US clout brings Mideast turning point

For months, Israel waged a diplomatic battle to alter the road map. Those efforts resulted in a US pledge last week to address Israel's 14 objections. The document, however, remained unchanged and has fierce opponents within the government.

That is reflected in the Cabinet statement, which accepts "the steps set out in the road map" as opposed to simply accepting the plan.

The wording allows Israel to continue insisting that progress be sequential and not simultaneous. In fact, the road map clearly makes requirements simultaneous. "In each phase, the parties are expected to perform their obligations in parallel," it states.

Palestinians, who officially accepted the road map May 11, complain about Israeli attempts to alter the plan.

"We are already fulfilling our mission," says Mahdi Abdul-Hadi, director of the Palestinian Academic Society for the Study of International Affairs, listing Palestinian obligations. "We have a new prime minister, we are unifying our security forces, we are preparing for elections."

Timing will continue to be the subject of intense bickering. Sharon demands that Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas first root out militant groups like Hamas before Israel takes any action. Indeed, government officials told Israeli media Monday that the road map's timetable will have to be adjusted from months to years, saying that it will take that long to wipe out militants and establish a state.

Alongside this wrangling, there will be other disruptions. Settler groups, which oppose the establishment of a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, are planning to hold demonstrations against the road map.

And Israeli security services say they expect increased attempts to attack Israelis as Palestinian militants try to scuttle political developments. In the meantime, and despite complaints on both sides, political negotiations continue with Sharon and Mr. Abbas slated to meet this week to discuss a cease-fire and security arrangements in the Palestinian territories.

Sponsored by the "quartet" (US, the European Union, the United Nations, and Russia), the road map is meant to achieve a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by 2005.

Phase 1: End of violence

Palestinian leaders implement an unconditional official cease-fire and acknowledge Israel's right to exist in peace. The Palestinian Authority security force is reorganized and confronts those engaged in violent attacks on Israelis. Palestinian forces reestablish cooperation with the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Steps are taken to establish a strong parliamentary democracy with separation of powers.

Israel affirms commitment to a viable sovereign Palestinian state and calls for the end of violence against Palestinians. Israel takes no actions undermining trust, including deportations, attacks on civilians, or house demolitions. Settlement outposts erected since March 2001 are dismantled, and settlement activity is frozen. IDF withdraws from areas occupied since Sept. 28, 2000. Restrictions on Palestinian movement are eased.

Phase 2: Transition to separate states

Starts after "free, open, and fair" Palestinian elections and ends with possible creation of an independent Palestinian state with "provisional" borders.

Phase 3: Permanent status agreement

Talks convened by the quartet lead to a permanent-status resolution in 2005. It would include final decisions on borders, Jerusalem, refugees, and settlements.

For full text of the road map, go to www.csmonitor.com/roadmap

Page: 1 | 2