Date:
22 December 2008
Author(s):
Michael Pascual (Near East and North African Affairs Directorate)
Classification Level:
Confidential
Citation:
National Security Council. Executive Office of the President. Middle East Peace Process. Michael Pascual. Transition 3998.
Transition Memo:
Transition 3998 –Middle East Peace Process
Middle East Peace Process
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Chronology for Middle East Peace Process
Mitchell Committee Report (April 30, 2001)
Memorandum of conversation of Meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon (June 26, 2001)
Date: 24 June 2002
Author(s): George W. Bush
Description: Bush condemns Palestinian leadership for its lack of accountability and openness as well as its support for terrorism. Bush blames the current violence largely on Palestine but still calls upon Israeli troops to withdraw to pre-intifada positions in pursuit of de-escalation. Bush empathizes with the deep anger felt by both sides and hopes for liberty to blossom in Palestine.
Remarks: President to Send Secretary Powell to Middle East (April 4, 2002)
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon (April 15, 2002)
Remarks: President Bush Calls for New Palestinian Leadership Speech (June 24, 2002)
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon (July 9, 2002)
Date: 10 December 2008
Author(s): National Security Council (assumed)
Description: Chronology highlights key appointments, events, speeches, conversations, trips, and meetings relevant to transition memo. Chronology notes tabs relevant to listed dates.
Date: 30 April 2001
Author(s): Suleyman Demirel, Thorbjoern Jagland, Warren B. Rudman, George J. Mitchell, Javier Solana
Description:Report recommends that Israel and Palestine both cease violence immediately. Report states that Palestine must condemn terrorism and stop usage of human shields, and that IsraeliDefense Forces must adopt less aggressive policies and halt all settlements. Report calls upon governments to work together to protect holy sites and to implement confidence-building measures. Report states that both parties need to reaffirm commitments to signed agreements/mutual understandings and reenter full-scale negotiations.
Date: 4 April 2002
Author(s): George W. Bush (speech)
Description: Bush decries return to violence when Israel and Palestine were close to a ceasefire. Bush calls upon Israel and Palestine to make peace and for Palestine to denounce terrorism, labeling the current situation of Palestine’s making because of its failure to distance itself from violence. Bush calls foranIsraeli withdrawal and international/Palestinian cooperation against Hezbollah and Hamas. Bush cites past Israeli-Palestinian agreements as groundwork for creating peace here.
Date: 9 July 2002
Author(s):George W. Bush, Ariel Sharon (Prime Minister of Israel), Ed Padinske, Clarence Johnson, and Christopher Legrand (notetakers)
Description: President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon discuss Israel’s counterterror efforts and repeating Palestinian terrorist attacks. Sharon states that he is willing to support Bush’s peace plan and tells Bush that Sharon has communicated this message to other European leaders. Bush implores Sharon to remember the ultimate goals of Palestinian reform and peacebuilding in his decision making.
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Department of State Press Statement: A Performance-Based Roadmap to a Permanent Two-State Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict (April 30, 2003)
Date: 30 April 2003
Author(s): U.S. Department of State, Office of the Spokesman
Description: Department of State document outlining a three-stage solution to the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Phase I aims to end violence through Israeli troop withdrawal, instituting international security cooperation, and disarming terrorists residing in Palestine. Phase I also includes actions for Palestinian institution-building. Phase II aims to finalize Palestinian borders, approve the Palestinian constitution, and formally create a Palestinian state. Phase III aims for a permanent status agreement, stabilization of Palestinian institutions, and a complete end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon (May 20, 2003)
Memorandum of Conversation of Lunch with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Abbas (July 25, 2003)
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Abbas (May 20, 2003)
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Correspondence between the President and from Prime Minister Ariel Sharon (April 14, 2004)
Date: 14 April 2004 (both letters)
Author(s): First letter: Ariel Sharon (Prime Minister of Israel)Second letter: George W. Bush
Description: Sharon first writes to Bush. Sharon states that, in the absence of a realistic negotiating partner government leading Palestine, Israel will engage in unilateral withdrawal from Palestine. Sharonspecifies Israel’s withdrawal in-depth, discussing security, political, and economic planning. Bush expresses his support for the Israeli plan, states his support for Israel’s sovereignty and self-defense, and stresses the need for a peaceful, two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Letter from Israeli Chief of the Prime Minister's Bureau, Dov Weissglas, to National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice (April 18, 2004)
Date: 18 April 2004
Author(s): Dov Weissglass(Chief of the Prime Minister’s Bureau, State of Israel)
Description: Weissglass reiterates points made by Sharon in his (Tab 12) letter. Weissglass states again that Israel is committed to a withdrawal and defines territorial, security, legal, and economic matters related to the withdrawal from Gaza and the West Bank. Weissglass says that further progress is contingent on a Palestinian partner government committed to peace and counterterrorism.
Memorandum of Conversation of Meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon (April 11, 2005)
Memorandum of Conversation of Meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Sharon (September 14, 2005)
Memorandum of Conversation of Meeting with President Abbas of the Palestinian Authority (October 20, 2005)
Agreement on Movement and Access
Memorandum of Conversation of Meeting and Dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert (May 23, 2006)
Memorandum of Conversation of Meeting with Palestinian Authority President Abbas (September 20, 2006)
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert (April 24, 2007)
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Palestinian Authority President Abbas (June 18, 2007)
Remarks: President Bush Discusses the Middle East (July 16, 2007)
Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Prime Minister Olmert of Israel (September 18, 2007)
Memorandum of Conversation of Meeting with Palestinian Authority President Abbas (September 24, 2007)
Date:16 July 2007
Author(s): George W. Bush (speech)
Description: Bush strongly condemns Hamas and reiterates that terror will not lead to a Palestinian state. Bush instead points to the work of Israeli Prime Minister Olmert, Palestinian President Abbas, and Palestinian Prime Minister Fayyad in forging peace and striving for competent, democratic institutions. Bush announces political and financial support for Palestinian institutions and humanitarian aid and called upon Hamas to lay down its arms. Bush highlights other measures both sides must take for peace, chief among them that Palestine must liberalize and become more moderate.
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Memorandum of Telephone Conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Olmert (November 21, 2007)
Joint Understanding Read by President Bush at Annapolis Conference (November 27, 2007)
Date: 27 November 2007
Author(s): George W. Bush (speech
Description: Bush expresses joint desire at conference to bring an end to decades-long bloodshed and promote new, nonviolent culture. He reads that each party has agreed to continuous negotiations with the goal of an agreement before the end of 2008. He further states that each party has agreed to their commitments made to a two-state solution by the Quartet in 2003.
Remarks by National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley on the Middle East and Freedom Agenda (November 28, 2007)
Fact sheet on U.S. Assistance to the Palestinians
Date: 28 November 2007
Author(s): Stephen J. Hadley
Description: Hadley explains that the current moment offers a unique window for Israeli-Palestinian peace and that the U.S. must support it. Among the reasons Hadley cites are Israeli disengagement from Gaza settlements, the Israeli government’s confidence to take risks on security, and a moderate government in Palestine. Hadley emphasizes that securing a tangible peace deal would boost the positions of moderates in Palestine. Hadley takes questions afterward from the audience
Date: Unknown
Author(s): Unknown
Description: Document lists direct aid from the U.S. to Palestine: five direct aid projects (with objectives specified) and spending on each program, broken down by each year since 2002.