higher education, special education and private, public, non- governmental and other cultural and educational activities, institutions and programs and all movable and immovable education property.

ARTICLE 10

Electricity

Both sides have agreed to continue the negotiations concerning the sphere of Electricity after the signing of this Agreement, with a view to reaching an agreement within three months, based on the following merged version, pending which the existing status quo in the sphere of electricity in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip shall remain unchanged. IEC personnel and equipment shall be guaranteed free, unrestricted and secure access to the electricity grid.

( Merged Version )

1. The Israeli side shall transfer to the Palestinian side, and the Palestinian side shall assume, all powers and responsibilities in this sphere [ I: in Areas A and B ] [ P: in the West Bank ] that are presently held by the military government and its Civil Administration, including the power to set tariffs and issue licenses [ P: , as well as all existing property related to this sphere and the grid, as defined in paragraph 4 ]. [ I: In Area C, powers and responsibilities relating to this sphere will be transferred gradually to Palestinian jurisdiction that will cover West Bank and Gaza Strip territory, except for the issues that will be negotiated in the permanent status negotiations, during the further redeployment phases, to be completed within 18 months from the date of the inauguration of the Council. ]
   
   
2. The Palestinian Energy Authority ( PEA ) will have the authority to issue licenses and to set rules, tariffs and regulations in order to develop electricity systems [ I: under the responsibility of the Palestinian side ] in the West Bank. In addition, the PEA shall have the right to construct transmission lines, distribution lines, power stations and the [ I: Palestinian part of the ] inter - regional electricity connection [ I: scheme ], in the West Bank. [ I: Such construction which is intended to be connected or related to the IEC grid, or which is in Area C, shall be subject to prior Israeli consent. ]
   
   
3. Pending the establishment of an independent Palestinian electricity supply system or of other supply sources, the Israel Electric Company ( IEC ) shall continue to supply the electricity in order to meet existing and future expected demand in the West Bank. All aspects of supply of electricity to the Palestinian side by IEC shall be dealt with in a commercial agreement, similar to commercial agreements and prices agreed upon for major bulk Israeli consumers.
   
   
4. For the purpose of this Article the term " grid " shall include lines, cables, transformers, substations, circuit - breakers, switches, protection devices and metering equipment, of all different voltage levels. [ P: The grid in the West Bank shall be transferred to the Palestinian side ] [ I: IEC will retain full responsibility for the operation, maintenance and development of the IEC grid. For this purpose IEC personnel, vehicles and equipment shall be entitled to free, unrestricted and secure access to this grid. ]
   
   
5. The Israeli side shall retain full responsibility for the [ I: supply of electricity to the Israeli settlements and the military locations through the IEC grid. ] [ P: operation and maintenance of the electricity supply systems within the Israeli settlements and the military locations. ]

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