What is a Hudna – Arabic for “cease fire”

A hudna is an armistice in the broad sense of the word — non-belligerency and normalization — for a limited period of time. That is the idea behind the new initiative to put an end to the conflict.

In Moslem tradition, a hudna is a religious imperative that obligates everyone who bears arms. It is hard to violate it and it obligates members of all peoples. When the hudna expires, it can either be extended or the parties can move on to the stage of a sulha — [reconciliation] just like between two clans.

According to Darawshe’s plan, the declared hudna would have three stages:

1) A declaration of a cease-fire by President Moshe Katzav before the most senior Palestinian forum, and a statement of regret for the victims of both peoples.

2) Restoring the situation to what it was before the Intifada.

3) Negotiating the implementation of the agreements, namely, the Mitchell report recommendations and the Tenet understandings. If this last stage is not completed successfully within a year, the hudna can be extended.

This article ran in Yediot Aharonot on December 31, 2001