TEL AVIV, May 30: Israel said on Friday it would begin to implement a peace plan with the Palestinians after a “positive” meeting between their prime ministers, a week before a key summit with US President George Bush.
But pressure was on Palestinian premier Mahmoud Abbas from both Israel and the United States to dismantle “terrorist” organizations such as the Hamas.
Mr Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon met at the latter’s office in occupied Al Quds the second time in as many weeks to discuss kickstarting the so-called “roadmap” unveiled a month ago, but only accepted by Israel, with reservations, on Sunday.
The internationally-drafted document proposes the creation of a Palestinian state by 2005 alongside a secure Israel, but also demands an end to anti-Israeli attacks by radical Palestinian groups.
Israeli forces for their part must pull back to the positions they held at the beginning of the Palestinian uprising 32 months ago, and there should be a freeze on Jewish settlement building.
Earlier on Friday, Mr Sharon’s office said Israel had agreed to hand over security control in Gaza and in West Bank towns to the Palestinians in a phased withdrawal of its troops.
In return Mr Sharon demanded Mr Abbas take action to halt the violence and practical steps on the ground such as “dismantling terror organizations, confiscation of illegal weapons, and the ending of incitement”, his office said.
But he warned that if any concrete threat to Israeli lives emerged from areas under renewed Palestinian control and the Palestinians failed to take action, “the army would not hesitate to act to prevent it”.
Mr Sharon said that if the Palestinians put a halt to anti-Israeli attacks by radicals in their camp, Israel would begin political negotiations on the establishment of a Palestinian state.
“It seems the Palestinians have understood the time has come to act against terrorism,” Israeli government spokesman Avi Pazner said.
“What motivated them is our acceptance of the roadmap and Fleischer’s declaration at the White House,” he added.
White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said Mr Bush was looking for renewed statements of support for the roadmap as well as pledges of “concrete actions” from the Abbas-Sharon meeting.
That means “the Palestinians taking measurable concrete actions to dismantle terrorism, the Israelis taking measurable concrete actions to help improve the conditions of the Palestinian people”, he said.
In an interview with Israel’s Yediot Aharonot daily published on Thursday, Mr Abbas said he was convinced he could reach a truce with Hamas by next week.
“Hamas will undertake to stop terrorism both inside the Green Line and in the territories,” he said, referring to the line separating Israel from the West Bank.
But Mr Fleischer said: “Should the Palestinians declare a ceasefire, it must be accompanied by parallel steps to disarm and dismantle terrorists and terrorist infrastructure.”
“What’s important is for the Palestinian Authority to move immediately to completely disarm and dismantle those groups that oppose a two-state solution and employ terror and violence in order to achieve their aims,” he said.
Hamas has carried out the bulk of recent suicide attacks inside Israel, but says it would accept a truce if Israel halts its military operations in the Palestinian territories.
ISRAELI ANNOUNCEMENT: Sharon’s office on Friday released a statement detailing further measures to alleviate pressure on Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, which should go into effect “in the next coming days”, Mr Pazner said.—AFP
