文档介绍：A Brief History of Israel
The report provided the first authoritative assessment of develop-
ments since the beginning of the Intifada, including the factors the
members believed helped cause or aggravate the tensions. The basic
conclusion was that Palestinians and Israelis had lost all confidence
in each other and that Israeli and Palestinian leaders needed to take
measures to break the cycle of violence. The report called on the PA
to “make clear through concrete action to Palestinians and Israelis
alike that terrorism is reprehensible, and eptable, and that the
Palestinian Authority will make a 100 percent effort to prevent ter-
rorism and to punish perpetrators.” At the same time, it called on the
Palestinians to “prevent gunmen from using Palestinian populated
areas to fire upon” Israelis.
It called on the Israel Defense Forces to consider withdrawing to posi-
tions held before September 28, 2000, and to adopt policies encourag-
ing nonlethal responses to unarmed demonstrators. Its conclusion was
that in order to move ahead with Israeli-Palestinian negotiations, there
had to be a cessation of all violence followed by confidence-building
efforts. The report mended that Israel freeze settlements, includ-
ing natural growth, that Palestinians crack down on terrorism, and
that both sides halt violence without condition. It apportioned respon-
sibility for the situation to both sides. Nevertheless, Israel viewed the
Mitchell report as a document of importance and as a possible basis for
ending violence and resuming peace talks.
Israel expressed reservations about the mendation calling for
a freeze on building Jewish settlements in the West Bank and Gaza as
an unwarranted concession on an issue that should be resolved only
in peace talks, not in advance.
On May 21, the Bush administration endorsed the report and began
diplomatic action in its support while stressing that the United States was
not putting forward a