The Oslo Accords: International Law and the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Agreements

This book presents the first comprehensive legal analysis of the Oslo Accords. Professor Geoffrey Watson begins by rejecting suggestions that the Accords are non-binding political undertakings. He argues instead that they are binding international agreements between subjects of international law. Professor Watson next analyses Israeli and Palestinian compliance with the Accords. Watson concludes that each side has a mixed record of compliance, but that neither side has committed so serious a breach as to warrant termination of the Accords. Finally, Professor Watson offers some suggestions on how international law might help shape a final status agreement between the parties.

Before Oslo: A brief legal history of the Arab-Israeli conflict ; An Overview of the Oslo Accords ; Are the Oslo Accords Treaties? ; Other Theories of Obligation ; The Accords as Binding Agreements Between Subjects of International Law ; Redeployment for the West Bank ; Settlements ; Israeli Obligations on Passages, Ports and Economic issues ; Israeli Human Rights Obligations ; Amendment of the Palestinian Charter ; The Palestinian Duty to Prevent Terror and Violence ; Limits on Palestinian Self-Government ; Palestinian Human Rights Obligations ; International Law and the "Final Status" Issues ; Conclusion