From Oslo to Wye

Dilemmas & Role Plays on

• The Declaration of Principles (Oslo)
• The Wye River Accords

INTRODUCTION

We bring below a selection of the dilemmas published on the DOP in 1993, many of which can be adapted for the Wye River Accords.

If you wish to undertake serious analysis of all three documents, it is recommended that this be spread over three sessions. Otherwise, divide into groups and have each group analyse one document in light of the issues raised below, and bring them together in conclusion, leaving time for some of improvised role plays to round off on a less academic note.

I. The DOP (see text)

General questions:

• Did Israel have to enter into an agreement so suddenly
• Was this the "best" agreement Israel could get in the forseeable future?

• What do Israel and the Palestinians stand to gain from the agreement?

• What do they stand to loose?

• Why did Prime Minister Rabin accept the PLO as Israel's negotiation partner?

• Can we trust the PLO?

• Where does this put the other Palestinian organizations in the process?

• What will they do and what will happen if they do not participate in the implementation?

• What is the difference between autonomy granted to people (as proposed in the Camp David accords) and territorial autonomy (as in this agreement)?

• Where to next if the agreement does work?

• What will happen if it doesn't work - can we return to "square one"?

  Text Analysis

  1. What are the implications of the "political integrity" of Gaza and Jericho being defined as one unit, although territorially separate?

  2. Consider the possible impact of elections to the "Council" - who will serve on it?

  3. What are the immediate spheres of authority granted the Palestinians and how do they compare with the ideas stated in the first paragraphs?

  4. Public order issues - work on the scenarios suggested in the activities below

  5. There is no mechanism for solving disputes which are not resolved under liaison or reconciliation processes. What scenarios can you suggest?

  6. Israel has long said that there will be no Palestinian state. Will she have the power to prevent this happening under the agreement?

  7. Annex 1, art.1: Israel has said there will be no compromise on Jerusalem, that it is not negotiable. Will she be able to keep to this?

  8. In the permanent settlement, will Israeli residents of the territories be allowed to remain; what would be their citizenship if they remain OR what could happen if the Palestinians insist on evacuation of all the settlements?

  9. Is a five-year time framework to the final agreement feasible or would it have been preferable - or possible - to build a framework conditioning progress upon mutually agreed successful implementation?

  ACTIVITIES

  1. Role Plays

  Divide the group into subgroups of Palestinians and Israelis and have them play out an issue each from the above lists, but ensure they don't play the same role twice in a row.

  2. Simulations or improvisations

  Write scenarios or improvise on these ideas and some of your own:

  • An Israeli wants to do business with a Palestinian (sales). How will he/she go about it?

  • A Palestinian wants to sell merchandise in Israel. Same question (his goods are cheaper).

    Discuss: how can we make this an honest competition?

  • A Jewish settler wishes to travel from one settlement south of Jericho to one north of it.

  • An Israeli car breaks down in Ramallah. Which police force will be responsible for helping the driver and what could happen?

  • A terrorist escapes the Israeli police and takes refuge in a populated area under Palestinian self-government. Suggest different scenarios, using the text.

  3. Textual Methodology

  To analyse the DOP as a group:

  i) Terminology

  In groups, make two columns on a sheet of paper. In the first, list the terms which sound diplomatic and carry an emotional "load". In the second column, list the measurable facts. Each group can work on the first page of text and one additional page.

  ii) Peace and Prosperity

  To help participants see the wood as well as the trees, copy articles XI, XII, Annexes II, III, and IV separately. Why is there such an emphasis on economic aspects?

  Editors, 1993: Dov Goldflam, Gila Ansell Brauner
  Analysis: Hayim Azses
  On-line research and processing: Esther Carciente
  Library research: Geulah Rosenak, Irina Chernya
  On-line documentation: Jeannette Doutchinski
  Revised October, 1998
  

  ---

  II. Wye versus the Washington Interim Agreement

  Out of the issues in analysis, have participants note which proved problematic in the implementation of the Oslo Accords (as provided for in the Cairo Agreement); use the MFA’s online text of the Interim agreement or the excerpts file we have prepared to see what provisions were made to address them in the Interim Agreement.

  What similarities and what differences are there in these two agreements?

  Out of the role-plays suggested in 1993, which actually happened and how were they resolved?

  What does the Wye agreement do that the previous documents did not?

  What might be its shortcomings?