and/or parts of the West Bank, and
pending agreements on other arrangements, existing arrangements regarding
control of airspace, territorial waters, and land passages of the West Bank
and Gaza will continue.
The United States is strongly committed to Israel's security and well-being
as a Jewish state. It seems clear that an agreed, just, fair and realistic
framework for a solution to the Palestinian refugee issue as part of any
final status agreement will need to be found through the establishment of a
Palestinian state, and the settling of Palestinian refugees there, rather
than in Israel.
As part of a final peace settlement, Israel must have secure and recognized
borders, which should emerge from negotiations between the parties in
accordance with UNSC Resolutions 242 and 338. In light of new realities on
the ground, including already existing major Israeli populations centers, it
is unrealistic to expect that the outcome of final status negotiations will
be a full and complete return to the armistice lines of 1949, and all
previous efforts to negotiate a two-state solution have reached the same
conclusion. It is realistic to expect that any final status agreement will
only be achieved on the basis of mutually agreed changes that reflect these
realities.
I know that, as you state in your letter, you are aware that certain
responsibilities face the State of Israel. Among these, your government has
stated that the barrier being erected by Israel should be a security rather
than political barrier, should be temporary rather than permanent, and
therefore not prejudice any final status issues including final borders, and
its route should take into account, consistent with security needs, its
impact on Palestinians not engaged in terrorist activities.
As you know, the United States supports the establishment of a Palestinian
state that is viable, contiguous, sovereign, and independent, so that the
Palestinian people can build their own future in accordance with my vision
set forth in June 2002 and with the path set forth in the roadmap. The
United States will join with others in the international community to foster
the development of democratic political institutions and new leadership
committed to those institutions, the reconstruction of civic institutions,
the growth of a free and prosperous economy, and the building of capable
security institutions dedicated to maintaining law and order and dismantling
terrorist organizations.
A peace settlement negotiated between Israelis and Palestinians would be a
great boon not only to those peoples but to the peoples of the entire
region. Accordingly, the United States believes that all states in the
region have special responsibilities: to support the building of the
institutions of a Palestinian state; to fight terrorism, and cut off all
forms of assistance to individuals and groups engaged in terrorism; and to
begin now to move toward more normal relations with the State of Israel.
These actions would be true contributions to building peace in the region.
Mr. Prime Minister, you have described a bold and historic initiative that
can make an important contribution to peace. I commend your efforts and your
courageous decision which I support. As a close friend and ally, the United
States intends to work closely with you to help make it a success.
Sincerely,
George W. Bush
=====

Letter from Dov Weissglas, Chief of the PM's Bureau, to National Security
Adviser, Dr. Condoleezza Rice

18 Apr 2004
www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/Peace+Process/Reference+Documents/Letter+Weissglas-Rice+18-Apr-2004.htm

Dr. Condoleezza Rice
National Security Adviser
The White House
Washington, D.C.
Dear Dr. Rice,
On behalf of the Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Mr. Ariel Sharon, I
wish to reconfirm the following understanding, which had been reached
between us:
1. Restrictions on settlement growth: within the agreed principles of
settlement activities, an effort will be made in the next few days to have a
better definition of the construction line of settlements in Judea &
Samaria. An Israeli team, in conjunction with Ambassador Kurtzer, will
review aerial photos of settlements and will jointly define the construction
line of each of the settlements.
2. Removal of unauthorized outposts: the Prime Minister and the Minister of
Defense, jointly, will prepare a list of unauthorized outposts with
indicative dates of their removal; the Israeli Defense forces and/or the
Israeli Police will take continuous action to remove those outposts in the
targeted dates. The said list will be presented to Ambassador Kurtzer within
30 days.
3. Mobility restrictions in Judea & Samaria: the Minister of Defense will
provide Ambassador Kurtzer with a map indicating roadblocks and other
transportational barriers posed across Judea & Samaria. A list of barriers
already removed and a timetable for further removals will be included in
this list. Needless to say, the matter of the existence of transportational
barriers fully depends on the current security situation and might be
changed accordingly.
4. Legal attachments of Palestinian revenues: the matter is pending in
various courts of law in Israel, awaiting judicial decisions. We will urge
the State Attorney?s office to take any possible legal measure to expedite
the rendering of those decisions.
5. The Government of Israel extends to the Government of the United States
the following assurances:
a. The Israeli government remains committed to the two-state solution -
Israel and Palestine living side by side in peace and security - as the key
to peace in the Middle East.
b. The Israeli government remains committed to the Roadmap as the only route
to achieving the two-state solution.
c. The Israeli government believes that its disengagement plan and related
steps on the West Bank concerning settlement growth, unauthorized outposts,
and easing of restrictions on the movement of Palestinians not engaged in
terror are consistent with the Roadmap and, in many cases, are steps
actually called for in certain phases of the Roadmap.
d. The Israeli government believes that further steps by it, even if
consistent with the Roadmap, cannot be taken absent the emergence of a
Palestinian partner committed to peace, democratic reform, and the fight
against terror.
e. Once such a Palestinian partner emerges, the Israeli government will
perform its obligations, as called for in the Roadmap, as part of the
performance-based plan set out in the Roadmap for reaching a negotiated
final status agreement.
f. The Israeli government remains committed to the negotiation between the
parties of a final status resolution of all outstanding issues.
g. The Government of Israel supports the United States' efforts to reform
the Palestinian security services to meet their roadmap obligations to fight
terror. Israel also supports the American efforts, working with the
international community, to promote the reform process, build institutions,
and improve the economy of the Palestinian Authority and to enhance the
welfare of its people, in the hope that a new Palestinian leadership will
prove able to fulfill its obligations under the Roadmap. The Israeli
Government will take all reasonable actions requested by these parties to
facilitate these efforts.
h. As the Government of Israel has stated, the barrier being erected by
Israel should be a security rather than a political barrier, should be
temporary rather than permanent, and therefore not prejudice any final
status issues including final borders, and its route should take into
account, consistent with security needs, its impact on Palestinians not
engaged in terrorist activities.
Sincerely,
Dov Weissglas
Chief of the
Prime Minister's Bureau

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