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NEWS & LETTERS, JUNE 2003
'Road Map' takes shape in Middle EastThe text of the "Road Map" for Middle East peace was released by the U.S. State Department on April 30. This statement of the "quartet" of the U.S., the European Union, Russia and the UN consists of three phases: Phase I calls for ending terror and violence, freezing Israeli settlements in Palestinian land and preparing for a Palestinian election and constitution; Phase II calls for elections for a Palestinian state with provisional borders; Phase III calls for a final permanent resolution on borders, Israeli settlements, the status of Palestinian refugees, and the status of Jerusalem based on UN resolutions 242, 338 and the 2002 Saudi Peace Initiative. The progress from stage to stage however is based on "performance benchmarks." Even though this Road Map again postpones addressing the major issues involved in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to the final phase, it was immediately accepted by the Palestinian cabinet of the new Prime Minister Mahmud Abbas or Abu Mazen. Abu Mazen and his head of security Mohammad Dahlan do not have a good reputation in Palestine because of their participation in the corrupt and undemocratic practices of Arafat's Palestine Authority. However despite this, the latest polls conducted by Birzeit University in the West Bank show that 70% of Palestinians believe Abbas should be given a "fair chance" in his effort to make peace. The Israeli army, however, continues an almost permanent
presence in the West Bank and has intensified raids into Gaza. It continues its
practice of killing civilians, targeted assassinations, house demolitions, and
destruction of Palestinian farmland. Since the deliberate crushing to death of
Rachel Corrie, an International Solidarity Movement (ISM) activist, by an
Israeli tank, the IDF has shot two other ISM activists and has killed a British
journalist. International visitors to the West Bank and Gaza have been told that
they must sign a waiver which absolves Israeli troops of all responsibility for
their safety. Hamas, Al Aqsa and other groups have also conducted six
suicide bombings within Israel during the past two months. On April 29 a suicide
bombing at a restaurant in Tel Aviv killed five and injured 36, hours after the
Palestinian parliament approved a new cabinet. The suicide bombers were found to
have been British citizens associated with fundamentalist groups. On May 18,
another suicide bombing on a bus in Jerusalem killed seven, just after the first
meeting between Abu Mazen and Ariel Sharon. Sharon has made it clear, not only in actions but also
in words, that he does not see the withdrawal of Israel from any settlements
"on the horizon." The U.S. administration however seems determined to
create a semblance of peace in the region that would allow it to concentrate on
its occupation of Iraq. As of May 26 Hamas, which has been negotiating with Abu
Mazen, has agreed to a truce inside Israel, if the IDF ends its targeted
assassinations of Palestinian leaders. The U.S. has offered to recognize the
Lebanese Hizbullah and its political role in Lebanon in return for a suspension
of violent acts against Israel and "intelligence" cooperation between
it and the U.S. Sharon and his cabinet have voted to "accept" the Road
Map, but only based on U.S. consideration of 14 reservations which reject much
of its content. Also, on April 30, 700,000 Israeli workers went on
strike against spending cuts and mass firings proposed by Benjamin Netanyahu,
who is now minister of finance. The strike did not succeed but deep economic and
social problems continue to haunt Israeli society. --Sheila Sahar, May 26, 2003 |
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