Security

Throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Israel will have overall responsibility for external security and for the security of Israelis and settlements.

With regard to internal security and public order, the agreement establishes different arrangements for three types of area:

• Area " A " comprises the six cities listed above and the city of Hebron, minus the Old City of Hebron, the Jewish Quarter, and everything that is linked from there to Kiryat Arba and the Tomb of the Patriarchs. In these areas, the Palestinian Council will have full responsibility for internal security and public order, as well as full responsibility for civil affairs.
  
  
• Area " B " comprises the Palestinian towns and villages in the West Bank. In these areas, which contain some 68 percent of the Palestinian population, the Council will be granted full civil authority, as in Area " A ". The Council will be charged with maintaining public order, while Israel will have overriding security authority to safeguard its citizens and to combat terrorism. This responsibility shall take precedence over the Palestinian responsibility for public order.
  
  

25 Palestinian police stations will be established in specified towns and villages to enable the Palestinian police to exercise its responsibility for public order. The agreement contains provisions requiring that the movement of Palestinian police be coordinated and confirmed with Israel.

• In Area " C ", which comprises the unpopulated areas of the West Bank, areas of strategic importance to Israel and the Jewish settlements, Israel will retain full responsibility for security and public order. The Council will assume all those civil responsibilities not related to territory, such as economics, health, education, etc.
  

The Revocation of the PLO Covenant

The agreement contains an undertaking to revoke those articles of the Palestinian Covenant calling for the destruction of Israel, within two months of the inauguration of the Council.

The Security Policy for the Prevention of Terrorism and Violence

The agreement provides for the establishment of a strong police force, 12,000 in number, that will constitute the only Palestinian security force. The Security Annex specifies the deployment of the police force, the approved equipment and its modes of action.

The Security Annex specifies the commitment of Israel and the Palestinian Council to cooperate in the fight against terrorism and the prevention of terrorist attacks, according to the following framework:

1. The Palestinian Police is the only Palestinian Security Authority.
   
   
2. The Palestinian Police will act systematically against all expressions of violence and terror.
   
   
3. The Council will issue permits in order to legalize the possession and carrying of arms by civilians; any illegal arms will be confiscated by the Palestinian Police.

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