Sharon disengagement plan: Key points

Here are the main points of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's disengagement plan, as published in Israeli newspapers on 16 April 2004.

Gaza Strip

• Israel will withdraw from the Gaza Strip, including all the existing Israeli settlements, and will redeploy in territory outside of the Strip.

• The withdrawal will exclude a military presence in the area along the border area between the Gaza Strip and Egypt called "The Philadelphia Corridor".
• Israel retains the right to expand the area in which military operations are conducted.
  Click here to see a detailed map of the Gaza Strip

• Israel will exclusively control the airspace of the Gaza Strip, and will continue to carry out military operations in the sea.

• The Gaza Strip will be demilitarised of weapons whose existence are not in accordance with existing agreements between the two sides.

• Israel will consider maintaining the status quo of the Erez Industrial Zone, on condition of suitable security arrangements and a clear recognition by the international community that the continuing operation of the industrial zone will not be viewed as a continuation of Israeli control of the area.

• Alternatively, the industrial zone will be handed over to the responsibility of agreed upon Palestinian or international authorities.

• Israel will consider, together with Egypt, the possibility of establishing a joint industrial zone on the border of the Gaza Strip, Egypt and Israel

West Bank

• Israel will evacuate the settlements of Ganim, Kadim, Homesh and Sanur, and all permanent military installations in this area.

  

• The process will allow for a continuous Palestinian territory in the area of the northern West Bank.

• Israel will continue building the West Bank barrier.

• Israeli military activity will continue in the areas of the West Bank where Israel retains a presence. If circumstances allow, Israel will consider reducing its activity in Palestinian cities.

• Israel will work towards reducing the number of checkpoints in the West Bank as a whole.

Israeli settlements

• Israel will aim to maintain the assets of Israeli settlements.

• Israel suggests the establishment of an international body, which will be agreed upon between Israel and the United States, that will take possession of the settlements.

• Israel retains the right to ask for compensation to the value of all the economic assets that remain in areas from which it withdraws.

• The infrastructures of water, electricity, waste management and communications serving the settlements and the Palestinians will remain in place.

Other matters

• General arrangements currently in place between Israel and the Palestinians will remain in effect, including the entrance of Palestinian workers into Israel and the flow of goods.

• In the long term, Israel aims to reduce the number of Palestinian workers entering Israel.

• Existing arrangements governing international crossings between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, and the West Bank and Jordan, will remain in place.

• Israel insists there will be no foreign military presence in the Gaza Strip and/or the West Bank, without co-ordination and without Israeli agreement.

• Israel retains the basic right to self-defence, including pre-emptive steps and response, with the use of force, against threats emanating from the Gaza Strip and evacuated areas of the West Bank.

• The withdrawal is planned to be completed by the end of 2005.

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