SNS News Service "PLO Compliance"
August 16, 1996.. 1 Elul 5756
Special Report - 025sr
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**************************** The Report ******************************
The following Special Report is a synopsis of a Peace Watch report, Issued
August 5, 1996, entitled, "PLO and PA Compliance With Their Obligations to
Prevent Terror Attacks During the Palestinian Authority's First Two Years."
This in no way reflects the detail of the 103-page original. For the
complete picture, one may contact Peace Watch directly.
*********************** Executive Summary **********************************
The accords signed by Israel and the PLO since September 1993 commit both
sides to numerous and diverse obligations. It has been clear from Israel's
view, the most critical obligation the PLO undertook, on its own behalf and
that of the government it established, the "Palestinian Authority" (PA), was
to take "all necessary measures" to prevent terror attacks against Israelis
and Israeli targets.
The Peace Watch report examines compliance with this commitment during the
two-year period which began on May 18, 1994, when the PA first received
responsibility for securing Gaza and Jericho. The focus of the Peace Watch
report is on the PA's prevention of terrorism by all Arabs rather than on
the PLO's own obligation to refrain from terror.
- Compliance is judged by the PLO's actions rather than the results achieved.
- It must be assumed that the PA has the political ability to carry out all
commitments negotiated and signed by Yassir Arafat.
- The degree of judging PA success is weighing the degree to which its
actual record in taking steps against terrorism matches what it is capable
of doing.
- The pattern of anti-Israel terrorism during the period of this report is
relevant for judging compliance.
********************* Some of the Figures ********************************
1. The number of Israelis killed in any year since the Pa's first two years
was well in excess of the number killed in any year since the June 1967 Six
Day War.
2. In the first 2 years, 161 Israelis were killed in terrorist attacks
compared to 116 in the previous 2 years.
3. The number of lethal attacks dropped from 86 to 40 but the number of
victims was higher due to the deadly suicide bombs.
4. 90% of the victims came at the hands of Islamic fundamentalists groups
such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad. 7% were from groups within the PLO.
************************* Compliance ************************************
The PA used few of the tools at its disposal to prevent attacks against
Israel. For most of the period of the report, the PA did not outlaw,
disband, disarm or damage the human infrastructure of the organization
engaged in anti-Israel terrorism.
Despite its obligation to do so, the PA has not complied with requests by
Israel to extradite 18 Arab terrorists wanted for their parts in attacks
against Israel.
Compliance is judged by the PLO's actions rather than the results achieved.
If the PLO does everything within its ability to bring an end to attacks,
and Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorists continue to carry out attacks, this
should be deemed compliance. This would not apply to attacks carried out by
Fatah terrorists which operate under PLO leadership.
It must be assumed that the PA has the political ability to carry out all
commitments negotiated and signed by Yassir Arafat.
Since Arafat signed his name to agreements committing to the arrest and
punishment of terrorists, it is reasonable to expect that it is carried out.
It is natural that this will not assist Arafat's popularity within his own
population, but this should not be a consideration.
The degree of judging PA success is weighing the degree to which its actual
record in taking steps against terrorism matches what it is capable of doing.
Since it is very difficult to know exactly how much the PLO is doing or is
capable of doing, judgment must be made on the basis of the results seen.
For example, if a number of terrorists are not arrested after several
months, and it is known that they are living free in PLO-controlled areas,
it must be assumed that the PLO is not complying with the agreements. By the
same token, if most of the terrorists were arrested, it would be assumed
that the PA is complying.
The pattern of anti-Israel terrorism during the period of this report is
relevant for judging compliance.
Results are not a useful indicator if the pattern of compliance is otherwise
very clear. Had the PA taken all or most of the necessary steps to stop
attacks, and terror was still going on, this might testify to the
resourcefulness of the terrorists rather than an indictment of PA compliance.
*********** Terrorism against Israel During the First Two Years ***********
Between May 18, 1994 and May 17, 1996, a total of 161 Israelis were killed
in terrorist attacks. During the same time period, the number of attacks
dropped from 86 to 40. Of the 161, 123 victims were killed in 10 suicide
attacks.
One illustration of the high causality rate during the PA rule can be
compared to the almost thirty-year period since 1967. Three of the four
worst years, regarding casualties from Arab terrorism, are: 1994 (74
killed), 1996 (68 killed through June 30), 1995 (51 killed) and 1993 (63
killed).
123 of the 161 were killed in attacks that took place within "Israel proper"
and 38 in Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
***************** Public Statements Calling for Peace ********************
PLO Chief Arafat has made numerous statements calling for an end to terror
and compliance with the accords signed with Israel.
August 8, '94 - Maj.-Gen. Nasr Yussef, Commander of Police Forces, calls on
his people to comply with accords signed with Israel.
September 1, '94 - Arafat stresses the need to move ahead with the peace
process and speaks of the "peace of the brave."
September 25, '94 - PLO-affiliate Fatah calls on Hamas and PFLP (Popular
Front for the Liberation of Palestine) to stop embarrassing the PA and cease
attacks against Israel.
October 20, '94 - Minister of Civil Affairs Jamil al- Tarifi - calls for a
political solution to prevail.
February 9, '95 - al- Tarifi calls for renewed vigor in the peace talks.
(These are just a few examples).
************** Public Statements calling for Violence ********************
May '94 - Arafat calls for Jihad and martyrdom and praised individuals and
organizations involved in terrorism.
November '94 - Arafat calls for Jihad against Israel while addressing a
Fatah rally in Gaza.
February '95 - Senior PLO Advisor, Nabil Shaath threatens Israel with a
Jihad if peace talks fail.
April '95 - Justice Minister Freih Abu-Meddien address students in Al- Azhar
University. "Israel will remain the Palestinian people's main enemy, not
only now, but also in the future."
June 19, '95 - In an address at Al-Azhar University in Gaza, Arafat calls
for Jihad.
August 6, '95 - Al-Azhar University in Gaza, Arafat threatens Israel with a
return to an armed struggle.
January '96 - In a speech made in Stockholm, Arafat speaks of Israel's
impending demise. (These are just a few examples).
********************** PA Educational System ******************************
Prior to May 1994, when the PLO Authority assumed the leadership of Gaza,
the schools were a breeding ground for terrorism and violence, especially
during the Intifada Years.
According to the agreements signed (Annex II, Article II (9) of the Gaza-
Jericho Agreement) both Israel and the PA shall ensure that their respective
educational systems contribute to the peace between Israel and the
Palestinian people and peace in the entire region.
After 2 years of PLO control, the Intifada has been taken out of the
schools, but there has been no significant changes from the use of the
Egyptian curriculum in Gaza and the Jordanian curriculum in Judea, Samaria
and Gaza.
No new studies relating to Hebrew, Israel, peace nor violence have been
introduced.
******************** Preventing Terrorist Attacks **************************
During the time period covered by the Peace Watch report, few concrete
steps were taken by the PLO Authority to prevent terrorist attacks against
Israel. In practice, from May 1994 through March 1996, the PA took no
measures to outlaw or disband any of the groups in question. This refers to
Hamas (Izzadin el Kassim), Islamic Jihad, Fatah Hawks, PFLP, and the DFLP.
Whatever actions were taken against these groups affected their armaments
and not their very existence.
********************** Punishing Terrorists *****************************
Between May 18, 1994 and May 17, 1996, Peace Watch research shows that
Israel submitted requests to the PA seeking the transfer of 18 suspects in
terror attacks against Israelis. Since 4 of the requests were submitted on
May 16, 1996, the PA did not have time to respond during the period covered
by the report. Therefore, the report will deal with 14 requests.
Of the 14, none of the requests were honored and none of the suspects were
handed over to Israeli authorities. Several of the requests were made
repeatedly, both verbally and in writing.
********************* Trials and Sentencing ******************************
A total of 39 persons were tried for security-related offenses by PLO
Courts. Thirty-seven were sentenced to terms in prison ranging from six
months to life.
All trials of terrorist suspects were conducted in State Security Courts.
The trials often took place at night, without the presence of family
members, or lawyers, and in some cases, lasted 15 minutes or less. Of the 39
cases heard by the Security Courts, 37 sentences were handed down ranging
from a few months in prison to life.
****
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