Monday, May 19, 2003
Monday, May 19, 2003 |
| International | ||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | International
By Atul Aneja
At least seven Israelis died, while around 20 were injured when a Palestinian attacker, dressed as religious Jew, blew himself up aboard a bus. Another suicide bomber blocked, at a north-Jerusalem checkpoint, killed himself without causing any serious damage. A substantial dialogue between the Palestinians and the Israelis on the peace "road map" was expected to kick-off after the visit to Washington by the Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon. But Mr. Sharon, who was scheduled to leave for the U.S. on Sunday and hold a meeting with the U.S. President, George W. Bush, on Tuesday, has now put off his visit because of the suicide attacks. Mr. Sharon was expected to discuss with Mr. Bush Israel's 14 reservations on the U.S. "road map," co-authored by the European Union, Russia and the United Nations. While details of the "road map" are yet to be made public, there are indications that it is likely to encompass in its broad sweep, the foundations for comprehensive regional security. The creation of an independent Palestinian State in return for an end to hostility towards Israel is apparently the core, but only one aspect of the peace plan. The "road map" is also expected to deal with issues that would guarantee Israeli security along its northern border with Lebanon. That would mean the termination of possible attacks on Israel by the Hizbollah group from the north. Since the Hizbollah is supported by Syria and Iran, the participation of Damascus and Teheran in the deliberation of this peace plan would also, at some stage, become inevitable. Israel's neighbours, Lebanon and Syria, on their part, are looking for security against possible attacks on their territory by Israel. For that, they are demanding the Israeli withdrawal from the Shebba farms — a piece of mountainous territory on the tri-junction of the Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Syria. Syria is also seeking the return of the Golan Heights occupied by Israel in 1967. By positioning themselves along the barren elevations of the Golan, Israeli forces are in a position to bring Damascus within their artillery range. The "road map" is also expected to cover other key issues such as the return of Palestinian refugees who now reside in neighbouring countries such as Syria and Lebanon and size of he financial package to compensate them. The beginning of a dialogue between the Palestinian Prime Minister, Mohammad Abbas, and the Israeli Prime Minister, Mr. Sharon, on Saturday night has not been met with much enthusiasm. The Israeli side, during that meeting reportedly asked the Palestinian authorities to take effective steps to curb violence against Israelis. The Palestinian side, on the other hand, insisted that Israel should first relax its military grip on their territories before any effective action could be taken. The Palestinians are also asking Israel to declare their formal acceptance of the "road map" as the first principle for future negotiations. With Mr. Sharon putting off his visit to Washington, which was expected to result in Israeli recalibration of its disposition towards the "road map" including its formal acceptance, the delicate negotiations have been put on hold indefinitely.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | The Hindu eBooks | Home |
Copyright © 2003, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
