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Israel's Road Map

(Ha'aretz) - Aluf Benn Israel has prepared a response to the Quartet's road map. After the road map is officially presented, the U.S. will receive comments from the two sides and will encourage them to begin direct dialogue. According to the Israeli document: All mention of an "independent" Palestinian state has been eliminated. The entity would have "certain attributes of sovereignty" and any such state is required to be "credible" and "law abiding." Israeli officials point out that the term "independent" was also omitted from President Bush's June 24, 2002, speech upon which the road map is based. Progress will be "conditioned upon the complete cessation of violence and terrorism, full disarmament of terrorist organizations, their capabilities and infrastructure, the complete collection of illegal weapons, and the emergence of a new and different [Palestinian] leadership." Israel delineates the terms under which it will agree to a freeze in settlement activity: "following a continuous and comprehensive security calm." Israel rejects the notion that the freeze will also include the natural growth of settlements. The future of the settlements will be determined only by a final agreement. Comments added to the Israeli version of the document repeatedly note that promises and declarations by the Palestinians must not be trusted nor should room for Palestinian withdrawal from their commitments on issues of security be allowed.
2003-03-17 00:00:00
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