[Palestinian state even if Palestinians continue violence] U.S. moves ahead
with 'road map'

By Aluf Benn Ha'aretz 26 November 2002

["...even if the Israelis are going into elections and violence continues in
the territories, the U.S. intends to continue seeking ways to formulate the
road map so it will lead to an independent Palestinian state."]

The U.S. administration has told Israel it is ready to discuss an updated
version of the "road map" for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, taking into consideration Israel's comments before the final draft
is prepared.

If Israel wants to postpone discussions until after the elections, the
United States will understand but will continue with its own efforts to
complete the draft and bring it to a Quartet meeting on December 20.

Dov Weisglass, the prime minister's bureau chief, met yesterday with
National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
wants to postpone handing over Israel's formal response to the road map
until after the elections and the establishment of the new government, which
the premier assumes he will win.

Before yesterday's meeting, the Americans made it clear that they understand
the constraints on Israel, but emphasized that President George W. Bush
wants to complete the road map in order to implement the vision he espoused
on June 24, and which Sharon has said he supports in principle. The Bush
speech predicates progress as a move toward a two-state solution.

The administration promised that if the final version is approved by the
Quartet next month, Israel will not be be forced to take the steps outlined
in the map before the elections, but rather will focus in the coming weeks
on the requirements of the Palestinian side, starting with the cessation of
terror and government and security reforms.

Last month, the road map draft was shown to all the parties, including
Sharon, the Palestinians, the Quartet, Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. After
hearing initial responses, the U.S. prepared an "updated working paper" that
was published last week. A new version will be prepared in the near future
and will be brought to the senior-most levels of the administration for
their approval.

Military Intelligence Maj. Gen. Aharon Ze'evi has been warning the political
echelon that if Israel does not come up with an official answer to the road
map, the Palestinians will use the lacuna to influence its shape through
their allies in the Quartet. In a letter to the prime minister, defense
minister and foreign minster that was made public by Army Radio, Ze'evi
warned that Israel could find itself facing new facts it did not consider if
it does not take the road map seriously.

The updated working plan calls for a total settlement freeze, including a
freeze on natural growth construction that will be particularly strict in
the Jerusalem area. The U.S. wants the freeze to go into effect after a
general cease-fire, while the other members of the Quartet want to see it go
into effect immediately to spur a Palestinian cease-fire.

The U.S. announcement of the Quartet meeting is meant to indicate to its
three partners that even if the Israelis are going into elections and
violence continues in the territories, the U.S. intends to continue seeking
ways to formulate the road map so it will lead to an independent Palestinian
state.