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Changes sought to Mideast road map
JERUSALEM (CNN) -- Soon after the new Mideast peace plan was delivered to Israeli and Palestinian leaders Wednesday, objections were raised about the so-called road map. The plan aims to establish Palestinian statehood by 2005. (Plan highlights) The Israelis have called for at least 15 changes to the road map and have said it should not be implemented until terror attacks on Israelis end. "It is crucial that we do not ... talk peace by day and have Israelis blown up by night," Israeli foreign ministry spokesman Mark Sofer told The Associated Press. Hours before the plan was delivered, a blast ripped through a Tel Aviv café, killing three people when a bomber blew himself up at the front door. (Full story) But a top Palestinian official noted the attack came only hours after Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas was sworn into office and said Palestinian officials "condemn very, very strongly" the violence and remain committed to the peace plan. "We accepted it in total without reservations," Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabeel Saath said of the plan Wednesday. (Transcript) In his speech to the Palestinian parliament Tuesday, Abbas, informally known as Abu Mazen, said the road map should be accepted as presented and implemented immediately, and he vowed to "end chaos of arms" in the Palestinian territories. (Full story) President Bush Wednesday applauded Abbas for renouncing terrorism and said he looks forward to "spending time and energies to move the process forward." "He's a man I can work with, and I look forward to working with him and will work with him for the sake of peace and for the sake of security," said Bush. However, some Arab states, which quietly supported the U.S.-led war in Iraq, warn they are quickly losing patience with negotiations. "We don't need more meetings, more photo-ops," said Jordanian Foreign Minister Marwan Muasher."What we need today is a serious process that will affect the lives of the people, that will give them hope that we are finally on the road towards ending this long-standing conflict." Bush urged the Arab nations surrounding Israel and the potential Palestinian state to "assume their responsibilities" by cutting off funds to terrorists. One Islamic group is determined to derail the road map before it is implemented. The militant wing of Hamas and Al Aqsa Martyrs Brigades -- a militant offshoot of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement -- told The Associated Press that the bombing in Tel Aviv was carried out partly to send a message to the new Palestinian government that "nobody can disarm the resistance movements without a political resolution." The U.S. State Department considers both groups to be terrorist organizations. Three phases of the planThe road map was drawn up by the United States, the European Union, the United Nations and Russia, a group that has come to be known as the Middle East Quartet. The plan sets out a series of reciprocal steps with target dates and benchmarks. After receiving Israel's copy, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office said Israel was looking forward to commenting on it, a signal Israel will press the changes it wants to see. Bush has said that the Quartet will welcome "contributions from both sides" on the plan. Under the three-phase proposal, a Palestinian state with provisional borders could be established by year's end, with the goal of full statehood within three years. In the initial phase, the Palestinian Authority must: • Issue "an unequivocal statement reiterating Israel's right to exist in peace and security." • Dismantle "terrorist capabilities and infrastructure" and end all incitement against Israel. • Hold free, open and fair elections. For its part, Israel must: • Confirm its commitment to "an independent, viable, sovereign Palestinian state." • Freeze all construction in Jewish settlements. • Dismantle illegal settlement outposts built since March 2001. • Withdraw from zones reoccupied during the conflict. Bush to invite Abbas to White HouseIn the second phase, a Palestinian constitution would be ratified and an international conference launched leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state with provisional borders. The third phase calls for a second international conference to finalize the permanent-status solution for a Palestinian state in 2005. The Bush statement said Secretary of State Colin Powell has been asked to go to the region to begin work with Sharon and Abbas on the road map. Powell will also be carrying an invitation for the new Palestinian prime minister to visit the Bush White House -- an invitation never extended to Arafat, because Bush did not believe the longtime Palestinian leader was doing nearly enough to crack down on terror groups in the Palestinian territories. According to the official, the president's message will be that he "is personally committed to achieving peace, whatever it takes" and that the White House is "looking forward to working with a new Palestinian leadership, untainted by terror." Copyright 2003 CNN. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Associated Press contributed to this report.
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