Guidelines of the Government of Israel

• Aaron Lerner                          16 June 1996
  
  The following is an unofficial translation of some key sections of
  the Guidelines of the Government of Israel signed today by the
  coalition partners.
  
  
  "The government presented to the Knesset will act on the premise
  that the right of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel is
  eternal and indisputable, that the State of Israel is the State of
  the Jewish people, whose democratic government guarantees equality
  for all its citizens, and whose main goal is the ingathering and
  integration of the Jewish people.
  
  The striving for national unity, social justice, and personal
  liberty, and the search for genuine peace with all our neighbors
  while safeguarding national and personal security, shall serve as
  the basis for the government's policies.
  
  The government  will work to achieve the following goals.
  
  1. Achieving peace with all our neighbors, while safeguarding
  national and personal security.
  
  2. Reinforcing the status of Jerusalem as the eternal capital of
  the Jewish people.
  
  3. Increasing immigration to Israel, and integrating new immigrants
  in all walks of life.
  
  4. Creating conditions for a free, thriving economy and social
  welfare.
  
  5. Strengthening, broadening and developing settlement in Israel.
  
  6. Promoting values of the State of Israel as a Jewish, democratic
  state, while maintaining a proper balance between the will of the
  majority and the rights of individuals and minorities.
  
  7. Broadening education and strengthening the bond to Jewish
  heritage and the realization of Zionism.
  
  Peace Security and Foreign Relations
  ====================================
  
  1. The Government of Israel will work to broaden the circle of
  people with all its neighbors for the good of Israel's citizens and
  the region's inhabitants, while safeguarding Israel's vital
  interests.
  
  2. The government will reinforce and develop its peaceful relations
  with Egypt and Jordan.
  
  3. The government of Israel will conduct negotiations with Syria
  without pre-conditions.
  
  4. The government will work to raise the level of relations with
  other Arab countries which have connections with Israel;  Qatar,
  Oman, Morocco, Tunisia, Mauritania, and will work towards mutual
  recognition and cooperation with Arab countries with which Israel
  does not have diplomatic relations.
  
  5. The government of Israel will use all means at its disposal to
  bring home the Prisoners of War and Missing in Action and all those
  who worked for the security of the state , and will  insist on this
  point during negotiations with all relevant parties.
  
  6. The government will negotiate with the Palestinian Authority,
  with the intent of reaching a permanent arrangement, on the
  condition that the Palestinians fulfil all their commitments fully.
  
  7. The government of Israel will propose to the Palestinians an
  arrangement whereby they will be able to conduct their lives freely
  within the framework of self-government.  The government will
  oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state or any foreign
  sovereignty West of the Jordan River, and will oppose "the right of
  return" of Arab populations to any part of the Land of Israel West
  of the Jordan River.
  
  8. In any political arrangement Israel shall insist on ensuring the
  existence and security of Jewish settlements and their affinity
  with the State of Israel.  The government of Israel will continue
  to bear full responsibility for the Jewish settlements and their
  residents.
  
  9. The government views the Golan Heights as essential to the
  security of the state and its water resources.  Retaining Israeli
  sovereignty over the Golan will be the basis for an arrangement
  with Syria.
  
  10. The State of Israel will keep strengthening the Israel Defense
  Forces and other security forces to deter potential enemies ,
  prevent war and defend the state and its citizens.
  
  11. The government will exercise its right to use the IDF and
  security forces to act against the threat of terrorism everywhere,
  to ensure the well-being of the country's residents and the Jewish
  people.
  
  12. The government will act to remove the threat to the Northern
  border and will ensure economic development to residents in the
  North.
  
  13. The government's privatization policy will take into account
  the essentialness of the defense industries to the country's
  security.
  
  14. The government will promote Israel's foreign relations to
  enhance its security and peace, and to further the goal of economic
  and cultural growth.
  
  15. The government will nurture its special, close relationship
  with the United States, on the basis of the commitment of both to
  the values of liberty, justice, democracy, and the commonality of
  their interests.
  
  16. The government will act to strengthen relations with Russia and
  other CIS states, bearing in mind Russia's status in the
  international community and the interests shared by Israel and
  these countries.
  
  17. The government of Israel will continue efforts to have Israel
  added as an associate member of the European Community, and will
  act to strengthen its tries with Europe.
  
  18. The government will strengthen its relations in all spheres
  with countries in East Asia, especially economic ties with the
  fast-developing market in the region.
  
  19. The government will strive to develop relations with all
  countries desiring peace and will increase Israel's involvement in
  international organizations.
  
  20. The government will initiate and cooperate in international
  efforts against terrorist organizations and those countries which
  shelter and aid such organizations.
  
  21. The government will act with determination against any
  manifestation of antisemitism throughout the world, and will work
  to enhance the ties and mutual responsibility between Israel and
  Jewish communities in the Diaspora.
  
  Jerusalem
  =========
  
  1. Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is one city, whole and united,
  and will remain forever under Israel's sovereignty.
  
  2. Freedom of worship and access to the holy places will be
  guaranteed to members of all faiths.
  
  3. The government will thwart any attempt to undermine the unity of
  Jerusalem, and will prevent any action which is counter to Israel's
  exclusive sovereignty over the city.
  
  4. The government of Israel, through its ministries and through the
  Jerusalem Municipality, will allocate special resources to speed up
  building, improve municipal services for Jewish and Arab residents,
  and enhance the social and economic status of the greater Jerusalem
  area."
  
  Dr. Aaron Lerner, Associate  
  IMRA (Independent Media Review & Analysis)
  (mail POB 982 Kfar Sava)
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