MIDDLE EAST: The so-called road map to peace between Israel and the Palestinians envisages three phases, culminating in a final settlement by 2005 with the creation of a Palestinian state, existing peacefully beside Israel.
The road map, drawn up by the United States, the United Nations, European Union and Russia, describes an active role for the Quartet in engineering the settlement. Achieving the aims of the plan will be done on the basis of performance, with clear phases, timelines, target dates, and benchmarks, they say.
The following is an edited version of the plan, which runs to over 2,500 words.
Phase I - now until May 2003: ending terror and violence, normalising Palestinian life, and building Palestinian institutions
The Palestinians immediately undertake an unconditional cessation of violence, accompanied by supportive measures undertaken by Israel. Palestinians and Israelis resume security co-operation to end violence, terrorism, and incitement through restructured and effective Palestinian security services.
Palestinians undertake comprehensive political reform in preparation for statehood, including drafting a Palestinian constitution, and free, fair and open elections upon the basis of those measures. Israel takes all necessary steps to help normalise Palestinian life.
Israel withdraws from Palestinian areas occupied from September 28th, 2000 and the two sides restore the status quo that existed at that time, as security performance and co-operation progress. Israel also freezes all settlement activity (including natural growth of settlements) and immediately dismantles settlement outposts erected since March 2001.
Government of Israel takes no actions undermining trust, including deportations, attacks on civilians; confiscation and/or demolition of Palestinian homes and property, as a punitive measure or to facilitate Israeli construction; destruction of Palestinian institutions and infrastructure.
Arab states cut off public and private funding and all other forms of support for groups supporting and engaging in violence and terror.
All donors providing budgetary support for the Palestinians channel these funds through the Palestinian Ministry of Finance's Single Treasury Account.
As rapidly as possible, constitutional committee circulates draft Palestinian constitution, based on strong parliamentary democracy and cabinet with empowered prime minister, for public comment/debate. Constitutional committee proposes draft document for submission after elections for approval by appropriate Palestinian institutions.
As early as possible, and based upon the above measures and in the context of open debate and transparent candidate selection/electoral campaign based on a free, multi-party process, Palestinians hold free, open, and fair elections.
Phase II - June 2003 to December 2003
In the second phase, efforts are focused on the option of creating an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and attributes of sovereignty, based on the new constitution, as a way station to a permanent status settlement. Progress into Phase II will be based upon the consensus judgment of the Quartet of whether conditions are appropriate to proceed, taking into account performance of both parties.
An international conference will be convened by the Quartet, in consultation with the parties, immediately after the successful conclusion of Palestinian elections, to support Palestinian economic recovery and launch a process, leading to establishment of an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders. The meeting would be inclusive, based on the goal of a comprehensive Middle East peace (including between Israel and Syria, and Israel and Lebanon), and based on the principles described in the preamble to this document.
Phase III - 2004-2005: permanent status agreement and an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
The objectives of this phase are the consolidation of reform and stabilisation of Palestinian institutions, sustained, effective Palestinian security performance, and Israeli-Palestinian negotiations aimed at a permanent status agreement in 2005.
There will be a second international conference, convened by the Quartet, to endorse agreement reached on an independent Palestinian state with provisional borders and formally to launch a process with the active, sustained, and operational support of the Quartet, leading to a final, permanent status resolution in 2005, including on borders, Jerusalem, refugees, settlements; and, to support progress toward a comprehensive Middle East settlement between Israel and Lebanon and Israel and Syria, to be achieved as soon as possible.