The New Road Map (18.11.2002)
Nedenstående tekst er den seneste udgave af det såkaldte “Road Map”, der er USA, EU´s, Rusland og Kinas (kvartettens) plan for fred i Mellemøsten. Forslaget er en ændret udgave på baggrund af bl.a. palæstinensiske indsigelser.
Den palæstinensiske avis Al-Ayyam offentliggjorde dokumentet d. 18.11.2002. Avisen gennemgår først ændringer og gør opmærksom på uenighederne mellem parterne og mellem USA og resten af kvartetten.
For en interessant kommentar til The Road Map se også Hanan Ashrawis artikel på denne hjemmeside. Brug søgefunktionen og skriv Ashrawi.
————–
Ramallah Al-Ayyam (Internet Version-WWW) in Arabic, 18 Nov 02 , via FBIS/WNC.
——
Subslug: Report by Abd-al-Ra’uf Arna’ut in Jerusalem: “Al-Ayyam Publishes Text of Amended ‘Road Map'”
[FBIS Translated Text]
It is clear from a new draft of the US “road map” – a copy of which Al-Ayyam has received and the text of which it publishes herewith – that several changes requested by the Palestinians have been introduced to the plan. These include the call for the reopening of all institutions in Jerusalem, not only economic institutions, and the issuance of a statement by the Israeli leadership in parallel with a similar statement issued by the Palestinian leadership affirming commitment to a two-state solution. Israel will also commit to halt all attacks against the Palestinians and to withdraw from the Palestinian territories occupied since 28 September 2000.
For the first time, the draft dated 14 November 2002 refers to the possibility of the United Nations’ recognizing the Palestinian state even before the start of the final-status talks. But the draft refers in some of its parts to some differences between the United States on the one hand and the EU, the United Nations, and Russia on the other hand on some details. These include the EU’s affirmation of the need for the deletion of the phrase that speaks about Palestinian Legislative Council [PLC] elections without referring to presidential elections – which means that the plan provides for Palestinian general elections.
The International Quartet is expected to hold a meeting on the ministerial level in the middle of December in Europe to officially launch this initiative. It is observed that the plan, in acquiescence to an Israeli protest, no longer provides for the implementation of the Arab initiative but it says it takes into special consideration the Saudi initiative approved by the Arab summit in Beirut.
It is also observed that the plan no longer speaks about the appointment of a prime minister as an obligatory matter in the first stage. It speaks about an interim prime minister or an empowered government and mentions that this post must be created after the establishment of the Palestinian state within temporary boundaries. Concerning the Palestinian constitution, the plan no longer speaks about a PLC committee to draw up a constitution but about a constitutional committee to draw a constitution.
In its next meeting the International Quartet must resolve the dispute clearly apparent in this draft over halting settlement activity. The United States stipulates that this activity be halted after a comprehensive cease-fire. The EU, Russia, and the United Nations, however, do not accept this condition and call for a complete halt to settlement activity, (including natural growth) with priority given to projects that threaten Palestinian territorial contiguity, including the area around Jerusalem.
——————–
The following is the full text of the eight-page new draft, as received by Al-Ayyam:
Below are the elements of the performance-based road map with clear stages and milestones aimed at making progress in the political, security, economic, and humanitarian fields and building institutions under the auspices of the International Quartet.
The objective is an overall and final solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict by 2005, as proposed by President Bush in his 24 June address, and welcomed by the EU, Russia, and the United Nations in the ministerial statements issued by the Quartet on 16 and 17 September.
This settlement, to be achieved through negotiation between the parties, will lead to the establishment of an independent, democratic, and viable Palestinian state, existing in peace and security alongside Israel and its other neighbors. This settlement will end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and will end the occupation that started in 1967, on the basis of the letter of invitation to the Madrid Conference and the principle of land for peace, UN Security Council resolutions 242, 338, and 1397, and previous agreements reached between the parties. This settlement will take into special consideration the continuing
importance of the Saudi initiative adopted by the Arab summit in Beirut and which is a basic part of the international efforts aimed at achieving peace on all the tracks, including the Israeli-Syrian track and the Lebanese-Israeli track.
A two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict can only be achieved through a halt to violence and terrorism and a clear and unequivocal acceptance by the two sides of the objective of the negotiated settlement mentioned above. The International Quartet will help and facilitate the implementation of the plan, beginning with stage one, including direct discussions with the parties whenever necessary.
The plan has laid out a practical timetable for implementation but progress requires and depends on the good faith of the parties and their commitment to each of the obligations mentioned below. In the event that the parties implement their pledges quickly, progress between and during the stages will be quicker than mentioned in the plan and vice versa.
The International Quartet will constantly hold top-level meetings to assess the performance of the parties in implementing the plan. In each stage the parties are expected to fulfil their obligations in parallel, unless stated otherwise.
Stage 1: From now to May 2003:
Halting terrorism and violence, returning life in the Palestinian territories to normal, building Palestinian institutions.
In stage 1, the Palestinians will immediately and unconditionally halt violence in accordance with the steps defined below:
– The Palestinians and Israelis will reestablish security cooperation on the basis of the terms of the Tenet plan for halting violence, terrorism, and incitement through effective and restructured Palestinian security services.
– The Palestinian Authority will carry out a comprehensive reform process to prepare for the state, including drawing up a Palestinian constitution and holding free, open, and fair elections. (The EU demands the deletion of the phrase: for a new PLC (Al Ayyam))
– Israel will take all the required steps to return life in the Palestinian territories to normal.
– Israel will withdraw from the Palestinian territories occupied since 28 September 2000.
– The two sides will return to the situation that existed before that date commensurate with the progress in the security performance and cooperation.
– Israel will freeze all settlement activity under the terms of the Mitchell report.
With the Start of Stage 1:
– The Palestinian leadership will issue a declaration unequivocally reaffirming Israel’s right to exist in peace and security and will call for an immediate and unconditional cease-fire and a halt to military activity and any form of violence against Israelis anywhere. All official Palestinian institutions will desist from incitement against Israel.
– The Israeli leadership will issue a declaration unequivocally reaffirming its commitment to the vision for two states and to an independent, sovereign, and viable Palestinian state living side by side with Israel, as expressed by President Bush.
– The Israeli leadership will call for an immediate halt to violence against Palestinians everywhere.
– The Israeli Government will desist from confidence-breaking moves, including expulsions, (The EU and UN insist on adding the phrase: will halt provocative military operations), attacks on civilians, and the confiscation or demolition of Palestinian homes and properties, as forms of punishment or for the purpose of Israeli construction.
– The Israeli Government will stop destroying Palestinian civilian institutions and infrastructure.
– All official Israeli institutions will desist from incitement against the Palestinians.
Security:
– The Palestinians will unequivocally declare a halt to violence and terrorism and will make concrete efforts on the ground to arrest and apprehend persons and groups that launch and plan violent attacks against Israelis everywhere.
– The PA security services will carry out effective and specific operations aimed at dismantling terrorist capabilities and infrastructure.
– Depending on the existing mechanisms and the resources on the ground the International Quartet will begin supervision and consultation with the parties to establish and implement a mechanism for practical supervision.
– As previously agreed, the United States will rebuild, train, and draw up a plan for security cooperation, in conjunction with an external supervision committee comprising the United States, Egypt, and Jordan. (The EU demands the addition of the phrase: with the support of the International Quartet or with the support of the EU (Al Ayyam)).
– All the Palestinian security services will be unified into three security services under an empowered interior minister.
– The Palestinian security services will be rebuilt and retrained and their IDF counterparts will gradually begin to reestablish security coordination, and to carry out others tasks defined in the Tenet plan, including top-level meetings attended by US security personnel.
– The Arab states will prevent the private and public funding of groups that support and participate in violence and terrorism.
– All donors who provide aid to the Palestinian budget will transfer these funds to the unified account of the Palestinian Finance Ministry.
– The phasing out of IDF troops from the territories occupied since 28 September 2000 will be in direct proportion to the phasing in of security cooperation. The two sides will return to the situation that existed before 28 September 2000. The Palestinian security forces will be deployed in the areas evacuated by the IDF.
Building Palestinian Institutions
– A credible process for drawing up the constitution of the Palestinian state. When this process is completed, the constitutional committee will distribute the draft of the Palestinian constitution founded on strong and democratic and parliamentary bases and an empowered prime minister. For the sake of general observations and discussions, the constitutional committee will propose the draft document after the elections for approval by the appropriate Palestinian institutions.
– The Israeli government will fully facilitate the transportation of the Palestinian personalities to the sessions of the PLC and government, the security training that will take place under international supervision, and the elections and other reform activity, and other relevant measures connected with efforts at reform.
– The appointment of empowered Palestinian ministers to carry out drastic reforms and complete additional steps to achieve real separation between powers, including any Palestinian legal reform steps necessary for this purpose.
– An interim prime minister or a government with executive powers (a decision-making body).
– The formation of an independent Palestinian election committee. The PLC will revise and amend the election law.
– Palestinian performance in the judiciary, administration, and economy in accordance with the bases laid down by the International Quartet for Palestinian reforms.
– As soon as possible (The United States demands the addition of the phrase: and on the basis of the measures mentioned above the Palestinian will hold free, open, and fair elections (The EU demands the deletion of the phrase: for the PLC (Al Ayyam))
– The Israeli Government will enable the international election committee to assist in registering the voters and will allow candidates and election officials freedom of movement.
– The Israeli Government will reopen the Palestinian chamber of commerce, as well as other closed Palestinian institutions in East Jerusalem on the basis of these institutions’ commitment to strictly adhere to the previous agreement between the two sides.
Humanitarian gestures:
– The Israeli Government will take steps to improve humanitarian conditions, including the implementation of the Bertini report for improving humanitarian conditions, the lifting of curfews, the easing of restrictions imposed on the movement of persons and goods, and will allow full and safe movement for humanitarian and international officials.
– The Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority will continue the process of collecting revenues and transferring funds in accordance with a transparent and agreed-on supervision mechanism.
Civil Society
The donors will continue their aid to the Palestinian people’s programs and the civil society’s initiatives.
Settlements
– The Israeli Government will immediately dismantle all settlement outposts set up since March 2001. (Russia, the United Nations, and the EU demand the deletion of the phrase: after a comprehensive cease-fire)
– Under the terms of the Mitchell report the Israeli Government will freeze all settlement activity, (including natural growth) with special priority given to projects that threaten Palestinian territorial contiguity, including the area around Jerusalem.
Stage 2: June to December 2003 (interim)
In stage 2 efforts will focus on the choice of establishing a Palestinian state within temporary boundaries on the basis of the new constitution as a step on the road to a permanent solution. Stage 2 will progress at the discretion of the Quartet when, in accordance with a predetermined set of parameters, it deems that the performance of both parties creates the right circumstances for moving forward. Efforts will be made to return life in the Palestinian territories to normal and to rebuild Palestinian institutions. Stage 2 will commence after the Palestinian elections with the possible establishment of a Palestinian state within temporary boundaries by the end of 2003.
The main aims of stage 2 are:
– Comprehensive security performance, continuous and effective security cooperation, and continuous efforts to return life in the Palestinian territories to normal and to rebuild institutions.
– Building on the aims achieved in stage 1 by drawing up a democratic Palestinian constitution, creating the post of a prime minister, deepening political reform, and establishing a Palestinian state within temporary boundaries.
The International Conference
– The Quartet will convene the international conference, with the consent of the sides, immediately after the successful completion of the Palestinian elections, to support Palestinian economic institutions and to kick off a process that will lead to the establishment of a Palestinian state within temporary boundaries.
– This will be a meeting of a general nature, aimed at achieving overall peace in the Middle East (including peace between Israel its neighbors Syria and Lebanon), and will be based on the principles set forth in the preamble to this document.
– Renewing Arab ties with Israel that existed before the intifadah (such as trade legations, etc).
– Renewing multilateral talks (covering issues of water, environment, economic development, refugees, and regional arms control).
– The new constitution for an independent and democratic Palestinian state will be completed and approved by the appropriate Palestinian establishments. Further elections, if necessary, must come after the approval of the new constitution.
– Formation of an empowered government of reforms with a prime minister.
– Continuation of comprehensive security performance, including effective security cooperation, on the bases laid out in Stage 1.
– Establishment of a Palestinian state within temporary boundaries through Palestinian-Israeli negotiations kicked off by the International Conference as part of this process. Previous agreements will be implemented in order to ensure maximum territorial contiguity. Additional steps will be taken on the level of settlement activity concurrently with the establishment of a Palestinian state within temporary boundaries.
– Activation of the international role in supervising the transition with effective and practical aid and training by the Quartet.
– The members of the Quartet will push for international recognition of the Palestinian state, including the possibility of membership of the United Nations. (The United States will consult with a legal expert)
Stage 3: 2004-2005
– A final agreement on ending the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
– The Quartet will decide on the timing for the transition to stage 3, taking into account the performance of both sides. The transition will be supervised by the Quartet.
– The aims of the third stage are to complete the reforms and rehabilitation of the Palestinian institutions, effective Palestinian performance, and Palestinian-Israeli negotiations aimed at achieving a final agreement in 2005.
– In early 2004 the Quartet will convene a second international conference, with the consent of both sides, to adopt the agreement on a state within temporary boundaries and to launch a process on a permanent and full final-status agreement to be completed by 2005, which will cover boundaries, Jerusalem, refugees, and settlements. The conference will also work toward an overall agreement in the Middle East between Israel, Lebanon, and Syria, to be completed as soon as possible.
– Moving ahead fully and effectively with the agenda of the reforms presented by the international task force, in preparation for a final-status agreement.
– Continuing the progress in effective and permanent security performance and cooperation on the bases mentioned in stage 1.
– International efforts to facilitate the reforms and the rehabilitation of the Palestinian institutions and Palestinian economy, in preparation for a final-status agreement.
– The parties will reach a full final-status agreement that will end the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in 2005 through a settlement agreed on through negotiations between the sides on the basis of Security Council resolutions 242, 338, and 1397, and which will end the occupation that started in 1967. This settlement will include a realistic (the EU wants to add the phrase: agreed-on (Al Ayyam)) comprehensive and just solution to the issue of the refugees and a negotiated decision on the status of Jerusalem that will take into account the two sides’ religious concerns and that will protect the religious interests of the world’s Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
– Normal ties will be established between the Arab states and Israel, bringing security for all countries of the region within the framework of a comprehensive Arab-Israeli peace.