Israel/Palestine - The Road Map

The plan:

The Road Map to Peace was put on the table by the Middle East diplomatic Quartet (USA, UN, EU and Russia) on April 30, 2003. It wants to put an end to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict in three phases, applying the "land for peace" formula (based on UN Security Council Resolutions 242 and 338, leading to sustainable peace in the region threw a permanent two state solution.

The three phases:

1) Phase I: April- May 2003: ending terror and violence, normalizing Palestinian life and building Palestinian institutions.

The Palestinian authority (PA) has to "undertake an unconditional cessation of Violence" and to put an end to terror by concrete actions including the arrest of those involved in terrorist activities directed against Israel. It should also confiscate illegal weapons and consolidate security authority, "free of association with terror and corruption." It has also to take firm steps in building a democratic regime based on tolerance and liberty. This includes a political reform, drafting a constitution, organizing free elections, giving more power to the Prime Minister and Cabinet etc...

Israel should be "supportive" to Palestinian efforts to stop violence. It should do "what is necessary" for the Palestinian state to be viable. It has to stop violence which include "deportations, attacks on civilians; confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian homes and property, as a punitive measure or to facilitate Israeli construction; destruction of Palestinian institutions and infrastructure; and other measures specified in the Tenet work plan." It should withdraw from Palestinian areas occupied since September 28, 2000, freeze the settlements in Palestinian territories and dismantle those built since 2001.

2) Phase II: June- December 2003: Transition

"In the second phase, efforts are focused on the option of creating an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes of sovereignty, based on the new constitution, as a way station to a permanent status settlement. As has been noted, this goal can be achieved when the Palestinian people have leadership acting decisively against terror, willing and able to build a practicing democracy based on tolerance and liberty".

3) Phase III: 2004- 2005: permanent status agreement and end of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict.

"Phase III objectives are consolidation of reform and stabilization of Palestinian institutions, sustained, effective Palestinian security performance, and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at a permanent status agreement in 2005". The Quartet agreed to meet periodically in order to evaluate the performance of the plan.

The Road Map plan, full text

Statement by Middle East Quartet, May 4, 2004:

"The Quartet condemns the continuing terror attacks on Israel, and calls on the Palestinian Authority to take immediate action against terrorist groups and individuals who plan and execute such attacks. The Quartet members recognize Israel's legitimate right to self-defense in the face of terrorist attacks against its citizens, within the parameters of international humanitarian law, and the Quartet calls on the Government of Israel to exert maximum efforts to avoid civilian casualties. They also call on the Government of Israel to take all possible steps now, consistent with Israel's legitimate security needs, to ease the humanitarian and economic plight of the Palestinian people, including increasing freedom of movement for people and goods both within and from the West Bank and Gaza, removing checkpoints, and other steps to respect the dignity of the Palestinian people and improve their quality of life."

"The Quartet notes the Government of Israel's pledge that the barrier being erected by Israel should be a security rather than political barrier, and should be temporary rather than permanent. The Quartet continues to note with great concern the actual and proposed route of the barrier, particularly as it results in the confiscation of Palestinian land, cuts off the movement of people and goods, and undermines Palestinians' trust in the roadmap process as it appears to prejudge final borders of a future Palestinian state. The Quartet took positive note of the announced intention of Israeli Prime Minister Sharon to withdraw from all Gaza settlements and parts of the West Bank. The Quartet welcomes and encourages such a step[...]. The Quartet further notes that any unilateral initiatives by the Government of Israel should be undertaken in a manner consistent with the roadmap and the two-state vision that underlies the roadmap".

Statement by Middle East Quartet, September 22, 2004

"The Quartet notes with deep concern that genuine action is still needed so that an empowered Prime Minister and cabinet can fulfill the Palestinian Authority's obligations under the Road Map, including an unequivocal end to violence and terrorism, and the dismantlement of terrorist capabilities and infrastructure. The Quartet noted in this regard the need for the Palestinian Authority to prepare for assumption of control over Gaza, in particular by reforming its security forces and re-establishing the rule of law."

"The Quartet urges the Government of Israel to implement its obligations under the Road Map, including dismantling of settlement outposts erected since March 2001, and to impose a settlement freeze, as called for by President Bush and in the Road Map. The lack of action in this regard is a cause for concern. They also call on the Government of Israel to take all possible steps now, consistent with Israel's legitimate security needs, to ease the humanitarian and economic plight of the Palestinian people."

"The Quartet reaffirms the concerns expressed in its statement of 4 May with respect to the actual routing of the Israeli separation barrier and takes note of the ICJ advisory opinion on this subject"[...].

It "reiterates its view that no party should undertake unilateral actions that could prejudge issues that can only be resolved through negotiations and agreement between the parties." The Quartet reaffirms its encouragement for Prime Minister Sharon's intention to withdraw from all Gaza settlements and parts of the West Bank and reiterates that withdrawal from Gaza should be full and complete and be undertaken in a manner consistent with the Road Map, as a step towards an end to the Israeli occupation that began in 1967".

Committee on the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People 282nd Meeting, November 19, 2004, doc. GA/PAL/971

"It was also necessary to work towards a return to negotiations, to end the conflict and achieve a final peace settlement, she said. The Road Map remained the only viable initiative towards that goal and the Palestinian leadership had always supported it. Yet, the occupying Power continued to undermine any effort to implement it. Urging the international community to compel Israel to cease its grave breaches of international law against the Palestinian people, she said that ending the daily death toll in the Palestinian territory was a prerequisite for real change and progress at all levels."

General Assembly, 59th session, statements of representatives of both parties about the Road Map:

ISRAEL:

Silvan shalom, Deputy Prime Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel said: "Palestinian terrorism is the key reason that the dream of peace in the Middle East has not yet become a reality. Combating this terror is crucial to the prospects for peace in our region. No peace initiative can survive, if terrorists continue to enjoy a free hand to undermine it. The Roadmap recognizes this, calling in Phase One for sustained Palestinian action against terror, the dismantling of terrorist organizations, and the end of incitement in schools and the media. Sadly, the current Palestinian leadership has refused to fulfill these fundamental obligations, preferring to blame Israel for an its failures. The Palestinian side spends more energy fighting Israel here at the UN than it does fighting the terrorists in its own territory". "On the diplomatic front, Israel accepted the Roadmap in May 2003, and we remain committed to its realization. At this time, however, we have no responsible Palestinian partner ready to join us in this effort".

PALESTINE:

Assaad Kaddoumi, Head of the Political Department of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) said: A performance - based on Roadmap was unanimously adopted by the Security Council (1515). We have accepted the road map as, in our opinion, it augured well. The Roadmap envisaged a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict which solution "will be achieved through an end to violence and terrorism and when the Palestinians become able to build a practicing democracy and through Israel's readiness to do what is necessary for a democratic Palestinian state to be established". "The Palestinians through their representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization embraced the Roadmap and considered that it offers another opportunity contributing towards the end of the conflict. We hope that the Quartet will seriously assume the noble task of realizing the destination of the Roadmap. Acts of state-terrorism was Israel's response to the performance- based Roadmap. And to be more precise the 2000 pound bomb was dropped after the Palestinians have scrupulously observed an unannounced cease-fire. Israel still adheres to the 14 reservations it has on the Roadmap. The nebulous ideas and intentions revealed in the exchange of letters between President Bush and Prime Minister Sharon on the matter of the commitments to the Roadmap are far from encouraging and holding the Roadmap and Security Council resolution 1515 in limbo if not total neglect and refusal". "To ensure the success of the Roadmap and the targeted destination, that is a final and comprehensive settlement of the Israeli Palestinian conflict by 2005, the plan also requires that Israel "freezes settlement activity and withdraws from Palestinian areas occupied since September 28. 2000". "The Palestinian people and leadership have demonstrated good will and accepted in good faith the provisions of the Roadmap and other proposals that lead to the termination of Israeli occupation of our Palestinian territory so that we can all live in peace and security and stability in the Middle East. What is needed is the other party, Israel, to commit it self in word and in action to respond".

CRITICS:

Many critics are directed against the Road Map. It does not mention the Separation Wall at all. It does not take enough into consideration the will of the Palestinian people. It puts most concessions on the part of the Palestinian people. It is only a plan for Bush to gain Arab support, showing his supposed support for peace in Palestine etc...