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THE SECRETARY OF STATE WASHINGTON
October 23, 1998
Dear Mr. Prime Minister:
The United States is pleased to have worked with you in achieving a successful outcome in the negotiations on "The Wye River Memorandum". We believe its parallel phased approach will help provide greater confidence to both sides in the implementation process, since actions in each stage of the time line are to be completed by both sides before moving to the next stage. I can confirm that the United States is prepared to play the role identified for it in the Memorandum.
The United States recognizes the importance of the security
provisions of "|The Wye River Memorandum|" to the State of
Israel. In this context, and given the role specified for the United
States in the Memorandum, we wish to reiterate our ironclad
commitment to Israel's security and to peace, and to stress that Palestinian security undertakings are a critical foundation of the Memorandum.
In this context, we wanted to confirm our understanding of assurances we have received from the Palestinians on several
issues that you have indicated are of special concern to Israel.
Regarding the Palestinian apprehension of terrorism suspects (II (A) (1) (d), we have been assured that all the cases which have been identified will be acted upon. With respect to Palestinian decisions regarding the prosecution, punishment or other legal measures that affect the status of individuals suspected of abetting or perpetrating acts of violence or terror, there are procedures in place to prevent unwarranted releases. Furthermore, we will express our opposition to any unwarranted releases of such suspects, and in the event of such a release, we will be prepared to express our position publicly.
Regarding the Palestinian side's program for confiscation and
disposition of illegal weapons under paragraph II (A) (2) (b),
our assistance to the Palestinian side will help ensure that any
retention of weapons is consistent with the relevant Interim
Agreement provisions, including Article IV (5) of Annex I. The
U.S. plans to inform Israel periodically of the progress of our
assistance program. Finally, with respect to the Palestinian side's provision of its list of policemen to Israel (II (C) (1) (a)), the U.S. has been assured that it will receive all appropriate information concerning current and former policemen as part of our assistance program.
Sincerely,
Madeleine K. Albright
His Excellency
Binyamin Netanyahu
Prime Minister of Israel
BATTLE
BIAS @ WWW.UNITED JERUSALEM.ORG
R e t u r n t o t o p
|Israel History in Maps | PLO Claim "Right of Return"|
|Israel Wars Unfolded | Historical Perspectives|
|The Golon Heights | On The Temple Mount | About YESHA|
|Arafatīs Letter to PM Rabin | U.S. Letters of Assurance |
|Israel Policy on Jerusalem | Jerusalem International Dipomacy|
|Palestinian Media Watch | Jerusalem Embassy Act|
|False Moslem Claimīs | Popes Visit to Israel 03/22-26/00|
|Barak Gov. "White Papers" 11/20/00 | UN RES. 242 - 338| |
