Page 6-The Canadian Jewish News, Thursday, September 9, 1993
peace plan
The CJN received the following statement last week from Israel's embassy in Ottawa. It is the official response of the- Israeli government to the Gaza/Jericho peace proposal.
The Israeli government has approved an unprecedented Israeli-Palestinian declaration of principles outlining a joint agreement on how to move forward in the peace negotiations between them. After almost two years of bilater-
al negotiations with the Palestinian delegation, the expected progress has, unfortunately, not been achieved.
The government's decision comes to break the impasse through four main components:
• A joint declaration of principles, which would encompass an historic agreement of both sides to declare their readiness to solve the conflict between them through peaceful means/This represents a breakthrough in the history of the conflict between the two peoples.
, • An agreement on the implementation of sielf government in Gaza and Jericho, inaugurating the five year period of interim arrangemeints, which will be followed by the permanent status arrangements.
• An agreement on the conduct of general election in the territories, in order to establish a Palestinian self governing council which will carry out the interim arrangements during the five year period following the Gaza/Jericho agifement.
• A framework agreement outlining a regional economic plan for the Middle East, including Israeli-Palestinian^ economic cooperation.
The following points outline the
Israeli-Palestinian agreement:
• The agreement represents rnutual conciliation between Israel and the Palestinians, putting an end to the armed conflict between the two negotiating partners; Notably, this agreement has been achieved prior to any exchange of territory.
• Until now, progress has been hampered by disagreements over divisive side-issues such as the participation of Jerusalem Palestinians in self-rule elections or the number of members on the Palestinian council. The present accord postpones these questions to the detailed discussions on the agreement regarding elections. While providing an opportiinity to achieve substantial and significant agreement now, on issues of principle.
• The Israeli-Palestinian agreement establishes that Jerusalem, Jewish settlements, Israeli citizens, and military areas are to be excluded from the jurisdiction of the interim self government. The agreement provides that they will remain under Israeli authority.
• The Israeli-Palestinian agreement establishes that during the period of interim self government, Israel will remain the source of authority: in the West Bank and Gaza.
• Under the agreement, Israel retains overall responsibility for security, which includes defence against external threats, security for Israeli citizens and settlements, and freedom of movement for Israelis and the Israel Defence Forces throughout the roads of Gaza and Jericho. As part of the agreement, the IDF will redeploy to specified areas.
on the
• For the first time, substantive agreement has been achieved on broad joint Israeli-Palestinian economic cooperation. The agreement includes the establishment of a bilateral committee to discuss economic issues.
• Some will describe this agreement as a step toward the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. This
is the traditional Palestinian position with regard to interim self rule, and should come as no surprise. However, Israel, for its part, remains opposed to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. For the permanent solution, the Israeli government envisions a confederal or federal arrangement between Jordan and those territories from which Israel may withdraw in the West Bank and Gaza.
• The Palestinians are al so a\yare that Israel will not compromise on the status of Jerusalem as Israel's undivided capital, under Israeli sovereignty. While it is clear that the Palestinians will raise the issue of Jerusalem during the permanent status negotiations, it should be equally clear that Israel will hot change its position on this issue of principle.
Conclusion:
This historic agreement represents the single most significant breakthrough in Israel's relationship with the Palestinians. The agreement will now be presented to the Israeli and Palestinian delegations in Washington. Onee signed, this ground-breaking accord promises to serve as a secure foundation for peaceful coexistence between the two peoples.
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Name Game
There is a story in abnost every Jewish surname and Toronto lawyer FRED M. CATZMAN has been researching their origins over the past few years. Mr Catzman reports on his research in The CJN.
GOM - GOLDSTEIN
Mr. A. Goldstein is intrigued about the origin of his wife's maiden naitie Gom. Her parents lived in Tyszowce, Poland. My guess is that the name is an abbreviation of Gomulin in south eastern Poland.
He tosses in a postscript about his own surname. He wonders why so many Jews bear the name Gold and its derivatives like Goldberg and Goldstein, particularly, since the precious metal was an unfaimiiiar commodity in thie household.
When Jews were legally compelled to adopt surnames, many considered the acquisition of a name which connoted fortune as a pray of hope in a life of deprivation. Hence, the proliferation of the names of precious metals (Gold and Zilber) and precious stones (Diament, Perl and Edelstein).
11
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