"A senior Palestinian official [Sa'eb Arikat, a member of the PA cabinet] has called for the immediate release of Palestinian terrorist Abu Abbas, seized by US forces in Baghdad last night."  16 April Daily Telegraph Internet Ed.  at:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml;$sessionid$KJWXRF3FLKWM3QFIQMGSFFOAVCBQWIV0?xml=/news/2003/04/16/uabu.xml&sSheet=/portal/2003/04/16/ixportaltop.html

I have enclosed those portion of the agreement signed by Israel and the PLO at the White House on 28 September 1995, known as "Oslo II" in relation to the argument by the Plesatinian Authority that the U.S. is barred from prosecuting Abu Abbas.

WASHINGTON, SEPTEMBER 28, 1995

The Government of the State of Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (hereinafter "the PLO"), the representative of the Palestinian people ... HEREBY AGREE as follows: ...
.

Chapter 2-Redeployment and Security Arrangements

ARTICLE XVI

Confidence Building Measures
With a view to fostering a positive and supportive public atmosphere to accompany the implementation of this Agreement, to establish a solid basis of mutual trust and good faith, and in order to facilitate the anticipated cooperation and new relations between the two peoples, both Parties agree to carry out confidence building measures as detailed herewith:
1.  Israel will release or turn over to the Palestinian side, Palestinian detainees and prisoners, residents of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The first stage of release of these prisoners and detainees will take place on the signing of this Agreement and the second stage will take place prior to the date of the elections. There will be a third stage of release of detainees and prisoners. Detainees and prisoners will be released from among categories detailed in Annex VII (Release of Palestinian Prisoners and Detainees). Those released will be free to return to their homes in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
2.  Palestinians who have maintained contact with the Israeli authorities will not be subjected to acts of harassment, violence, retribution or prosecution. Appropriate ongoing measures will be taken, in coordination with Israel, in order to ensure their protection.
3.  Palestinians from abroad whose entry into the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is approved pursuant to this Agreement, and to whom the provisions of this Article are applicable, will not be prosecuted for offenses committed prior to September 13, 1993.

Done at Washington DC, this 28th day of September,1995

For the Government of the State of Israel            For the PLO

/s/                                                                       /s/
                             
                             

 Witnessed by: 
 
The United States of America          The Russian Federation
                             
 /s/                                                   /s/                            

             
The Arab Republic of Egypt            The Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan

/s/                                                    /s/
                              
The Kingdom of Norway                 The European Union

/s/                                                    /s/

source: http://www.pna.org/mininfo/key/oslo2.htm

Haim Habib (haim@kuentos.guam.net)