Road Map...

[Caid Ivik]

USA proposed a very interesting plan for 2-year solvement of Israeli crisis. Both Sharon and Abbas have agreed with the plan, altough it looks it need some more agreements. Plan itself has some very weak spots:

Phase 1 is about ending the violence by withdrawal of Israeli forces from Palestinian area and disarmament followed by restraining and disruption of terroristic groups by palestine forces, as well as freezing of growth of jewish settlements on the Jordan West Bank. Well, this was to be done since may. IDF retreated from Gaza sector, terrorists declared cease-fire, altough yesterday one shaheed of Islamic Djihad attacked near Tel Aviv.

Phase 2 is based on transfers of jewish settlements as well as palestine refugees, with financial and political support of Israeli government, USA, UN, Russia and EU. Also it includes building of Palestine state administrative and setting provisional borders. Here we have another problem: "details" like Jerusalem, where cannot be just provisional border. Status of city isn't descripted. Of course, phase 1 is to be done first. Plan is to be end in december.

Phase 3 is to take next two years. USA, UN, EU and Russia will accept Palestine and push arab countries, as well as new Palestine, to accept Israeli state. These four will also set the new borders, perhaps also status of Jerusalem and other religious centres. Plan is to have to the end of 2005 a democratic state of Palestine.

See original text on http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2003/20062.htm

So, what do you think, is it realistic?

[ordos45]

Not realistic. Idealist at best. People have been trying to get peace since Israel became a nation, and it hasn't worked. One man's attempt won't change anything. I wish it would work, but I sincerely think there's no chance of peace.

Arafat also, if you'll remember, declined the creation of a Palestinian state years ago when it was offered by one of Sharon's predecessors...Barak or Netanyahu I believe. (hince why Abbas will hopefully be better, and keep his people in mind during negotiations.)

[Anathema]

Seems like a long shot, but if Bush can pull this off he'll have my respect (please don't quote me on that though)

[leo]

It will fail like all the suggestions. Most of the time the Palestinians can

[Acriku]

Seems to be doing pretty well so far, as Hassad (someone with "H" I forget) is agreeing to stop conflict to try it. Sharon is sacrificing a lot for this roadmap, which brings a lot of credibility to Israel's wanting of peace.