Israel removes all mention of 'independent' state in 'road map'

All mention of an "independent" Palestinian state has been eliminated in Israel's response to the "road map" prepared by the Quartet - the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia.

An "independent" Palestinian state, which would be initially established along temporary borders, is replaced with "certain attributes of sovereignty" and any such state is required to be "credible" and "law abiding."

According to Israeli officials the term "independent" requires clarification and they point out that it was also omitted from U.S. President George Bush's June 24, 2002 speech upon which the road map is based.

Israel is also presenting stiff terms for moving beyond the first stage of the plan, which concentrates on a cease-fire, Palestinian reforms and gradual withdrawal from territories occupied by the IDF since the intifada began, to the second stage in which a Palestinian state will eventually be formed within temporary borders.

According to the Israeli document, 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."

The Israeli document demands that the Palestinian state that will emerge in an agreement with Israel and will do so following direct negotiations between the two sides and not through dialogue and understandings as the road map states.

Israel also rejects the demand of immediate removal of all illegal outposts set up in the territories during the government of Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. According to the Israeli version, the government will "enforce the law in relation to the outposts."

For the first time, in this document, 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 document rejects a further withdrawal in the West Bank, according to the Oslo Accords, and the removal of settlements in order to grant territorial continuity to a Palestinian state - even during the stage of the temporary borders.

The Israeli document says the future of the settlements will be determined only by a final agreement and therefore Israel is only willing to grant territorial continuity to the Palestinians only where "this is possible."

Bush announced Friday that the U.S. would present the two sides with the road map immediately after the appointment of a Palestinian prime minister with "genuine responsibilities."

The European Union on Sunday welcomed Bush's comments, describing it as a "positive step" in restarting peace talks.

"The statement by President Bush with which he reiterated the support of the United States in the application of the road map ... constitutes a positive step toward reactivating the peace process in the Middle East," said Panos Beglitis, a spokesman for the foreign ministry of Greece, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency.

"The European Union remains a stable supporter of the road map and the peace process," Beglitis said. "The return to the table of political negotiations is the only way to stop the vicious cycle of violence and conflict."

According to official sources in Jerusalem, the version that will be presented to the two sides will be the updated one from December 20, which was given to the two sides unofficially. Only after the road map is officially presented will the U.S. receive the comments from the two sides and will encourage them to begin direct dialogue on the plan.

The Israeli response was formulated by an inter-ministerial team comprising Dov Weisglass, the director of the Prime Minister's Office, and representatives from the Defense and Foreign ministries.

The comments added to the Israeli version 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.

Palestinians: EncouragedPalestinian legislators said Saturday the U.S. administration's promise to adhere to last year's "road map" for Palestinian statehood was a positive sign, signaling that President Bush would push for the plan's implementation without any changes.

Still, some argue the plan has yet to clear its biggest hurdle: getting the Israelis and Palestinians to agree on how and when it is to be implemented.

Bush said Friday he would present the "road map" once a credible Palestinian prime minister took power. The Palestinian Legislative Council is expected to decide later this week whether to approve Yasser Arafat's choice of Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), an executive in the PLO, for the new position. Palestinians have clearly said it will be Arafat who retains control in negotiations and security.

Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said U.S. Mideast envoy David Satterfield reassured him Saturday that the United States would stick to the draft plan presented last year. He also said it was time to talk about implementation, Erekat said.

"This is significant because it means the United States won't support changes, even if those changes come from Israel," Erekat said.

The three-phase plan was put together by the so-called Quartet of Mideast mediators -- the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia. Although Bush said he would present it soon, a draft already was presented last year.

In phase one, Palestinians would carry out government reforms and crack down on militants, while Israel would withdraw from Palestinian towns. Israel would then recognize a Palestinian state in temporary borders by the end of 2003. Negotiations on full statehood would come in stage three, with completion in 2005.

Several obstacles already exist in phase one. Although the Palestinian Authority has started reforming finances and is working on approving the creation of a prime minister -- two conditions demanded by the United States -- Arafat has failed to rein in militants.

Israel has disputed parts of the plan, saying its advancement must depend on whether the Palestinians meet their commitments. Since the start of renewed fighting 29 months ago, Israel has occupied most West Bank towns and villages and staged raids in Gaza Strip - another potential stumbling block in phase one of the plan.

"Any further discussions to be made on the implementation of the road map will be wasting time," said Ghassan Khatib, Palestinian Labor Minister.

While some hailed Bush's announcement Friday as promising, other were suspicious over its timing. President Bush and his administration has been accused of putting Middle East peace talks on the backburner while focusing on efforts to disarm Iraq.

The road map may have an another obstacle in the new Israeli government headed by Sharon, who while promising to halt new Jewish settlement activity, has said existing settlements will be developed. Bush said Friday for peace to take root, settlement activity had to be stopped.

Hamas and Islamic Jihad, two groups that have claimed responsibility for attacks that have killed hundreds of Israelis, rejected Bush's remarks and called them a "bribe" to pursue military action against Iraq. The two groups are against negotiating with Israel.

It is a "bribe and a ploy, offered as (Bush) continues the final preparations for aggression against Iraq, while at the same time he remains silent, and even covers up (Israeli) crimes against the Palestinian people," the joint statement said.

	George Bush, flanked by Colin Powell, speaking Friday from the White House.
	Photo by: Reuters