Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., November 02, 2007 Cheshvan 21, 5768 | | Israel Time: 19:11 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Print Edition Diplomacy Defense Arts & Leisure Real Estate Jewish World National Advertising Magazine Week's End Business Opinion Rosner's Domain Anglo File Books Travel

Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad. (AP) del.icio.us Digg It!  new Last update - 03:25 02/11/2007 Israeli officials deny tripartite team to begin work on roadmap By Avi Issacharoff, Haaretz Correspondent tags: Israel, PA, tripartite team  Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayad says a Palestinian-American-Israeli commission on implementing the first stage of the road map peace plan will soon begin work, but Israeli officials deny the report. According to Fayad Thursday, the commission will consist of himself, Defense Minister Ehud Barak and U.S. security coordinator Keith Dayton. I Advertisement sraeli officials, however, said that while the creation of such a commission was discussed during last week's visit by U.S. National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, neither its composition nor its powers have been finalized. Israel would apparently prefer the commission not to have the power to make binding decisions on who should do what first. The Palestinian Authority claims that it has already fulfilled all its first-stage responsibilities, whereas Israel has not fulfilled its obligation to freeze settlement construction and dismantle illegal outposts. Israel, however, says that the PA is far from fulfilling its first-stage counterterrorism responsibilities. Fayad also said that his government is willing to operate the Gaza Strip border crossings if Israel reopens them. The crossings have been closed since Hamas seized control of the strip because Israel does not trust Hamas to run them. Fayad confirmed Thursday that he will be working with Defense Minister Ehud Barak and United States Mideast security coordinator Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton to carry out the first phase of the dormant road map plan for peace. The U.S.-backed road map plan was launched in 2003 and envisioned the establishment of a Palestinian state by 2005. It consists of three phases, which entail obligations that each side must meet. In the first phase, Palestinians were to declare an end to all violence and take action against militants, in return for which Israel would freeze settlement expansion, dismantle dozens of illegal settlement outposts and lift roadblocks to facilitate Palestinians' travel to administrative centers. The Palestinians have argued that they have made significant progress in recent weeks by disarming dozens of militants, either voluntarily or by force, but say Israel has done little so far. Fayad said Thursday that the three have not started working yet, but said implementing the first phase of the road map will be key to the success of the U.S.-hosted Mideast conference in Annapolis, Maryland, in November or December. "If we want the Annapolis conference to be a successful one, and if we want the peace process to get back on track, we have to implement the first phase of the road map, and it is possible to implement it," he said. The IDF has been preparing a list of Israel's essential security needs in advance of the conference as it did last time significant talks were held on the final status agreement. However, ahead of Annapolis the IDF will only list Israel's concerns, without dealing with the specific details of borders and territories, as was done in the past. Related aricles: Abbas: Mideast summit will fail if no prior agreement is reached PM: Israel, PA to expand talks on statehood as soon as possible Peres' aides confirm plan for PA state on land equal to 100% of West Bank Bookmark to del.icio.us Steering her destiny Haaretz.com TV feature: Nabila is Israel's first female Muslim bus driver. Support the troops Former chief rabbi of U.S. Navy urges American Jews to help Jewish troops.   1.   Can Palestinians carry out the road map? 04:34  |  Dan Chazan 02/11/07   2.   Order or Operations 07:09  |  ISraBlof 02/11/07   3.   Do the Palestinians believe their own bs ? 07:19  |  redmike 02/11/07   4.   #1 - lack of trust is not why the PA is incompetent 07:31  |  redmike 02/11/07   5.   Very nifty footwork from the Pals 08:30  |  Johnboy 02/11/07   6.   #3 They aren`t trying to convince THEMSELVES, redmike 08:43  |  Johnboy 02/11/07   7.   How convenient 09:24  |  Zev 02/11/07   8.   #3 - if the PA isn`t responsible for Gaza then who is? 11:25  |  redmike 02/11/07   9.   #8 Man, that some speel-venting, redmike 14:20  |  Johnboy 02/11/07   10.   In the middle of the road 14:52  |  Mark Lincoln 02/11/07   11.   I agree, redmike 15:17  |  Murray 02/11/07   12.   johnboy and utter confusion again 18:16  |  victor hardman 02/11/07   13.   To redmike. Jordan is not an answer 18:18  |  Dan Chazan 02/11/07   14.   Workable plans vs imaginary ones 18:27  |  Dan Chazan 02/11/07   15.   Workable plans vs imaginary ones 18:27  |  Dan Chazan 02/11/07   16.   Workable plans vs imaginary ones 18:33  |  Dan Chazan 02/11/07   17.   Workable plans vs imaginary ones 18:36  |  Dan Chazan 02/11/07

Today Online Report: Lebanese army fired on IAF fighter jets Responses: 124 Olmert seeks accord on 'core issues' while Bush in office Responses: 103 BICOM chief: Israel supporters in U.K. must stand up for Palestinian state Send response Editorial: Israel kowtows to its Jewish masters overseas Responses: 34 Yoel Marcus: An eye for an eye is not half-bad in Gaza Responses: 28 Gov't defends decision to curb power supply to Gaza Strip Responses: 42 Rosner's Domain * The genes that make Jews smart (What To Read) * Blog & Poll: Dem. candidates make Iran top issue * The Factor: Does McCain love Israel? * So, was Winston Churchill a Zionist? More Headlines 18:33 Report: Lebanese army fired on IAF fighter jets 19:10 Hamas in Gaza said to downplay Abbas meet with W. Bank Hamas men 18:40 PM seeks deal with PA on 'core issues' while Bush still in office 16:30 Court upholds ruling to let Rabin assassin hold son's bris in jail 19:01 Germany starts work on exhibit at site of Nazi SS, Gestapo HQ 18:46 Liberian Pres. Johnson-Sirleaf to pay Israel rare visit by African leader 15:28 Tunnel to link J'lem's Jewish Quarter, Muslim Quarter synagogue 16:53 Hundreds of PA police arrive in Nablus to impose law and order 13:24 Gov't defends decision to curb power supply to Gaza Strip 03:25 Israeli officials deny tripartite team to begin work on roadmap Previous Editions Select Day 01 nov 31 oct 30 oct 29 oct 28 oct 26 oct 25 oct 24 oct 23 oct 22 oct 21 oct 19 oct

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