VARIOUS: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON CONVENES CABINET FOR VOTE EXPECTED TO APPROVE U.S.-BACKED ROAD MAP

Record ID: 400768

  • Title: VARIOUS: ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON CONVENES CABINET FOR VOTE EXPECTED TO APPROVE U.S.-BACKED ROAD MAP
  • Date: 25th May 2003
  • Summary: (W3) JERUSALEM (MAY 25, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. SCU ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER ARIEL SHARON ENTERING CABINET MEETING; MV OTHER MINISTERS ENTERING CABINET MEETING 0.13 2. SLV / MV SHARON AND MINISTERS MEETING 0.30 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ISRAELI INFRASTRUCTURE MINISTER YOSEF PARITSKY SAYING "I think the government should vote for it. We should star
  • Embargoed: 9th June 2003 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JERUSALEM / RAMALLAH AND KOHAV YACOV SETTLEMENT, WEST BANK /BEACH REFUGEE CAMP, GAZA
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVA89UZAXLBXVR7AYHMWNXP35S0B
  • Story Text: Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has convened his
    cabinet for a vote expected to approve a U.S.-backed "road
    map" leading to Palestinian statehood despite opposition from
    far-right ministers.

    A stormy session of the 23-member cabinet on Sunday
    (May 25, 2003) was likely after a senior member of Sharon's
    right-wing Likud party branded the peace plan "the most
    dangerous" in the history of Middle East peacemaking.

    "It is really not expressing the vision of President Bush.

    It's rather the European political cynical interests. I think
    that anyone who wants really to have peace, who wants to
    continue to combat terrorism, cannot reward terrorism with
    this road map," said Likud member Uzi Landau.

    But political sources said Sharon was likely to win a
    cabinet vote despite strong opposition from far-right
    ministers who oppose the road map's vision of a Palestinian
    state and a freeze on Jewish settlement expansion on occupied
    land.

    As Israeli ministers gathered for the meeting at Sharon's
    office, Jewish settlement leaders demonstrated outside against
    the peace plan. Some Israelis expressed hope in the peace
    initiative.

    "I think it is a step in the right direction. The problem
    is: will the Prime Minister have the courage to go all the
    way?" said Perry Roded, an Israeli resident from Jerusalem.

    The Palestinians and their new reformist prime minister,
    Mahmoud Abbas, have accepted the plan, which also calls on the
    Palestinian Authority to disarm and detain militants
    spearheading an uprising for statehood.

    Some Palestinians however, say Israel's interpretation of
    the plan does not meet the requirements needed for its
    implementation.

    "The problem is that Israel's understanding of the road
    map is different to the general understanding," said Rami
    Tawil from Ramallah.

    The road map is the only peace initiative on offer nearly
    32 months after the Palestinians began their uprising for an
    independent state.

    Israel has expressed 10 to 15 reservations about the plan,
    including the "right of return" of Palestinian refugees to
    their homes in what is now the Jewish state.

    Sharon had sought a public commitment from the United
    States (U.S.) to address those concerns.

    Secretary of State Colin Powell and National Security
    Adviser Condoleezza Rice made that commitment, saying the
    reservations would be addressed as the plan is implemented.

    But Powell ruled out amending the road map, hoping to
    satisfy the Palestinians. They welcomed Sharon's announcement
    but cautioned that the plan must not be changed.


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