Governing Principles
[su_dropcap style=”flat” size=”3″]A[/su_dropcap] plan of action to extricate Israel from the current dead end and to improve its security situation and international standing.
Only an integrated effort combining military, civil-economic and political measures, applied to the West Bank, Jerusalem and Gaza can bring about significant, sustainable improvement in Israeli security. The plan, therefore, must be implemented in its entirety.
The plan addresses the need to increase personal and national security, the imperative of separating from the Palestinians to the extent possible, and the current necessity for continued, full security control in the West Bank — all while preserving the conditions for future negotiations with the Palestinians on a final status agreement based on the principle of “two states for two peoples,” while improving Israel’s regional and international standing.
An approach to national security that combines military force with an understanding of the limits of power and the socio-economic needs of both populations while clarifying policy regarding the future of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Security First
A Plan to Improve Israel’s Security Situation and International Standing
Principles of the Plan
- An independent Israeli security and political initiative.
- Continued IDF control over the West Bank until a final status agreement is reached.
- Steps taken independently and not contingent upon the existence of a partner.
- Separation from the Palestinians: Israelis and Palestinians living beside each other, not “inside” each other (in the case of 98.5% of Israelis).
- Elimination of ambiguity by clarifying Israel’s position on resolving the conflict with the Palestinians (two states) and the temporary nature of the military occupation of the West Bank, from a position of strength.
- An effective response to threats on multiple levels – military, political and civil-economic measures – on the West Bank, in Jerusalem and Gaza.
Goals of the Plan
- To enhance the personal security of Israel’s citizens.
- To preserve conditions for a future final status agreement with the Palestinians.
- To Increase prospects of Israel’s integration into security-political arrangements with states in the region.
- To Improve Israel’s international standing.
An Integrated, independent Israeli initiative
- An Israeli security-political initiative that is not contingent upon the existence of a Palestinian partner.
- Security measures combined with political declarations and civil-economic steps.
- Coordinated implementation on the West Bank, in Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip.
Security Measures
- Completing construction of the security fence on the West Bank and implementation of a strict border control regime along its entire length.
- Continued IDF military control over the entire West Bank until a final status agreement is reached.
- Reduced friction between Israelis and Palestinians on the West Bank.
- Ending the phenomenon of illegal residency and preventing infiltration into Israel.
- Restoring order in the Palestinian neighborhoods of East Jerusalem, confiscating illegal weapons and eradicating nests of terror.
Political Measures
A comprehensive Israeli policy declaration:
- That it accepts, in principle, the Arab peace initiative, with requisite adjustments to accommodate Israel’s security and demographic needs, as a basis for negotiation.
- Of its commitment to resolving the conflict through negotiations towards a final status agreement based on the principle of “two states for two peoples.”
- That it harbors no claims to sovereignty over West Bank territories east of the security fence, but that it will continue to exercise control over them in a custodial capacity until alternative security arrangement are put into place within the framework of a final status agreement with the Palestinians.
- Of its willingness to recognize that the Palestinian neighborhoods and villages of East Jerusalem will be part of a Palestinian state, when established as part of a future agreement.
- That it will freeze the construction of new settlements, the expansion of existing ones or the development of civilian infrastructures east of the security fence.
- Reiterating its commitment to the strict maintenance of the status quo on the Temple Mount and other holy sites.
Civil-Economic Measures
- The West Bank: Improving the welfare of the Palestinians and strengthening the Palestinian Authority.
- Jerusalem: Establishing an umbrella authority for the Palestinian villages and neighborhoods, charged with the task of rehabilitation and development. Strict maintenance of the status quo on the Temple Mount.
- Gaza: Preventing the collapse of the cease fire, staving off a humanitarian crisis and promoting economic reconstruction.
- Israeli settlers: Passing an Absorption, Compensation and Voluntary Evacuation Law for West Bank settlers east of the security fence who seek to relocate west of the fence or within the Green Line.