Document: Netanyahu's proposed Israel-Syria peace treaty

14 April 2001

The following is the text of the photocopy of "Treaty of peace between
Israel and Syria" that illustrates an article appearing in the 13 April
edition of Yediot Ahronot. The illustration does not include paragraphs 6,7,
and 8 and are translated back to English from the Hebrew translation of
Yediot Ahronot. The article is under the byline of Eitan Amit from New
York.

It purports to be the proposed agreement that Ronald Lauder presented on
behalf of then Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.

Yediot Ahronot reports that Netanyahu's office emphasizes he did not agree
to withdrawal to the 1923 line (next to the Kinneret) but rather to "base" a
border on it - leaving open just where the border would be. The number of
months for the period of the withdrawal was left blank.

TREATY OF PEACE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND SYRIA

Israel and Syria have decided to establish peace between them. The peace
will be based on the principles of security, equality, respect for the
sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of both. The
Parties agree to the following provisions.

1. The state of war between the Parties will be terminated and peace will be
established between them upon the signing of this Treaty.

2. Israel will withdraw from the Syrian lands taken in 1967, in accordance
with Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, which establish the right of
all states to secure and recognized borders and the "land for peace"
formula, to a commonly agreed border based on the international line of
1923. The withdrawal will be effected in 3 stages over a period of [.]
months with full normalization being completed by the end of withdrawal
(exchange of ambassador at the outset).

3. Due to the existing agreements between Syria and Lebanon, negotiations
between Syria and Israel and negotiations between Lebanon and Israel should
proceed simultaneously, both in solution and in the signing of peace
agreements between Syria and Israel and Lebanon and Israel.

4. Each Party undertakes to ensure that acts or threats of violence will not
originate from its territory. Syria will make every effort to assure an end
to paramilitary activities and other hostile acts of violence against Israel
emanating from Lebanon.

5. The prevention of the danger of surprise attack is a high-priority
objective of the agreed-upon security arrangements. These will be based on
mutuality and reciprocity and confined to relevant areas on both sides of
the border, taking into account geographic differences. Such differences
will be made up for in order to redress the balance in the implementation of
the security arrangements.

+++[The section below translated back from Hebrew]+++

6. Security arrangements will go into effect with the establishment of three
zones, on the two sides of the border, in stages that will be parallel to
the stages of the Israelis withdrawal (as marked on the attached map [IMRA
the article says there was no map]):
A. Demilitarized zone.
B. Limited force and weapons zone.
C. Zone limited to defensive weapons.

7. In order to strengthen the stability and to preserve trust existing
observation and warning stations will remain on the Golan. In accordance
with the development of relations between the Parties, Israeli presence will
be integrated into a multi-national observation center, with observers from
Syria, France and the USA.

8. The peace will include full normalization of relations, mutual
recognition, the opening of embassies and economic relations - on condition
that they are in accordance with the laws of the two States and are in
accordance with international peace (laws).

++++ Remainder from original English

9. The issue of water is to be addressed in accordance with international
laws and norms, assuring present water use and the development of new water
resources.

10. Syria will seek the achievement of a comprehensive peace in the region
with the real and lasting peace between Syria and Israel at its forefront.
Both Parties agree to prevent the entry of military forces of a third party,
in circumstances which may threaten the security of the other Party. Both
Parties will seek to cooperate with other states to enhance regional
security and stability.

[Separate assurance. there will be a total cessation of hostilities in
Lebanon upon the signing of this declaration]

[in hand writing] Aug. Sat. 29, 98

+++

Dr. Aaron Lerner, Director
IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
(mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
Tel 972-9-7604719/Fax 972-3-5480092
INTERNET ADDRESS: imra@netvision.net.il
pager 03-6750750 subscriber 4811
Website: http://www.imra.org.il