Gaza–Jericho Agreement

Gaza–Jericho Agreement (13 Sept. 1993) A follow-up treaty to the Oslo Accords, in which the details of Palestinian autonomy were concluded. It provided for the establishment of Palestinian autonomy in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank after a maximum transition period of five years. More immediately, it contained a detailed plan for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip and Jericho, which were the first areas to be granted Palestinian self-rule. In the following nine months, Israeli troops were to withdraw from virtually all areas of Arab settlements in the West Bank, where control would be exercised by an elected Palestinian council. Three years into the transition period at the latest, negotiations were to begin on outstanding controversial issues, the most contentious of which remained the status of East Jerusalem. The implementation of the Agreement was prevented by the assassination of Rabin and election of Benjamin Netanyahu as Prime Minister, who upon taking office refused to withdraw troops from any areas that were still under Israeli occupation.