(Israel Foreign Ministry, Jerusalem, May 20, 1997)
FOREIGN MINISTRY RESPONSE TO PALESTINIAN BAN ON SALE OF LAND TO ISRAELIS
The recently reported decision by the Palestinian Council to forbid the
sale of land to Israelis runs counter to both the spirit and letter of the
various agreements signed between Israel and the Palestinians.
Statements attributed to Palestinian spokesmen, terming the sale of land
to Israelis as "terrorism" against the Palestinian People, and even
justifying a "death penalty" for those who are involved in these
activities, are deplorable and have no place in the current peace process.
This incitement on the part of Palestinian officials may well have led to
the murder of Palestinian real estate agent Farid Bashiti. Over the past
weekend another Palestinian who was involved in land transactions with
Israelis was also found murdered.
The reactions by certain Palestinian spokesmen to the murder of Bashiti,
including its justification by Frieh Abu-Medein, who is responsible for
the administration of justice and law under the Palestinian Council, call
into question the very commitment of these officials to the negotiation of
a settlement in an atmosphere free of threats, intimidation and violence.
The continued incitement on the part of Palestinian officials, in the face
of the two recent murders, can only be viewed as the encouragement on
their part of grievous violations of human rights.
As to the formal elements of the Interim Agreement; The West Bank is
divided into three (3) areas.
- Area "A" is comprised, mainly, of the seven
cities located in the West Bank. In this area the Palestinian Council has
full authority, including the responsibility for the maintenance of
security and the fight against terrorism.
- Area "B" comprises villages
wherein the Palestinian Authority has full civil responsibility, and is
charged with the maintenance of public order, and where Israel is
responsible for the maintenance of security.
- Finally, Area "C" contains
little of the Palestinian population, and comprises rural areas, Israeli
settlements and Israeli military installations.
The Palestinian Council does not have any authority over land registration
or transfer in Area "C", which at this point comprises the bulk of the
West Bank. If the intention of the Council was for this decision to apply
to Area "C", then this is another example of the PA's attempt to assert
its authority in locations in which it has no authority under the Interim
Agreement. As such, it may also be construed as a violation of this
agreement.
Return to Home Page