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AL QUDS, May 28: Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said on Wednesday Israel should drop reservations on the US-backed “roadmap” for peace and embrace the plan as a historic opportunity to end nearly three years of bloodshed.
Mr Abbas laid out his negotiating stance in his first Israeli newspaper interview since taking office. He is to meet Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, possibly on Thursday, before a summit with US President George Bush next week.
“This is a historic opportunity to return to a track of normalcy. We are saying to the Israelis: ‘Follow the map and don’t waste time over details’,” Abbas told the daily Haaretz.
The plan calls for a Palestinian state to be established by 2005. The Palestinians embraced it immediately. Israel followed suit reluctantly, after Washington agreed to address its reservations. The outline officially remains unchanged, however.
Mr Abbas said: “We understood from the Americans that there are no changes in the roadmap.”
Washington moved to smooth the latest crease in the plan it authored with the United Nations, European Union and Russia.
“As we move forward with implementation, we will address legitimate concerns of both sides regarding specific elements of the roadmap, fully and seriously,” said Paul Patin, spokesman for the US embassy in Tel Aviv.
SUMMITS: Abbas’s office said talks between the two prime ministers, their second meeting in two weeks, were scheduled for Thursday. But Israeli officials, who declined comment on Abbas’s published remarks, denied a date had been set for the talks.
President Bush is expected to meet the two as early as June 5. Jordan said King Abdullah would sponsor the talks in the Red Sea port of Aqaba.
On Wednesday, the Israeli army said it demolished the family homes of two suicide bombers in the West Bank and arrested 16 suspected militants. Mr Abbas said such Israeli actions hindered efforts to end violence.
“It is impossible to achieve 100 per cent success in a brief period. It is important that the Palestinians see change on the ground, like the cessation of (Israeli killings) and demolitions, and prisoners being freed,” Abbas told Haaretz.—Reuters
