Jericho Documentation

From Oslo II

GAZA-JERICHO AGREEMENT

ANNEX II
Protocol Concerning Civil Affairs

Religious Affairs:

1. The Palestinian Authority shall ensure free access to all holy sites in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area determined by the respective religious sects and shall protect these sites.

2. The above is without prejudice to the arrangements with regard to archaeological sites as set out in subparagraph 30 below.

3. Visitors to holy sites shall behave according to accepted rules of behavior in holy sites.

4. Religious sects shall inform the Palestinian Authority of their respective holy sites in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area. For the purposes of this paragraph, the relevant authority regarding Jewish holy sites shall be the Israeli Government.

5. A list of the existing Jewish holy sites is attached as Appendix A attached to this Annex.

6. Israel declares that no property (including lands, buildings and institutions) belonging to the Islamic Waqf in the Gaza Strip and the Jericho Area was taken by the military government or its Civil Administration, except such property that might have been put to use for public purposes such as schools and public roads.

7. Pending the entry into force of the Interim Agreement the holy site of Nebi Mousa shall be under the auspices of the Palestinian Authority for religious purposes.

8. During religious events that take place three times a year and other special occasions that shall be coordinated with the Israeli authorities, Palestinians shall have the right to religious pilgrimage to the al-Maghtas under the Palestinian flag.

9. Religious affairs in the "Shalom Al Israel" synagogue in Jericho shall be under the auspices of the Israeli authorities.

Now, why did I post that?

Because the Jerusalem Post can't get the facts straight:

Security forces began evacuating right-wingers from a Jericho synagogue who broke through IDF checkpoints in the West Bank on Sunday afternoon and entered the city, holding prayer services. They raised an Israeli flag...Upon entering the city, the activists - among them MK Michael Ben-Ari (National Union) - began to make their way to the ancient synagogue which was torched during the Second Intifada.

The city of Jericho falls under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian Authority , and Israelis are not allowed to enter it.