Some Basic Aspects of the Agreements Between Israel and the PLO from the Perspective of International Law

Abstract

The Middle East peace process is a complex web of international negotiations based upon the structure set up at the Madrid Conference that was held on 30 October 1991 and was co-sponsored by the United States and Russia (then the USSR). There are two different but parallel negotiating tracks, a bilateral one and a multilateral one. The bilateral track consists of four separate sets of direct negotiations between Israel, and Syria, Lebanon, Jordan and the Palestinians. The multilateral track aims at building confidence among the regional parties and at solving a number of complicated issues which are addressed in five different forums comprising representatives from states in the region as well as of the international community. The working groups of the multilateral negotiations are focusing on water, environment, arms control, refugees and economic development. With regard to the bilateral negotiations between Israel and the three Arab States, the purpose is to conclude peace treaties, which in the case of Jordan has been accomplished with the Peace Treaty signed on 26 October 1994.